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restoring gelcoat finnish and shine
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=42152
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Author:  optikid [ Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:17 am ]
Post subject:  restoring gelcoat finnish and shine

i have a blue 1983 hobie 16 and want to restore the gelcoat, so what have you used? im looking for a fairly easy method.
thanks optikid

Author:  Karl Brogger [ Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: restoring gelcoat finnish and shine

Image

plus

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plus

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equals:

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Plan on five or six hours at least to buff out a boat. If the oxidation is bad you'll be spending more time than that, and probably want to use a medium, or course cutting rubbing compound to start with.



plus

Author:  optikid [ Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: restoring gelcoat finnish and shine

wow, how bad was you boat?
Image
Image

is this badly oxidized?

the boat is #53 on the list
http://2010.archive.hobiecat.com/suppor ... istory.pdf

Author:  Karl Brogger [ Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: restoring gelcoat finnish and shine

Yep.

Author:  MBounds [ Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: restoring gelcoat finnish and shine

That's not just oxidized - it's faded. The original color is that blotch on the inside stbd hull (blue). Oxidation is a thin layer on the surface (chalk). Fading affects the underlying pigment.

You can buff and shine it all you want and you'll just have a shiny, faded boat.

Author:  optikid [ Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: restoring gelcoat finnish and shine

the thing on the bow was a repair, and it dosent have that chalky feel to it.

Author:  ronholm [ Mon Apr 16, 2012 6:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: restoring gelcoat finnish and shine

Karl,

Your boat looks great.

I was given this kit for Christmas and figured I was going to give it a shot on my faded 18.

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Marine-F ... 669&sr=8-2


What do you do up top to keep polish compounds out of the anti skid areas.. Or do ya just give em hell?





MBounds wrote:
.

You can buff and shine it all you want and you'll just have a shiny, faded boat.



unless the fading isn't so deep you can cut through it by wetsanding or whatever.. I have brought back some pretty faded stuff in my life.. and had about half of that stay.

Certainly no promises.. and it would take a miracle to bring optikids boat back to new...



Oh.. and I am going to give it another week to see how it holds.. But the Vaseline job on the junk boat is holding up nicely. :P Sheds water and is staying very clean. Absolutely it isn't the deep shine a proper detail rewards a guy with.. but.... :D oh and it is the same blue as the 16 in this thread...

Author:  optikid [ Tue Apr 17, 2012 3:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: restoring gelcoat finnish and shine

so what does every one like to use and lasts a good amount of time?

Author:  ronholm [ Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: restoring gelcoat finnish and shine

ronholm wrote:


Oh.. and I am going to give it another week to see how it holds.. But the Vaseline job on the junk boat is holding up nicely. :P Sheds water and is staying very clean. Absolutely it isn't the deep shine a proper detail rewards a guy with.. but.... :D oh and it is the same blue as the 16 in this thread...


I am hoping to keep this thread more about REAL polishing advice and tips..


So the nonsense is here

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=42073&p=174330#p174330

Author:  Bacho [ Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: restoring gelcoat finnish and shine

Optikid, I had a blue 16 like yours that I set about wet sanding to get it back to the proper blue color. 4 days of sanding later I gave it up, You can find the blue underneath all of that but its way too much work. I would give it a light buffing and call it good.

I am considering doing a vinyl wrap one on my other 16 that needs attention, Cheaper and easier than paint or gel-coat and would likely last longer than I need it too.

Author:  ronholm [ Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: restoring gelcoat finnish and shine

Bacho wrote:


I am considering doing a vinyl wrap one on my other 16 that needs attention, Cheaper and easier than paint or gel-coat and would likely last longer than I need it too.


You just have to watch out for the beach rash.. It will scuff the vinyl and create pockets for the water to pull it off..

I did one ugly boat last year in woodgrain.. From wally world.. and honestly it held up MUCH better than I expected given the abuse it endured..

Busted pylon shoe ended the boat.

Author:  pelican [ Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: restoring gelcoat finnish and shine

I just refinished my boat that was one of the ugliest things that I have seen and this process works great and it tells you exactly what to do and if you follow it step for step it will work.....

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/sh ... ial%20tips

I shall try and dig up some photos.

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