Renovating tired topsides

[Mandarin331]

Having just bought our first GRP yacht after many years of wood we're learning the subtle art of maintaining fibreglass, but getting pretty confused by the multitude of (expensive and inefective) products on the markets.

We have the original gelcoat, in pretty good condition but a bit yellowed and somewhat matt surface, we'd like to get this back to white and restore the shine - without painting.

Once we've done the topsides then the next job would be to do the sames with the decks & cockpit, which are a bit matt and with a few minor hairline cracks here and there.

Any tips please?

 

[billgray]

We use Polyglow and it works okay. Preparation is important oxalic acid did the trick.
Bill&Mags

 

[Keith 66]

It all depends on how much she has been polished before, a tired looking boat can be transformed by a good buff with G7 and a power polisher. However if the gel is getting thin painting may be the only option, I have this problem on my new boat her deck has been cut back so many times the matt is grinning through the gel and it looks awful, time for the two pack for me!

 

[bazobeleza]

oxalic acid and 1200 w'n'dry, 400 on the stubborn bits, with a final cut back with machine applied 2000g ferecula cutting compound and good polish to finish it all with did it for mine, but as said above, you can't do it to often if you don't want glass mat showing through.

 

[tobble]

congratulations on an excellent boat /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif met her and the previous owners a few times.

My topsides were very poor a couple of years ago, I tried various things, in the end rubbed back with wet and dry (think I started wit 280, but it was BAD), down the grades to 600, then farclea Rapid then G3, or is it G10... yes all wet and dry work done by hand, took a long time!

was lent a fein polishing machine (like a low speed angle grinder) about £300's worth, and was the dog's knees. Those £15 halfords jobbies are a waste of time, but there' probably a happy (financial) medium!

With regard to gel coat thickness, it's hard to tell until you've gone through it! maybe give steve a bell to ask if he knows its polishing history. I guess you could chip away a bit to gauge the thickness, as she's white a repair won't show too badly. trouble is the thickness is likely to vary around the boat.

good luck

 

[Mandarin331]

Thanks to everyone for all your comments, very helpful and we've got a pretty good idea what we have to do this winter now.

We've just been waiting for Shamal to be lifted out (which happened last week) and now we can start work.

Hi Tobble, its always nice to hear from people who knew her before - she's now on the East Coast and we're very happy with her.