Restoring gelcoat on a sailboat

[tguil]

I need to brighten up the hull on my daughter's Laser sailboat (a small boat). Probably I will pick up or order some #44 Color Restorer. The boat is not in all that bad of shape. Do I use a pc or rotatry buffer with this product and what pads should I have available?

Tom

[tguil]

Re: Restoring gelcoat on a sailboat

OK. I picked up both a bottle of #44 Oxidation Remover and a bottle of #49 Color Restorer. I'd like to use just one of the bottles and return the other -- $12 is $12. I already have way too many bottles of "stuff" laying around. I have a bottle of Flagship Premium wax for my Sea Ray. I plan to clean the oxidation off the sailboat and then use the Flagship wax.

Do I still do the Meguiar's "thing" and go with the least abbrasive product first. This job does not need to be completed at the "obsessive" level.

Tom

[Jonesey]

Re: Restoring gelcoat on a sailboat

How obsessive do you want to go? Back when I was racing Laser's, I wetsanded my hull (2000 grit final)- you want the bottom as smooth as can be for every last knot of speed. If racing is in the future, you may want to think about that, it will clean off the oxidation nicely. This was twenty years ago, so I don't remember what I polished with after that.

Have fun- they are great boats- I still have mine.

Glenn

[tguil]

Re: Restoring gelcoat on a sailboat

How obsessive do you want to go? Back when I was racing Laser's, I wetsanded my hull (2000 grit final)- you want the bottom as smooth as can be for every last knot of speed. If racing is in the future, you may want to think about that, it will clean off the oxidation nicely. This was twenty years ago, so I don't remember what I polished with after that.

Have fun- they are great boats- I still have mine.

Glenn

This is my daughter's boat. She has had it stored in my garage for twenty years. As a teenage she sailed the Laser and I remember sanding the hull for her. I had a Hobie 16. Now that was a boat! Right now I'm back into motor power rather than wind power.

Oh, I'm not sure whether or not she plans to race again.

Tom