gelcoat question

D

deltabighat

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exMember
Joined
Aug 17, 2004
RO Number
14904
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493
I have spent 40 years fooling around with boats, built Glaspars in Ca while going to college so I have a little boating knowledge, but I have a dumb question. I have a 15 year old 24ft Trophy in great condition with the exception of the hull looks. The hull is clean and does not have too many dings but the finish is very dull. I have used several waxes with various compounds and the grey hull is still dull. I then had it professionally done and it was only slightly better. Question - Is there any topical product to spray or paint on the finish to shine it up much like varnish does to wood or other ideas short of repainting.

DBH
 
You could clear coat it. First I would try compunding it. If that didnt work, wet sanding then polishing. It worked for another RO here when I did it to his old Cruisers boat
 
Have you tried rubbing compound with a rotary buffer before waxing or polishing? Just did the hull on my '94 Bayliner before putting her away for hibernation and the difference was amazing. No more dull, chalky feel. I used 3M but others on here have had great luck with Buff Magic and Pro Polish.
 
24 Footer may fit in a body shop spray booth, could have it painted pretty cheap.
 
uh oh, the dreaded Poliglow! Used it once on an old boat, never again.
 
A friend of mine at the marina has a old carver that was real dull,He works at a body shop and had some(3m trizact 443sa p3000)Foam disc pads that he uses on clear coat.He wet sanded the boat by hand and waxed it,now it shines.The bow of my 1994 boat gets some sun in my covered slip,it always had a dull look under the wax.I washed the boat using dawn dish washing soap,wet sanded the bow with the 3m pad,compound the bow,polished the whole boat,waxed the whole boat.It shines like new.
 
compounding and waxing may bring back the gloss but you'll have to stay on top of it after that. Depending on the life left in the gelcoat, and how long you plan on keeping the boat are the two things to consider, as it will take waxing quite often to maintain the shine. As often as 2-3 months.
If you can clean up and get the shine back with a cleaner wax during these periods, all the better. But if that won't bring it back, you'll have to compound again.
Oxidation occurs.

If I were keeping the boat I'd consider a new urethane paint and never bother with compounding and waxing again. (= equals more boating/fishing time :)
 
Ever hear of X-kote? Im thinking of using it on my 72 18ft Glastron
 
Do not use anything that coats it - like Polyglow. I used that and once you decide it doesn't live up to a politician's promises, it's hard as h&ll to get off. Have you tried calling Trophy to see if they have heard of a problem with that year? It could be that it is just a dull finish and you won't get any better. If it's as clean and bright as you can possibly get it, there are other things to worry about.
 
Thanks all.....I guess it just boils down to a lot of elbow grease and hard work. It makes sense to not spray on some finish as it could be a nightmare to get off if it didn't turn out well. I guess that idea came from the way my boat looks when it is wet. That grey hull really looks good wet, but dull, dull, dull after it dries.
 
How about having it painted with Imron or Awgrip?????That's what I'd do when compounding didn't get it any longer.
 
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