Polishing the hull - First timer

[johnalison]

stripes on rasseys are paint I believe. I know the lower ones are.
Blue gelcoat can be brought back by sanding then polishing then waxing - until worn through of course.
Yours looks lovely

No; they are gel - until they are painted. The stripe around the cockpit used to be paint but has been gel since about 2002.

 

[Dave99]

Suction cups are a good idea if you are polishing from the tender, makes it much easier to hold on. You can even put on at the bow and stern of the tender and use them as cleats so the dinghy stays put while you work on each section.

 

[chinita]

Which wax do people suggest for dulled blue lines?

I will be doing a job on a boat in Portugal with a badly oxidised blue hull.

Reports of this -

http://www.promain.co.uk/product/Owatrol_Polytrol_Restores_Faded_Plastic_GRP_id3689

- are good because it restores the original pigment.

 

[pvb]

I will be doing a job on a boat in Portugal with a badly oxidised blue hull.

Reports of this -

http://www.promain.co.uk/product/Owatrol_Polytrol_Restores_Faded_Plastic_GRP_id3689

- are good because it restores the original pigment.

Don't waste your time! Polytrol isn't wonderful stuff; initial results might look good but don't last long, and it deposits a layer of stuff which isn't easy to remove.

 

[chinita]

Don't waste your time! Polytrol isn't wonderful stuff; initial results might look good but don't last long, and it deposits a layer of stuff which isn't easy to remove.

I was intending using Farecla G3 with a sponge head compounding machine , then Polytrol then polishing on top of the Polytrol. Are you saying that this is not possible?

 

[pvb]

I was intending using Farecla G3 with a sponge head compounding machine , then Polytrol then polishing on top of the Polytrol. Are you saying that this is not possible?

Just do that, omitting the Polytrol!

 

[alahol2]

I was intending using Farecla G3 with a sponge head compounding machine , then Polytrol then polishing on top of the Polytrol. Are you saying that this is not possible?

I did the same back in the dark ages (when it was Owatrol), after 2 or 3 years you are back to the G3 to try and get the yellowed Polytrol off again. Agree with pvb, G3 then polish then couple of layers of wax.

 

[Scillyboy]

I use T-cut dark blue paste on my blue gel-coat strip, followed by a marine polish. Works very well, but a summer on the water always dulls it somewhat. I guess you'd have to be careful as it will eventually erode the surface, but the same can be said for sanding.

 

[chinita]

Thanks guys. That is what I have always done (successfully) in the past.

Sounds like you have saved me about fifty quid and a lot of grief.

It was a tip given to me by a yacht broker.

 

[LittleSister]

Don't waste your time! Polytrol isn't wonderful stuff; initial results might look good but don't last long, and it deposits a layer of stuff which isn't easy to remove.

I did the same back in the dark ages (when it was Owatrol), after 2 or 3 years you are back to the G3 to try and get the yellowed Polytrol off again.

Is there a solvent, or detergent or whatever, that will clean off old Polytrol, etc., rather than grinding it off?

 

[William_H]

OP has not said what colour his hull is. If it is white then perhaps not necessary to cut and polish. Certainly with a light coloured hull clean with oxalic acid in the first place then acetone for any grease type dirt that does not move.
I have to say OP should get on with sailing and forget the polish for a while. But then each to his own. good luck olewill