Wax or silicon?

[Allan]

In the car world silicon polishes have taken over from waxes. Does this apply to boats? Is there any problem with using a silicon polish on gelcoat?

 

[stevebirch2002]

Silicon on a yacht is a no no. Impossible to get off for painting etc.... Ask any GRP expert.

 

[sailorman]

ditto

 

[reeac]

So how do they respray a car after accident repair if silicone polish is such a no-no?

 

[sailorman]

i think its due to the porosity of the gel coat

 

[duncanmack]

Sometimes with very great difficulty.

 

[SoulFireMage]

I was told that silicone is bad for grp as it will "eat" it apparently. I can't tell you that it's true, however since then I've gone for Teflon instead. The car paint won't absorb the silicone whereas GRP might.

 

[boatmike]

Silicon will damage your gel coat horribly cos it's rock.
Silicone on the other hand is only a problem cos you can't get it orf agin. Bit of a problem if you need to do a repair.

 

[charles_reed]

not a good idea

to use a silicone-based polish 'cos you have to use considerable quantities of acetone to get it off which in turn softens the gel-coat.

It has to be removed because it discolours and when you need to do any gelcoat repairs