Gel Coat Restoration

[mako20C]

Now that summer is approaching Im trying to rehab my boat, a 20 Mako of course.

Ill start off by saying it was pretty bad. I will have to get pics tom. Also I know you cant really comment on my products since they are 3m but Im just trying to get some help.

Where I am at,

Using an old makita rotary that goes from 1250-5000 rpms.
On the hull sides I started with a 3m yellow wool polishing pad, and I was using there Finesse Finishing material which says on the label remove light to moderate oxidation.

My technique was to start at 1250rpm and work the product in a 12x12, I really could feel the pad bite into the gel coat then as it seem to polish out I increased the rpms to 1750 and lightened my pressure and polished the finish.

I was pleased with the results it was swirl free and had a decent shine to it, now this is original 1984 gel coat.

My next step was to bust out my DA and now a boat only meguiars foam polishing pad, on speed 4 I applied 3m's cleaner/wax for light oxidation.

This I think was my mistake as it seemed to take the shine a step back, I worked the wax in let dry and wiped off.

I have a bottle of the (unopened) flagship premium wax, I should have used it, but I thought I might get a little more polishing done with the cleaner wax.

I think maybe my technique for applying the wax was incorrect.

Luckily I have the other side to do tom.

What is the technique for applying flagship premium wax on gel coat, a polishing pad or finishing pad, and do you apply it like auto wax or do you need to work in the gel coat a bit?

Thanks for any inputs,

[mako20C]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

Well I just applied flagship with a foam polish pad and it was difficult to remove,

I changed my process up on the other side,

Used a 3m wool compounding pad with the red compound. It did a good job.
Then I changed to the 3m yellow wool polishing pad and used the finesse fininshing glaze and polished it out again.

The boat was looking very good. I applied the flagship on speed 4 on a polishing pad, but it was very hard to remove, so I flip over the wool polishing pad to the clean side and went over real quick, you can see where the wax didnt really come off.

I just reapplied a second coat of wax with a finishing pad on speed 4 again and maybe I will let it dry a bit longer.

Any tips would be great.

[BrianPow84]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

Have never done a boat but I am guessing wax is applied the same as a car. Therefore wax would be applied with a finishing pad using a thin coat on speed 2-3 wait and do a swipe test to be sure the wax has dried then wipe off. As for working the wax in I guess I do not understand wax is there for protection therefore you would apply not work in. Anyways work in your compounds. With polishing pad. Use only the finishing pad for wax and sealents

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

Some pictures will probably help here, but since the boat is a 1984 you're probably dealing with some seriously tired gel coat. Generally speaking the lifespan of a gel coat finish is roughly 20 years, and you're pretty well beyond that at this point. That's not to say all is lost, but there are some challenges to overcome.

Under ideal circumstances the application and removal of a wax shouldn't really be any different on gel coat than it is on automotive paint - apply a thin layer either by hand or with a D/A and a finishing pad, let it dry and wipe it off. But as that gel coat ages the pores tend to really open up, and gel coat is much more porous than traditional automotive paint. That could be part of your issue. You might want to try working in some M45 High Gloss Polish beforehand to help feed that gel coat. Doing so not only adds some gloss to the finish but can help with the initial compounding and/or cleaning steps as well. You've already done those, obviously, but give M45 a shot and then try applying the wax after that.

[mako20C]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

Michael,
I think you are right on point, I might need to stick to the cleaner wax area, the inside of the boat is gone, I just wet sanded an area then compounded and it is barely coming back, it would be a major under taking on the inside.

The outside hull came out o.k. I think I'll stick to the cleaner waxes. Is it recomended for M50 to be applied by rotary? I would use my wool polishing pad from 1000-2000 rpms.

I have a new electronics box on my t-top that I hit real quick with some cleaner/wax and then some flag ship and it went on smooth and wiped right off.

I think the rest of the boat at this point probably needs a new gel coat at some point. Thanks for the inputs.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

Michael,
Is it recomended for M50 to be applied by rotary? I would use my wool polishing pad from 1000-2000 rpms.

Rotary application is OK, but the wool pad is probably going to be too aggressive and will likely cause some swirling. Best to stick with a foam pad for the M50 and no more than maybe 1500 rpm, less if you can manage.

Wet sanding of an old gel coat tends to really open up the pores and then the finish will drink in a pure polish like camel in reload mode. Gel coats are much more porous than paint, and wet sanding only serves to magnify that. The real downside, however, is that with those pores now wide open, oxidation will set in more quickly in the future.

[3800rs]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

not to hijack but i was trying to buff a 81 mainship recently. The finish was pretty oxidized. I tried to use megs flagship cleaner + wax with the da and it just basically soaked it up. Some areas looked decent but other looked like i waxed and left the wax on. IT would not buff off.

Just curious what would be the proper process to revive that ? I was thinking it probably needed a heavy compound and a wool pad on a rotary.

Thanks

[mako20C]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

for and 1981 you are probably in the same situation as me, most likely a compound is in order.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

not to hijack but i was trying to buff a 81 mainship recently. The finish was pretty oxidized. I tried to use megs flagship cleaner + wax with the da and it just basically soaked it up. Some areas looked decent but other looked like i waxed and left the wax on. IT would not buff off.

Just curious what would be the proper process to revive that ? I was thinking it probably needed a heavy compound and a wool pad on a rotary.

Thanks

You've got gel coat that is fast approaching 30 years of age - that's asking a lot of a gel coat even if it's been meticulously maintained from day one. A rotary buffer, a wool pad and some M91 is probably going to be the ticket here. You might also want to apply a coat or two of M45 first though, and let the gel coat really drink it up. When it's that old, that oxidized and that dried out it can be a real pain to buff out without giving it that little refresher first. M91 can sometimes be a little temperamental when dealing with gel coat in that kind of condition.

[Phil Lovelady]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

Absolutely agree with what Michael just stated! Gel coat that old will drink up any product. Feed it some of the above mentioned and then do the compounding and finally follow with flagship wax and all should be good. You will have to stay on top of it with very regular wax... Probably like every month or so depending on where it is stored, i.e covered or exposed to the elements. Michael is spot on with the advice! Best of luck

Phil
Stellar Marine Detailing

[mako20C]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

Phil thanks for the tips, where is Dunedin at Im originally from Palm Bay.

[tyztoyz]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

I'm in the same shape with a 1984 25' Catalina Sailboat that sat on the hard all last summer and was not touched. The gel coat is chalky but doesn't "look" too bad.

So from what I've read, I want to start with M45 prior to compounding. It also appears that I will need several coats. What should I look for prior to compounding? My plan was to use M49. Then I assume that I will want at least one more M45 prior to wax?

As for the initial polish, would there be any issue with one person using a rotary on one side and a DA on the other prior to compounding?

Thanks for the help, I look forward to the value from the forum. Good stuff!

[Phil Lovelady]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

Phil thanks for the tips, where is Dunedin at Im originally from Palm Bay.

It is on the west coast of FL just north of Clearwater which is west of Tampa...
Pm me if you have any other questions. Best of luck.

Phil
Stellar Marine Detailing

[Phil Lovelady]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

I'm in the same shape with a 1984 25' Catalina Sailboat that sat on the hard all last summer and was not touched. The gel coat is chalky but doesn't "look" too bad.

So from what I've read, I want to start with M45 prior to compounding. It also appears that I will need several coats. What should I look for prior to compounding? My plan was to use M49. Then I assume that I will want at least one more M45 prior to wax?

As for the initial polish, would there be any issue with one person using a rotary on one side and a DA on the other prior to compounding?

Thanks for the help, I look forward to the value from the forum. Good stuff!

I would skip the M45 and go right to M91 if it is as oxodized as you say. Then use the M63 flagship premium wax as your final stage... Ultimately you are looking for good clarity after compounding. I personally use a rotary for all applications, but I am sure another person with a da will be great as I wish I had someone following me with a da!!! Just take your time and go slow and it should turn out perfect! don't be like most of the boat detailers around me that put the buffer on high and go to town! Keep it slow and even and you will have the best results!

Pm me if you need more help.

Michael Stoops is right on the money from what I have read from this forum.

Unfortunatley most of my jobs are boats that are badly oxodized and need lots of help, but every once in a while someone throws me a bone with and wash and wax... LOL best of luck!

[Phil Lovelady]

Re: Gel Coat Restoration

I would skip the M45 and go right to M91 if it is as oxodized as you say. Then use the M63 flagship premium wax as your final stage... Ultimately you are looking for good clarity after compounding. I personally use a rotary for all applications, but I am sure another person with a da will be great as I wish I had someone following me with a da!!! Just take your time and go slow and it should turn out perfect! don't be like most of the boat detailers around me that put the buffer on high and go to town! Keep it slow and even and you will have the best results!

Pm me if you need more help.

Michael Stoops is right on the money from what I have read from this forum.

Unfortunatley most of my jobs are boats that are badly oxodized and need lots of help, but every once in a while someone throws me a bone with and wash and wax... LOL best of luck!

OOPs, sorry I meant to say skip the M49... A result of fat fingers swollen from detailing all day and trying to text on an iphone... LOL I personally love the M91 after the polish (M45) which does reguvinate the gel coat and then move straight to the M63 Premium wax!

Best of luck!

Phil
Stellar Marine Detailing