Recommendations for a boat polisher

[captaincobby]

Good morning

I have decided (maybe wrongly) that I will try and remove the bloom and polish my blue hulled boat rather that pay the boatyard to do it!
I am hoping for recommendations for a reasonably price good polisher, I’ve gone down a Google rabbit hole and all the online reviews have confused me.

any advice on equipment, materials and technique appreciated.

thanks in advance

 

[Stooriefit]

I haven't tried this on blue hull but I swear by Megiuar products. I can easily do my cream coloured hull (30+ years old) with a polish and then wax. Both by hand without too much effort. I always get compliments (not solicited I may add!) and I'm always happy with it. Suggest you try this on a small area and see how it goes.

 

[captaincobby]

Thanks

 

[lustyd]

The first thing you'll need when doing topsides is a 4 pint milk bottle and some rope. Tie this to the polisher and fill with water to balance the weight with the rope over your deck. If you don't do this your arms will ache before you achieve much.

 

[Concerto]

Besides the weight of the polisher, also check for vibration as with lots of powertool use. Over time I now suffer from vibration finger and my hands can tingle after several hours of work. You will also find this document helpful. Gelcoat Polishing

My own document on gel coat renovation will add some specific advice. https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/8/86/Gel_coat_renovation_19May2020.pdf

Before you start, do check how much gel coat has been applied. Boats from the last couple of decades have the gel coat sprayed on and can be a little as 0.5 to 0.75mm. Older boats are more likely to have the gel coat brushed on and will have 1.0 to 1.5mm, but Westerly always applied a double coat and have 2 to 3mm.

Do not work from a ladder, but use a scaffold tower as it makes life so much easier being able to stand. This allows better movement and having the water spray and cleaning products to hand.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Use the money you'll save on the yard bill this year by buying a Makita 9227CB. Yes you could buy something for a third of that but you won't regret it for a minute once you've used it.

 

[Elemental]

The first thing you'll need when doing topsides is a 4 pint milk bottle and some rope. Tie this to the polisher and fill with water to balance the weight with the rope over your deck. If you don't do this your arms will ache before you achieve much.

I tie a length of bungee to the top rail and use this to lighten the polisher load...

 

[Sandy]

I use the Boat Buddy system, 'polish with wax' and wax, and several cloths. I find doing it by hand gives you a much better finish.

 

[donm]

I have a mains 6 speed machine which I use with cutting paste where several passes may be required, but now after several years of work only one pass with a light cutting paste or even T Cut is all that is needed. So I bought a cordless 6 speed which is much much lighter and modern battery technology means that it lasts a good while on one charge. And batteries are now interchangeable on several tools from the same maker!

 

[PCUK]

Get a dedicated polisher, not a sander polisher. It will be lighter and run slower when needed. Rupes are the professional choice at professional prices. Plenty at lower prices that will do what you want.

 

[captaincobby]

I haven't tried this on blue hull but I swear by Megiuar products. I can easily do my cream coloured hull (30+ years old) with a polish and then wax. Both by hand without too much effort. I always get compliments (not solicited I may add!) and I'm always happy with it. Suggest you try this on a small area and see how it goes.

Investigating this product now

 

[ctva]

Two things that make it a relatively easy job: Staging platforms to allow you to work at a comfortable height, makes all the difference. Also a soft start polisher like the Makita one above. Mine was a lot cheaper than the Makita one and has lasted many years so far. When you do it, work in short spells to relieve the strain.

 

[captaincobby]

Two things that make it a relatively easy job: Staging platforms to allow you to work at a comfortable height, makes all the difference. Also a soft start polisher like the Makita one above. Mine was a lot cheaper than the Makita one and has lasted many years so far. When you do it, work in short spells to relieve the strain.

My husband has generously offered to hire staging for me !

which one do you have if not the makita ?

t

 

[captaincobby]

Get a dedicated polisher, not a sander polisher. It will be lighter and run slower when needed. Rupes are the professional choice at professional prices. Plenty at lower prices that will do what you want.

Yes I’m looking for a mid priced one really so keep dismissing the really expensive one but as I will be doing this each season (maybe even twice) now we have a dreaded blue hull boat !!

my husband promised me no blue hull and no teak decks when he bought the boat (swift trawler 42) and guess what we have both

 

[Concerto]

I am surprised you were not included in the buying process, Provided you follow the advice given above, you should be able to make the blue hull shine again.

As to hiring a scaffold staging, it may work out cheaper in the long term to buy a suitable one, provided you have somewhere to store it. There are plenty for sale, both new and secondhand on eBay. I have considered buying one as the staging I have is only just high enough. When I originally worked on Concerto's topsides, she was in a cradle where the keel was almost on the ground, but the marina uses cradles that can be lifted to move the boats around and the keel now is about 50cm higher. Also having safety bars fitted would be a nice addition to stop stepping backwards off the staging (never done it yet).

Cannot help with teak (not teal) decks other than advise never to pressure wash them or scrub them along the grain, scrubbing should always be across the grain. Teak is known as very durable in a marine environment but it does have hard and soft grain. You do not want to wear away the soft grain portion as this leaves a ribbed effect that collects dirt.

 

[ctva]

My husband has generously offered to hire staging for me !

which one do you have if not the makita ?

t

This is the current model that I got 9 years ago. I've used it for the hull, stainless steel polishing, stone polishing etc. at home also.

As to the staging, I'd look at buying as the costs are not that much more than hiring (as long as you have the storage) and it's very useful.

 

[ctva]

Yes I’m looking for a mid priced one really so keep dismissing the really expensive one but as I will be doing this each season (maybe even twice) now we have a dreaded blue hull boat !!

my husband promised me no blue hull and no teal decks when he bought the boat (swift trawler 42) and guess what we have both

You could trade your husband in for some staging...

 

[Concerto]

You could trade your husband in for some staging...

I actually thought they could be an extra pair of hands to help do the polishing.

 

[captaincobby]

You could trade your husband in for some staging...

Not could be a plan

 

[captaincobby]

This is the current model that I got 9 years ago. I've used it for the hull, stainless steel polishing, stone polishing etc. at home also.

As to the staging, I'd look at buying as the costs are not that much more than hiring (as long as you have the storage) and it's very useful.

I think the Greek boatyards rent staging for very reasonable prices so I’m happy with that,
Am I missing the link ?