Polishing

The best type of polisher to use is a a 7" with variable speed and a side handle. Also check the weight as you will be holding it for a while, so lighter is better. There are plenty of suitable ones coming out of China, sp there is no need to buy a top branded one.

If you want a high shine, then I would recommend using a cutting compound to smooth the surface before using any polish. This article of mine should give you even more information.
https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/8/86/Gel_coat_renovation_19May2020.pdf
 
Rum_Pirate said:
What polisher would you get for waxing and polishing the topsides your yacht's hull(s)?

Mine is a trimaran and is 27'0".

So much choice and so many to choose from:

EG Amazon.com : car polisher
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I went through this a couple of months ago and bought a mid-range DA. It’s an Ginour but unfortunately it’s on my boat so I can’t check the model. It was a little over £100 including a range of pads. Only used it once as a bit of a test and plan to use it in anger prior to next season launch. Seems well made and it had good reviews.
 
Concerto said:
Also check the weight as you will be holding it for a while, so lighter is better.
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This can be balanced out with a 4 pint milk bottle and a line over the boat, or some bungee cord to the rail. Go for a good polisher and ignore the weight since weight will be an issue after an hour even on the lightest units if you don’t balance them.

I’d also recommend wiping with something first, meths works well. Often previous years wax leaves a residue that soapy water doesn’t remove and this leads to unnecessary use of polish which leads to gel coat wear.
 
Check of the DAS 6 or DAS 6 Mk2. They are mid range dual action polishers. Much lighter and easier to handle than a big heavy rotary machine. I have both but normally go straight for the DAS6.
I have had great results with Menzerna 400 Heavy cut compound. It breaks down and polishes out.It’s easy to wipe off the residue also. A heavy or medium cut foam pad works great with these. You can polish afterwards if it needs it but it might not. Once you have cut/polished you will need to protect the bare gelcoat. Menzerna do a really good polymer sealant called Powerlock. Much easier to use than wax. Menzerna do a marine range but I’ve never tried it. I just use their standard automotive range.
 
MikeBz said:
Genius! The simplest ideas are the best.
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Needless to say, replace the milk with water ? If you weigh the polisher in grams, that's how many ml of water you need for balance. Generally you'd want it a little heavier on the polisher side rather than perfectly balanced but easy enough to play about and see what you prefer. Use a fairly slippery line too.
 
So if you have a yacht with a boom, then a piece of elastic rope from the boom onto the polisher will allow the mast to carry the weight of the polisher, so your task is then simply to control and steer the polisher. No good for us Moboers, but worthwhile considering for our raggie friends.
 
lustyd said:
This can be balanced out with a 4 pint milk bottle and a line over the boat, or some bungee cord to the rail. Go for a good polisher and ignore the weight since weight will be an issue after an hour even on the lightest units if you don’t balance them.

I’d also recommend wiping with something first, meths works well. Often previous years wax leaves a residue that soapy water doesn’t remove and this leads to unnecessary use of polish which leads to gel coat wear.
Click to expand...
Balancing... a BRILLIANT idea.
 
Rum_Pirate said:
What polisher would you get for waxing and polishing the topsides your yacht's hull(s)?
Mine is a trimaran and is 27'0".
So much choice and so many to choose from:
EG Amazon.com : car polisher
Click to expand...
My Silverline sander polisher has given me good service. It was much less expensive and not as heavy as some

With 3 hulls to polish you might like to consider one of the light weight ( but expensive) dual action models such as the Maguiers MT320 or the 3M polisher
.
 
superheat6k said:
So if you have a yacht with a boom, then a piece of elastic rope from the boom onto the polisher will allow the mast to carry the weight of the polisher, so your task is then simply to control and steer the polisher. No good for us Moboers, but worthwhile considering for our raggie friends.
Click to expand...
could you not suspend it from the rails, that's what I'm going to try?
 
I'm thinking maybe a halyard with a length of bungee - that way it should be able to traverse the whole side of the boat without having to fiddle about moving the bungee along the guardwire etc.
 
I picked up a £29.95 Silverline (the long style, a bit like a full size angle grinder, not the symmetrical two-handle style which isn't well reviewed) at the start of 2016 when the Osprey was within reach of a power socket.

Unfortunately she hasn't been polished since, so perhaps I need a generator or a 150m power cable, too...

...although Einhell makes a cordless 10-inch polisher for under £40...(£80 with battery and charger): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Einhell-CE...locphy=9045804&hvtargid=pla-432235584650&th=1

My Silverline has put in dozens of long days since as a sander too (hook and loop pad allows polishing pads or sanding disks), and is still going strong, so highly recommended.

Did I read, or did I only dream, that polishing is better for attracting buyers, than for improving performance?
 
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