Navy blue hull revival / boring polishing thread...

[Firefly625]

This sort of thread is done to death, but I know one forumite who was interested to see how I got on... so this threads for you Stuart.

Tulana's hull was looking pretty ropy I'm embarrassed to say. I had hand polished the hull during the season from the pontoon / dinghy and she would look good for a few weeks then the oxidization / dull / clouding would reappear. Quite upsetting for one so OCD. So I knew I had a job to do. A bit last minute I realised Sunday's weather was going to give me at least a morning of fine weather to get started, having not really planned the job I took what supplies I had in my workshop which was a bottle of FARECLA G3 Liquid Compound and a bottle of 3M Finesse-it, a multispeed machine polisher with G-Mop compounding heads and polishing heads.

All pics taken on my phone so not the best...

How she looked;

So below is the result firstly using G3 Compound, this is quite abrasive, I always apply the compound on the hull with a sponge and using a machine polisher on a low speed setting (my machine I set just over 2 and that is out of 6), I also use a water spray to soften the compounding head and the head I spray every now again. I tend to cover a 2 foot section with the compound and then machine over with mop..

Again, just one side done with G3, leaves surface with a good shine to be getting on with, compare sides

Then back to the start I then chose to go over with 3M Finesse-it, this is a treatment that's primarily used for removing compounding swirls and even finer sanding scratches to leave a fine finish ready for a top coat of sealer or wax. The below pictures are where I left off yesterday as the rain started, so I now need to go over the entire hull with a topcoat wax which will be 3M marine Performance wax

Now I will add that I am not an expert boat valeter, I am sure the folk who do it for a living may pick some holes in what I do. I used both products as this is what I had "in stock" at home, I have a workshop at home and I paint classic & vintage cars to a high standard. I therefore know what is and is not able to be done with paint on cars and I follow on those principles to my boat, whether that's right or wrong I don't give a fig as it works for me. But just thought I would post the pics for your interest, especially for anyone else who is lucky enough to own a faded navy blue boat...

 

[BruceK]

:encouragement: Now that looks smart and well cared for. And I also appreciate just how much work goes into getting her to look like that.

 

[scubaman]

Wow, very impressive! Very well done!

As I've mentioned many times before, I'm a big fan of 3M products. The ultra performance paste wax will protect the results of your hard work for a long time.

 

[omega2]

That G3 takes a lot of beating, but the chosen colour will beat you in the end.

 

[Firefly625]

That G3 takes a lot of beating, but the chosen colour will beat you in the end.

yup, I think you are probably right!

 

[gjgm]

Oh, you can be proud of that !!
Now you just need some sunshine and calm seas.

 

[stuartwineberg]

Never had a thread personally dedicated to me before - thanks James - I will do my best!

 

[Mr Googler]

Great job!! I would leave it on the hard for the year. You don't want it to get dirty in that awful salty sea A shiny blue hull is a thing of beauty.

Over the last few years I have been getting to grips with machine polishing cars and do it just as you have described. Heat build up is the enemy. Enjoy the season.

 

[brainstorm]

Excellent job! If you would like a job in Emsworth....!

 

[maverickofpoole]

Well done FF that looks amazing.

Had my last blue hulled boat for 8 years, looking after them is a thing of love but does wear thin after a while.

You can always tell the guy in the boatyard who has a blue boat firstly by the amount of time he spends there, secondly by the size of his arms and last but not least by the smile on his face

 

[Firefly625]

Thanks all for kind comments, shoulders certainly aching a bit on the drive home. Indeed when nice and shiny alls good with a navy hull and when gleaming they do look better than white.....

 

[burgundyben]

That G3 takes a lot of beating, but the chosen colour will beat you in the end.

In this particular case, I don't think the blue fading will win, I know how OCD James is about keeping his boat polished. I wish I was the same!

 

[Firefly625]

In this particular case, I don't think the blue fading will win, I know how OCD James is about keeping his boat polished. I wish I was the same!

Thanks for your vote of confidence Ben, I would imagine I will win... Much to swmbo annoyance.

 

[omega2]

Thanks all for kind comments, shoulders certainly aching a bit on the drive home. Indeed when nice and shiny alls good with a navy hull and when gleaming they do look better than white.....

Oh yeh?? how about this for a thirty year old. That gets "seen to" bi-annually"

 

[BruceK]

Oh yeh?? how about this for a thirty year old. That gets "seen to" bi-annually"

Are those Fords making top speed mate?

She is a cracking boat, I like her :encouragement:

 

[Firefly625]

Oh yeh?? how about this for a thirty year old. That gets "seen to" bi-annually"

Proper boat, indeed a white hull is as nature intended...

 

[Mr Googler]

Still got a blue strip though

 

[Trundlebug]

Well done Firefly, great work and nice results as always.

I also used to use G3, but I found it was very prone to swirl marks, so really needed the extra stage of a finer compound to remove them. I think that's because G3 was primarily designed for automotive paints rather than grp; at least that's what the Farecla man told me when I was on their stand at SIBS a few years back.

I came away with a (then) newly launched bottle of Farecla Profile 200, specifically designed for marine applications. I've used it extensively since and I must say it's just as he promised; no swirl marks, leaves a great finish and is quick to use. It starts off fairly coarse but progressively breaks down to a finer compound in use leaving a fabulous finish.

I still finish off with a bottle of 3M Machine finish (compound) that I picked up at a boat jumble, it's a really fine finish I guess similar to the Finesse-it that you're using. Anyway, just a suggestion on the Profile 200 from my own experience.

Finally a question: where is all the white spatter and speckled mess over the rest of the boat, rubber D sections, floor and everything else? Have you carefully removed all traces before taking the "after" photos or do you have a secret technique that doesn't splatter the stuff everywhere?! We need to be told...

 

[Firefly625]

Well done Firefly, great work and nice results as always.

I also used to use G3, but I found it was very prone to swirl marks, so really needed the extra stage of a finer compound to remove them. I think that's because G3 was primarily designed for automotive paints rather than grp; at least that's what the Farecla man told me when I was on their stand at SIBS a few years back.

I came away with a (then) newly launched bottle of Farecla Profile 200, specifically designed for marine applications. I've used it extensively since and I must say it's just as he promised; no swirl marks, leaves a great finish and is quick to use. It starts off fairly coarse but progressively breaks down to a finer compound in use leaving a fabulous finish.

I still finish off with a bottle of 3M Machine finish (compound) that I picked up at a boat jumble, it's a really fine finish I guess similar to the Finesse-it that you're using. Anyway, just a suggestion on the Profile 200 from my own experience.

Finally a question: where is all the white spatter and speckled mess over the rest of the boat, rubber D sections, floor and everything else? Have you carefully removed all traces before taking the "after" photos or do you have a secret technique that doesn't splatter the stuff everywhere?! We need to be told...

Thanks for the tip, I will have a look out for Profile 200.

As for white splatter, as you may have noticed on a couple of shots I did mask up the lower rubber D section fendering on the edge so where the machine polisher would track against it would be protected. Then yes I do have a secret D rubber fendering cleaner.... its Wurth Brake Cleaner, the single most useful things to have on board a boat. The most rapid degreaser known to man, great when cleaning down an engine and indeed engine bay, but also a remarkable cleaner for D section rubber fendering! We buy in bulk for our workshop so I just refill my pump dispensers when I require a top up.

 

[Sneds]

Nothing to add other than to say she looks fantastic
Anyone in Bristol that could make my boat look like that?
Live the blue hull but hate the salt marks!