What rubbing compound

[Alrob]

following on from ALT,s previous post I thought I might treat my hull to a tart up, questions is can I use any rubbing compound or is there special ones for grp

 

[oceandrive]

Have a look at my recent post Re polish you wont find much better than 3M Fast Cut used with a white foam pad at low speed. Finish with 3M finess-it compund polish which will remove any swirl marks etc.

For any blemishes rub back with 1600 wet and dry and then compound and finish as above. As my post says we have also used 3G but this is extreemly abrasive and should be used with causion and only if you know you have a good depth of gel cote on the area of work.

Tip use a little water with the compound preferably in a spray just to keep the work area moist this will help you achive the perfect finish and also protect against the pad breaking down and heat build up.

Hope this helps.

 

[VicS]

Some people say the 3M products contain ammonia which tends to tun white gel coat yellow. Dunno!

I have use Farecla products in the past but not yet tried the new marine products.

Most recently I have used the Star brite rubbing compounds and polish

http://www.farecla.co.uk/

http://www.starbrite.com/subcatalog.cfm?CatName=Marine

 

[PaulGooch]

I just use Farecla G4 or G6 (courser), depending on how marked/dirty the gel coat is. If need be, follow up with the afore mentioned 3M "Finnese It". Then some Turtle Wax. Quick wash down after a trip with some plain old car "Wash and Wax" keeps it looking like new.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Buy the 3M Marine products. Best thing around.
You can use use the Marine Finess-it or Clean & Wax Compound.

 

[lenseman]

following on from ALT,s previous post I thought I might treat my hull to a tart up, questions is can I use any rubbing compound or is there special ones for grp

Try Jif (Zif) and check the results against price BEFORE you go out spending money down at the Swindlery! Borrow the one in the bathroom at home from the Missus, it is even cheaper!

It cleans baths and sinks without scratching so it will not damage your gel-coat.

 

[Trundlebug]

I've used Farecla profile 200 (marine) with great results, really good on GRP.

I've previously also used Farecla G3, which until I used the profile 200 I thought was good but isn't as good as the profile200 because it was designed for car paintwork and can leave a slight hologram effect.

I've also used some 3M Machine polish which I got cheap from a boat jumble. As a finishing compound it's excellent, brings up a very high shine.

The truth is, I reckon they're all OK. To some extent you have to use them to understand the difference, and as all boats will be in slightly different condition it's hard to say there's an overall best. It's all down to individual circumstances, price, availability, technique and so on.

 

[Imperial One]

Try Jif (Zif) and check the results against price BEFORE you go out spending money down at the Swindlery! Borrow the one in the bathroom at home from the Missus, it is even cheaper!

It cleans baths and sinks without scratching so it will not damage your gel-coat.

Just be sure its the cream version of Jif/Cif and not the gritty one!

 

[lenseman]

Just be sure its the cream version of Jif/Cif and not the gritty one!

I thought they were all creamy nowadays?

It was Ajax and Vim that had ground up pumice stone!

 

[alt]

IMHO you only need a finishing compound & polish (and wax if you like) unless your hull is in a bad state.

On my own hull (7 year old Sealine) I just used 3M Finesse-It and Mer's Car Polish

3M Finesse-It bottle states it contains no ammonia