Thoughts on cut and polish for 21yr S42

[Lola69]

Hi folks. We’ve just bought a 21yr old S42 in really lovely condition. As some of you who have been very patient in answering my many daft questions on here will know this is our first boat.
Again I know maybe not the most sensible choice but we’re mid 50’s and wanted a challenge plus she’s likely our one and done I think.
We’ve just moved her across from Scotland and she’ll be kept on the lakes here in Ireland for the foreseeable.
Survey indicated stern drives needed antifouling but not much else to be honest this year.
She’s out getting ready for this plus anode change but we’ve now been advised she needs cut and polished. Initially we just wanted her polished and canvas cleaned up plus the essentials as above.
We’ve been quoted £3500 plus vat for the cut and polish alone and I’m just not sure it’s essential. She’s 21yrs old but to our untrained eyes the hull (all white bar the very bottom) is a bit dull but we don’t know if we’re missing something else very obvious here. If this is purely cosmetic I’d rather forgo it till next year as we just want to get her in the water and get learning!
But as always I’ll take any advice for those who are more experienced s d a lot wiser than us!!
Thanks in advance and sorry again for yet another probably daft question.

 

[Seastoke]

That’s a lot of money , spring is the best time to do, you may want to do it yourself . Especially the topside . Over the winter buy all the kit watch the videos . They are taking advantage of a newbie . Just my opinion , which is worth nothing . I will fly over and do it for 3k .

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Cut and polish is cosmetic, so you can absolutely leave it for now, or forever. The GRP will stay dull but won’t degrade.

 

[PaulRainbow]

£3500 is an absolute rip-off for a 42ft boat. Leave it for now and do it yourself in the Spring, it isn't rocket science.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Yup agreed. My 48’er was £1k for the decks, cabin top / superstructure, cockpit, flybridge etc. I’d expect similar for topsides and transom.

 

[kashurst]

As per other posts. They are taking advantage. It's not hard with a proper polishing machine (not the small ones for cars), which are cheap.
Youtube, eBay, etc. and it can definitely wait and you can do it in sections when you want.

 

[philipdawsonladds]

Get another quote - my 42' boat was £700 - I do it myself some years - just easier to pay - and yes, in the Spring when the shine will last

 

[Oscar24]

Unless the gelcoat is very dull i wouldnt bother doing a cut on it.
A wash down and wipe with oxalic acid cleaner and then an appliocation of pure wax and buff is all i do now.

 

[kashurst]

I am an assiduous boat polisher.
I polish the boat just after buying it really well.
I polish the boat just before selling it quite well.

It gets a good jet washing after Easter whether it needs it or not.

Am I getting a bit OCD about it???

 

[jon and michie]

@Lola69 - As I mentioned on your other thread it seems a steep price - where are you based ?
and as other have said you don't need to do it till next year when the weather is better and the season starts again

here are some video's on how to's

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+polish+your+boat

 

[petem]

@Elessar has an easy way to get a decent DIY polish. Hopefully he can share his video?

 

[Seastoke]

I am an assiduous boat polisher.
I polish the boat just after buying it really well.
I polish the boat just before selling it quite well.

It gets a good jet washing after Easter whether it needs it or not.

Am I getting a bit OCD about it???

I remember seeing the T50 looking good one side.

 

[dunedin]

Unless the gelcoat is very dull i wouldnt bother doing a cut on it.
A wash down and wipe with oxalic acid cleaner and then an appliocation of pure wax and buff is all i do now.

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).

 

[kashurst]

I remember seeing the T50 looking good one side.

You must have been looking at someone elses or very sensibly through the bottom of a pint glass.
It took hours just to wash it. I don't think I ever polished it, too busy repairing the bloody thing.
I still have nightmares about that boat...

 

[Refueler]

As others say ... why ? Just go sailing - enjoy the boat ...

3.5K ???? I'm in wrong business !!

 

[Seastoke]

You must have been looking at someone elses or very sensibly through the bottom of a pint glass.
It took hours just to wash it. I don't think I ever polished it, too busy repairing the bloody thing.
I still have nightmares about that boat...

In Torrevieja

 

[Mileholm]

£3,500k implies something like 2 weeks work. Unless labour rates are mad in NI. Did this outfit suggest how long they’d spend on the job?

 

[Elessar]

@Elessar has an easy way to get a decent DIY polish. Hopefully he can share his video?

Crikey that’s a blast from the past. Will try and find it.

 

[aerobat]

I was quoted 2500 eur in netherlands for a gobbi 375sc but found another guy who will do it for 800 . Polishing service on bigger boats seems to become the common ripoff businsess. With decent equipment its not more than ~2 days of work and maybe 200 euros in pads and polishing paste .

 

[Elessar]

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.