Thoughts on cut and polish for 21yr S42

[Elessar]

Yes, as I said on the other tread a good wash and a quick coating of a simple polish and hand buff will keep the dirt off through the winter and avoid any deterioration.
Then can decide what to do in the spring. With a new boat there may be other priorities by then for spending your hard earned money, that are more important.
Take care DIY polishing if need ladder, as people do fall off with sad consequences. If don’t have good safe platform we often polish only the bottom part, from waterline to where can safely reach from a low 2 step ladder, when ashore, and then polish the rest afloat (clearly not using mains electric buffer).

Modern polishes are useless without a powered buffer. They start coarse and break down to a finer polish when used with a machine. You just can’t do it by hand. It’s quite safe even if you are stupid/careless enough to drop it in. That’s what breakers are for.

I wax by hand after polishing.

 

[Lola69]

Thanks so much for all your advice folks. Him indoors is negotiating things at the moment so all the expert tips and experience you have generously shared is very valuable and much appreciated .
I just can’t wait till she’s in the water and we can begin the excitement/total fear of learning the ropes to get going .

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Yup. If you spend even 20% of that polishing quote figure on a couple of days of own-boat training, you’ll be away.

 

[petem]

Ok so Pete has the memory of an elephant.

Except when it comes to my wedding anniversary date!

 

[jon and michie]

Ok so Pete has the memory of an elephant.

These 3 videos are unedited so over long. This means they are boring.

But if you wanted to see how I polished Evenstar (2 boats ago) then here they are. You have been warned.

I used the 3M polish, medium cut, in the purple bottle. Diluted in hot water about 5 parts water to 1 of polish. Be patient mixing it.

Part 1 applying the polish

Part 2 polishing

Note it was February and freezing. Thus the polish was taking a long time to dry.

Part 3 waxing
Meguiers canuba block (not liquid) car wax.

Hope that was useful to those that made it through.

NOTE never stay still if you are using lambswool - you will irretrievably burn a yellow mark into your Gelcoat. Re apply polish and go over again if needed. Don’t keep it still to remove a mark.

Excellent Video @Elessar - you made it look effortless

 

[Elessar]

Excellent Video @Elessar - you made it look effortless

I should have said that a quality machine is key to making it easy. I use a Rupes. Not cheap but only weighs 2kg, cheaper polishers are either nearer 4kg or not powerful enough.

In the shop 4kg feels fine. But not when used for a long time.

(link edited to the correct machine also - i found one on offer here - no connection nor have I used this store.)

 

[PaulRainbow]

I should have said that a quality machine is key to making it easy. I use a Rupes. Not cheap but only weighs 2kg, cheaper polishers are either nearer 4kg or not powerful enough.

In the shop 4kg feels fine. But not when used for a long time.

(link edited to the correct machine also - i found one on offer here - no connection nor have I used this store.)

Might look expensive at first glance, but if you used it to polish the boat just once, rather than pay £3500 it's a bargain

 

[Zing]

I reckon it’s a week of work. What price labour? £3,500 puts me on a £1m+ annualised rate.

 

[NBs]

I should have said that a quality machine is key to making it easy. I use a Rupes. Not cheap but only weighs 2kg, cheaper polishers are either nearer 4kg or not powerful enough.

In the shop 4kg feels fine. But not when used for a long time.

(link edited to the correct machine also - i found one on offer here - no connection nor have I used this store.)

I also give Rupes a vote. I have a 21 Big Foot and use a short-pile lambswool flexibad 160mm pad. It's suitable for buffing and polishing work. First-class results and no risk of burning the gel coat. I ' m working hull 12*4 m about 10 hours and look pic "blue mirror surface"

 

[alt]

Hello from West of Ireland (lake).

I'm guessing you're going to be on the Shannon? If so, you do NOT need to anti-foul as you're on fresh water. If the out-drives are looking manky, by all means have them sanded back, primed and painted - then just the annual power-wash to get rid of the slime.

£3500 to cut / polish is absurd (Do you mean Euro? Even so, rip-off). Where are you based? I can get you someone a lot cheaper (who is very good, he does my 37ft annually), but depends on your location as he'd likely need to be put up for the time he's there. PM me your email address.

 

[Sianna]

I should have said that a quality machine is key to making it easy. I use a Rupes. Not cheap but only weighs 2kg, cheaper polishers are either nearer 4kg or not powerful enough.

In the shop 4kg feels fine. But not when used for a long time.

(link edited to the correct machine also - i found one on offer here - no connection nor have I used this store.)

Totally agree, I also have a Rupes, fantastic polisher that has probably saved me thousands, by the sounds of your quote, over the past 6 years