The hulls on my 1984 Hobie 18 boat get a brown/yellow staining on them after a few outings. Most of it would wash off with soap and water but some areas are very stubborn. I waxed the hulls prior to launching the boat in May and again in July in an attempt to slow this problem.
The boat is stored on an aluminum lift when not in use and is completely out of the water. When I lower the boat, I rig the main and off I go. I have had to clean the hulls 5-6 times last summer as this discoloration crops up in no time.
I purchased this boat last May and the previous owner stated it was I storage for over 10 years. All other components of the boat suggest minimal use. With that said, could the gel coat truly be worn to the point of needing attention? How do I know if the boat gel coat is the problem? How thick is it? Would it be best to wet sand the hulls first, use a rubbing compound and wheel and then hand wax the hulls in hopes of sealing them?
I have read many posts on the Hobie site and other documentation over the past few months knowing that I want to do "something" with this issue. I have painted automobiles, used clear coats, etc., but I know gel coat is different, which puts me in a difficult spot. I am open to suggestions as I would like to take care of this before May 1st. Hopefully the snow will be gone by then.
Thanks for your assistance.
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