Hull Cleaning

[martynl]

My boat is not looking too bad, but definitely needs a facelift, I'm new to boating and I want to get my boat looking good for the summer, so I would be grateful for any advice!!!

I've read a lot of conversations about cleaning hulls etc. and the advice given seems to be to use a decent quality buffer with a cutting compound. But can someone give me advice on how to actually use these things?

For example, I saw a sander/polisher at a hire tool shop for only £13 a day.....ideal, but will i need the lambs wool bonnet or do i use a very thin sand paper for buffing? and then polish with the lambs wool afterwards?

Also, can someone please explain what the GRP gelcoat is?

Thanks!!

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[StephenSails]

Do NOT use sand paper or you will wreck the gel coat. Gelcoat is a polyester paste that sets hard to create the nice looking surface you see on hull over the GRP. I would get a lambswool pad and fine cutting paste - dont use to much paste and use the whole surface of the buffer. Using a buffer can be hardwork so be prepared for plenty of elbow grease. I would recomend putting a good polish on top of the buffed surface to offer protection for the comming season.

Cheers

Stephen

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[BarryH]

Before using a buffer/compound on it you'll probably be better off cleaning the hull with something like oxalic acid. You could buy one of the hull cleaners from the swindleries for the job. The Starbrite one works well. Then decide wether you need a cutting compound or a good non silicon polish to get the desired results.

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[pvb]

Radical opinion...

I'm not a fan of powered buffers. It's easy to damage the gelcoat, and they're quite heavy to use.

Frankly, I don't think there's any real substitute for a bit of hard work where hull refinishing is concerned. A gentle compounding, followed by a really good quality polish, is the best way. The best products I've used are Meguiars - try #49 Heavy Duty Oxidation Remover, followed by a couple of applications of #45 Boat/RV Polish, then sealing it with a couple of applications of #56 Boat/RV Pure Wax. The polish and wax are very easy to use indeed. The theory is that the #45 Polish "feeds" the gelcoat and creates a shine, whilst the #56 Wax protects the shine.

What I really like about these Meguiars products is that they're astoundly easy to use - there's very little hard work involved. I've done my boat (35ft) this way, by hand, in a day, and it looks good. The finish also lasts quite well; I only polish the hull every 2 years (when it's out for its 2-yearly antifouling).

Meguiars products are available in the UK from better chandlers. I know Fox's in Ipswich stock them, because that's where I get them from. Incidentally, I started using Meguiars after asking what sort of polish the Fox's boatyard guys use to get such a lovely finish on the Oyster boats they prepare there.




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[VicS]

What you need if you want to do any more than just polish the hull is a suitable fibre glass rubbing compound ( or even one aimed at the vehicle refinishig trade) and a closed cell foam compounding mop. Not a lamb's wool polishing mop. You keep it moist, so a suppy of water in a spray bottle or even a washing up liquid bottle is also needed. There is a maximum recommended speed for these mops so you need to hire a polishing machine which is within this limit (although I used a 2 speed electric drill on the 'slow' setting). The mops used to come for either metric or imperial threaded fittings so make sure the mop and machine fit together(everything may well be metric now). I had to made an adaptor to fit the mop onto the drill.

This topic crops up regularly on the forums, once wthin the last couple of weeks. Farecla is a name which is often mentioned as a supplier of materials. If you do a search of the forums for Farecla you will come across what has been said before including a phone number for them. Or a Google search will give you their basic website and phone number but their main site with any useful information was under reconstruction last time I checked. If I remember correctly they market products under the 'Boat Pride' brand name specifically for this purpose.

The gell coat is the outer layer of resin which contains no reinforcing. It has no stuctural strength but it is the (nearly) waterproof layer as well as the cosmetic part. It may be the only pigmented (coloured ) bit. Its integrity is vital.

I just checked back and discovered I posted all this on Scuttlebutt on the 29 Dec.
<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>Ne te confundant illegitimi.</font color=purple><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by VicS on 06/01/2004 00:07 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[amadeus]

I've just finished polishing my 11 year old newly acquired 28 foot white boat and it looks absolutely beautiful. I followed the PBO article from ? October on how to polish a Westerly Konsort, I think it was. I bought the kit advertised in PBO for £350 including a Rupes variable speed mini angle grinder with wool pad for cutting compound and also another for finishing, including all bottles of glop and wax. (Generous xmas present from Dad!) The worst scratches needed gentle sanding with wet and dry 1000 grade sandpaper then the whole hull cutting back gently with 3m cutting compound in areas 2 foot square at a time. After much perfectionist fussing I applied finishing compound to bring up the shine. Using a fast speed ie more than 3000 rpm on the polisher overheated the gelcoat and I had to start again with the wet and dry! Once the polisher burned out as I think I held it back too much and it overheated! Rupes immediately replaced it FOC next day though. Finally after another mega fuss I applied the wax and the job is done. Plus I have the polisher for next years easy touch up (I hope!) Definitely worth the effort though you could easily do it by hand if your boat is not too enormous and you are patient and broke.

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[Piers]

Call Peter Furby of 3M Marine Products. I bought a polisher, buffers and 'trade' materials from him and it worked wonders for my boat. 07770 284 926

<hr width=100% size=1>Piers du Pré
http://www.dupre.co.uk

 

[kireonriley]

sent yoa a p.mfollow the advice and it will cost you about one pound please only send this advise on by p.m

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[BrendanS]

OK, I'm hooked, Send me a PM

I'm fascinated

<hr width=100% size=1> I asked an economist for her phone number....and she gave me an estimate

 

[Althorne]

BrendanS you crack me up!

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[BrendanS]

Glad to keep you amused /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif
Why?

<hr width=100% size=1> I asked an economist for her phone number....and she gave me an estimate

 

[martynl]

Kireon, Sorry I don't understand that msg.

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