Polishing with power

ashtead

ashtead

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I saw some lads polishing an aquastar42 the other day in Lymington and while they certainly took some time over their work and seemed very diligent working from around10 to circa 5pm what interested me was polishers. They seemed to have a couple of smart battery Milwaukee and while those are out of my budget I thought either an attachment for an angle grinder with battery or a small light battery polisher might be worth a look? Are they worth it ?
 
I've always been very cautious about using power polishers on gelcoat - I think there's lots of potential to leave marks. So I always polish and wax by hand. Doesn't take long and isn't really hard work if you choose decent stuff (I use Meguiars).
 
Ashstead, you have a Westerly Konsort which would have a double coat of gel coat about 2 to 3mm thick. But if I remember correctly your boat was at the Southampton Boat Show and your hull had been painted. If so then you will need to be more careful about how agressive an electric polisher can be. I have compounded my Fulmar's gel coat a number of times with excellent results. This PowerPoint presentation will give you lots of advice including the tools I used. https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/8/86/Gel_coat_renovation_19May2020.pdf.

If your hull has been painted, this does not mean you cannot use a polisher. A light compound of Farecla G10 or similar using water as a lubricant. This will remove any surface grime, then hand polish with a good marine polish with UV protection.

A general word of warning.
For anyone who who has a modern boat with gel coat that has been sprayed, not brushed.
The gel coat is very thin (0.5 to 0.75mm) and very easy to cut through, so I would not recommend compounding these hulls.
 
Hi all no the hull hasn’t been painted but was at SBS. I wasn’t really looking at doing the hull just the topsides and indeed have been using cleaner wax from Meguairs which is good but was just looking to speed up the polishing off really . I will certainly look at presentation Concerto and will try to inspect your work for real at SBS later this year Concerto.
 
A proper electric polisher has quite a low speed compared to an angle grinder. Too high speed and the temperature due to friction builds up very quickly and you can very easily burn the surface you're working on.
 
So whatever we wish to polish a small dedicated polisher with bonnet or a hand seems the way to go. I do have an old electric car polisher but never been that much of a fan of it really.
 
A proper car polisher should also run at fairly low speed and would be suitable for the task. They do tend to be heavy, particularly held at arms' length for an extended period! I 've heard of people hanging them from an adjustable lanyard from the toe rail and swinging them in an arc. The mention of lubricating with water is important as the pad tends to dry in use and this causes overheating. It is often recommended that the work area should be kept wet by the use of a hand spray - easier if done by an assistant as you really need both hands to control the polisher.

All told it still a gutsy job even with an electric polisher...

Rob.
 
I have always used a Silverline polisher on a fairly low speed using Farecla G3 and Nano Marine polish with very good results. But the polisher is 240v and with the attendant cabling is heavy so this year I tried a cordless Einhell polisher with similar speed adjustments and the same treatment regime and what a difference! If there’s heavy work to be done then the mains polisher may still be needed but otherwise I’m not going back as modern battery technology means that cordless machines now have exceptional durability
 
alahol2 said:
Best to use as a one off then switch to G10 for the annual buff up.
Click to expand...

Do boats really need an annual buff-up with abrasive material? I've always been very wary of damaging the gelcoat, so treat it with kid gloves. Thorough washing, polishing by hand and then waxing by hand have always given good results for me.
 
Yes - got my numbers confused as I use G3 where the colour has degraded and shown milky streaks. Easily replenished but takes time. G10 or even T Cut then before polishing. Hull is 42 years young and original coloured gel coat which comes up well.
 
donm said:
I have always used a Silverline polisher on a fairly low speed using Farecla G3 and Nano Marine polish with very good results. But the polisher is 240v and with the attendant cabling is heavy so this year I tried a cordless Einhell polisher with similar speed adjustments and the same treatment regime and what a difference!
Click to expand...
Just what I needed to hear! I tried a Silverline this year (boat jumble purchase a while back) and found it impossibly heavy, not least because I have a semi-busted left elbow.
 
pvb said:
Do boats really need an annual buff-up with abrasive material? I've always been very wary of damaging the gelcoat, so treat it with kid gloves. Thorough washing, polishing by hand and then waxing by hand have always given good results for me.
Click to expand...
My white hull is 20 yrs old and I only clean and wax, with the exception of the stern and blue line which need polishing or rubbing.
 
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Light cut and polish every year. Takes about two days.
 

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I used a Rupes polisher but its still a heavy beast.
Muc easier to work from a scaffol tower like staging which can be hired for not as lot of money and I found that hanging the polisher from the main halliard with a metre or two of bungy cord allowed plenty of working 'swing' but took most of the weight of the polisher.
 
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