Hull polish - diy or hire?

[Tim Good]

I do almost everything myself in the boat but never polished the hill and my current tools won't do the job. With hindsight of someone that has done it am I better to just hire the boatyard to do it or hire a polisher, pads, compound etc and diy? Other Qs:

- cost of pads, polisher hire and compound approx?
- Yard quoted £450 on a 43ft boat. Good / bad price?
- is it a day job when I have the kit or am I looking at 2 days?
- in hindsight does it turn out to be simple or one of those jobs better given to experience?

 

[Yellow Ballad]

I can't really help with your questions, but I'll be doing my hull with a "variable speed angle grinder/polisher type machine" from halfords I bought a while ago so I'll be interested in responses.

BTW, had a quick flick through the blog, looks good.... I'll have a better look when I'm back home tonight.

 

[jac]

I do almost everything myself in the boat but never polished the hill and my current tools won't do the job. With hindsight of someone that has done it am I better to just hire the boatyard to do it or hire a polisher, pads, compound etc and diy? Other Qs:

- cost of pads, polisher hire and compound approx?
- Yard quoted £450 on a 43ft boat. Good / bad price?
- is it a day job when I have the kit or am I looking at 2 days?
- in hindsight does it turn out to be simple or one of those jobs better given to experience?

SO I've done mine for the last 4 years on a 36 footer.

It is hard work as you invariably end up going up and down ladders, moving the polishing machine back and forth at head height.

I estimate 3-4 hours per side to polish and then maybe slightly shorter to wax. I rule out a weekend and polish one day then wax the next.

You really need good conditions - dry, not too sunny and ideally a pleasant temperature - somewhere around 10 to stop the wax etc being like a rock. The pads, compound etc are negligible cost. If you spend £50 to start with you will have spent a lot and will have some leftr over for next time. I estimate I have used 1/4 of a tin of wax in 3 years.

I bought a polishing machine - about £50 - it's heavy and I know better ones are available but I couldn't justify it. No idea re hire costs.

The big cost you haven't included above is a platform from which to work. Ideal would be a tower / stage. I use a ladder that converts to a platform and is just about tall enough.

If the hull needs a fair amount of work and you want a good finish, I would possibly be inclined to get the yard to do it this time to restore the shine. in future years, your task will then be much simpler as it's simply a case of maintaining the shine.

Top tip - take your time before polishing in getting it clean. Give it a good wash over with whatever boat wash takes your fancy then remove any stains etc. only once it's looking good should you think of getting the compound out.

Use the finest compound you can as you are taking off a microscopically small layer of GRP when you do it. It's the polishing that makes the shine but to protect it, you need a decent wax.

 

[ex-Gladys]

SO I've done mine for the last 4 years on a 36 footer.

It is hard work as you invariably end up going up and down ladders, moving the polishing machine back and forth at head height.

I estimate 3-4 hours per side to polish and then maybe slightly shorter to wax. I rule out a weekend and polish one day then wax the next.

You really need good conditions - dry, not too sunny and ideally a pleasant temperature - somewhere around 10 to stop the wax etc being like a rock. The pads, compound etc are negligible cost. If you spend £50 to start with you will have spent a lot and will have some leftr over for next time. I estimate I have used 1/4 of a tin of wax in 3 years.

I bought a polishing machine - about £50 - it's heavy and I know better ones are available but I couldn't justify it. No idea re hire costs.

The big cost you haven't included above is a platform from which to work. Ideal would be a tower / stage. I use a ladder that converts to a platform and is just about tall enough.

If the hull needs a fair amount of work and you want a good finish, I would possibly be inclined to get the yard to do it this time to restore the shine. in future years, your task will then be much simpler as it's simply a case of maintaining the shine.

Top tip - take your time before polishing in getting it clean. Give it a good wash over with whatever boat wash takes your fancy then remove any stains etc. only once it's looking good should you think of getting the compound out.

Use the finest compound you can as you are taking off a microscopically small layer of GRP when you do it. It's the polishing that makes the shine but to protect it, you need a decent wax.

+1... My "man" does it at about £180 in rural Essex, it takes him half a day with good kit, it would take me a lot longer. Money well spent IMHO

 

[Trundlebug]

I've always done it myself, 33ft boat and have achieved very good results.

It's hard work on the arms, not only is the machine heavy (I bought a Silverline variable speed one from eBay a few years ago, around £50) but you're also working against the pull of the motor, especially as you need to apply some pressure against the hull. So it's quite tiring, and some would say quite tedious because depending on initial condition you really need to use a coarse compound to start with, followed by a finishing compound afterwards.

So allow for two passes over the whole boat, and some areas where the fenders dangle and abrade the sides may even take more then that as you check it after each round.

But it's very satisfying work to see the boat really gleam afterwards. A weekend is the minimum you should allow though, in my view, because it's so tiring although it does depend on how chalky / faded it is to start with.

DIY Compounding isn't at all difficult especially for someone who is used to doing all the other jobs themself. The help of a beautiful assistant can be useful to spray a mist of water over the working area and stop it drying out, although this isn't absolutely necessary.

As said above it helps to have the right conditions. Cold is good (hot work, very physical and you'll soon get hot) and bright but overcast so you can see the surface reflections clearly. Bright sun is no good, especially this time of year as the sun is so low, you really can't see a thing.

The compounding materials aren't that cheap but do last ages. £30 a bottle is about the going rate, and you'll need about 2 (rapid cut and finishing) new spnges and mops are cheap though and last ages.

 

[vyv_cox]

Watching the yard gang at Leros doing it, the guys are made of muscle and make a fantastic job of polishing but it takes a long time with much effort. I shall be having my hull done by them this spring. Make sure the price quoted includes consumables - in some cases this can be as much as the quote for doing the job.

A friend had his boat polished by two guys who polish cars for a living. It took them a day for a 50 ft boat, it would have taken me forever. The equipment they used was the best, expensive to rent or buy.

 

[johnalison]

The best thing you can get is a decent platform. You can then work at a comfortable height without having to climb up and down all t.he time.

 

[pvb]

The best thing you can get is a decent platform. You can then work at a comfortable height without having to climb up and down all t.he time.

Fully agree; trying to do it without a proper safe platform is not only time-consuming but is potentially dangerous.

I've always polished my boats by hand, rather than by machine. I've found that Meguiars Polish and Meguiars Wax are easy to apply by hand, and polish off easily and cleanly by hand. There's a natural assumption that a machine polisher will do a better job, which it can in professional hands, but in amateur hands it can result in swirly marks.

 

[richardbrennan]

You're not very specific about exactly what you need to do. Generally there are three steps you need to consider depending on the state of the hull to start with; these are compounding, polishing and protecting. If your hull is faded or yellowing you will need to compound, if it's not you might get away with polishing and protecting. I'd search for the You Tube post by Marine Reflections of this parish as to what to do and a clue about which products to use.

As far as a polisher is concerned, the problem with the cheaper ones is that they are heavy and doing a 43 foot boat with one of these is going to be very hard work unless you are built like a lowland gorilla! I have a Rootes which weighs less than two kilos and doing my 33 foot boat is still hard work; it was not cheap but I have had it for several years. The advice about a platform is also sound; if you go for the convertible ladder type, make sure you get the one with the most steps, it's surprising how high a hull is out of the water, and a hand rail as they feel very insecure otherwise.

All in all, if you are going to do it properly you will need to invest in some decent kit. That's fine if you expect to do it regularly, but if it's a one off you're probably better getting the yard to do it.

 

[ditchcrawler]

I had my 31footer polished professionally last year for £300.My boat is from 1984 and it looked fantastic and still does.

I have tried myself and could not get anywhere near the finish and quality of the proper job.

A boatyard on the east coast charges £40 plus vat per metre so I would say you have a good price.

 

[gjgm]

There are numerous posts about this on the various forums and lots on YouTube.
First, unless you are expecting a boat show,new boat gleam, then you can do this yourself with 50 quid polisher and maybe 50 quid of polishing bonnets, polish and wax. That should do you more than one season...
Like any work on the boat, choose a pleasant day !
I agree with others Re a working platform...priority is the not especially light polisher should be in front of you...if you try using the polisher outside your shoulders you will either eventually fall off the platform but you arms will give up in about 15 minutes.
How hard or long the job takes also extends on the condition to start with. Obviously if it is in great nick then you don't need to do much polishing...if you have totally dull gel then you have a job on your hands.
This is not a quick job...I would guess a day and a half, but you don't need to go at it like a fanatic...you might manage a day, but that will be somewhat full on.
You need to wash the boat, at the least to get rid of any grit...you don't want to grind that in !
Then you need to dry it...if the boat is in poor condition, then compound it, or maybe move straight to polish, and then finally wax.
So, you could be going over the boat 4 times, all in all...
If you enjoy that kind of thing, then it is quite a rewarding day in nice weather, but if you don't, you might decide 400 for someone else to do it is a bargain.
Of course if you do it yourself, then next year won't cost anything, or very little, and so on. I would also say that getting the gel into good shape the first time is alot more work....once in good shape, the following years are alot easier.
Products...loads of them, but you won't go wrong with 3M, and their wool polishing bonnets...oh, you will also need a decent backing pad that the bonnets stick onto.Silverline polisher does the job ..was about 50 quid..it is a bit heavy, but perfectly functional. If you take up this 7 days a week, you might decide on a light one, but for once a year, it is fine.

 

[BlueChip]

I've done it a number of times.

No 1 tip, hire a platform with wheels - cost about £50 for a week. Using ladders is not only very dangerous it prolongs the job.
Beg, borrow or hire a Rupes or other lightweight polisher, anything else will be too heavy to do a decent job unless you are young and fit.
I used a Silverline for a few years but found it too painful in the end. If you are fit enough you can hang the polisher from the main halliard using bungey cord, this takes a lot of the weight and if you drop it (you will) it will prevent damage.
Go to eBay or a car bodyshop supplier and get mops, cutting compound and polish. You'll pay a fraction of the price of chandlers prices.
Allow plenty of time. Work slowly and methodically. It's hard work but very rewarding.
I reckon two full days for a decent job, but then I work slowly with plenty of breaks, if its too hot or sunny then you'll do most of your work in the morning and evening, otherwise you cannot keep the hull wet enough.
Once you've done a decent job the first time, then subsequent years are much easier. Its very satisfying.

 

[Gwylan]

Being time rich and cash poor I do it myself. Also it means that you get a good look around and can see anything that might need attention.

A sunny day, but not raging sunshine, is ideal for doing the job. Warm and it makes it all much easier. Too hot and it can be a pain in direct sunlight as everything dries off too soon.

Another vote for the Silverline polisher. Worth the £50 or so, yes it is heavyish, but I only do it once a year.

A day for both sides of a 33 foot bilge keeler.
Have a step ladder that converts to give a raised platform. Has many other uses so not really a sunk cost on the job. The platform means that you can reach the rubbing strake and cover the whole hull.

Buy the pads from ToolStation or similar, not a bank breaker.

I have used the 3M clean and polish stuff and found it does the job. Pricey, but shop around on eBay, someone will be making an offer.

Usually recruit a local to come and help me, costs me £50 and a trip to Subway, but well worth it if only because it keeps me working not stopping for coffee, sit down, urgent phone calls etc...

 

[derekbland]

This may be a silly question but still in the process of buying a boat after many, many years. As I live along way from where the boat will be berthed, when ashore, am I allowed to stay on the boat? I was in the Vendee last year for 3 weeks and there was a Brit couple working on their boat and staying on it?

 

[pagoda]

This may be a silly question but still in the process of buying a boat after many, many years. As I live along way from where the boat will be berthed, when ashore, am I allowed to stay on the boat? I was in the Vendee last year for 3 weeks and there was a Brit couple working on their boat and staying on it?

I can see no reason why not - if it is on a proper cradle. I do it regularly over the winter. It's easier if the yard/office have accessible toilets and showers obviously.

 

[matthewriches]

It took me 3 weekends to polish my Fairline end to end below the rub rail... not been done for 6 years so was impressively bad but now I have given it the full 3 stage cut polish and wax, it is looking much better!

Would I have paid someone to do it? Yes! Next year I’ll have our painter give it some loving and drink the beers instead.

 

[ip485]

I have done it three times on my 55 footer. I think that may be enough. I can manage it in a weekend but utterly exhausting and that is pretty much non stop. I dont think I can be bothered again and will get the yard to do it. I think the price is fair, and, to be honest, if they do this all the time they will probably do a better job than you the first time. With the time you save it is well worth going over the hull with a gloss sealant at the end of the season which will significantly help to preserve the finish, and something you can do yourself in the water without to much effort.

 

[Cockaigne]

Is polishing a GRP hull in the traditional way any better than using self-polishing coatings such as Zep and Poliglow; which seem to require considerably less time and effort?