Boat detail questions

[imported_Lightman]

Hey guys. I`m taking on quite a beast of a project in detailing a 32 foot boat. The boat is fairly new and has been kept in good shape. I`m halfway done with the hull - and have been using automotive products, although I suspect there are better suited marine products available for the gelcoated finish. I have so far done a two step process of optimum hyper compound applied via PC, followed up by collinite 885 fleetwax with `good` results although the finish is not perfectly clear, there are minor imperfections in the finish. I do have and am experienced with a rotary buffer - although with so much hull I did not want to have to clean up after a rotary with the PC as an extra step. Does anyone have a recommendation on a polish to use with a foam pad and rotary that will get a little more correction yet still finish cleanly? It`s a white gelcoat.



Secondly, the top deck is covered with what I guess I`ll call a `diamond cut` anti-skid surface. I would imagine this would shred up a foam pad pretty quickly. Normally when cleaning it, soft scrub does the trick, or occasionally starbrite hull and deck cleaner with PTEF. What sort of products/process would bring this area to the next level?



Thanks

[yachtfisher]

[quote name=`Lightman`]Hey guys. I`m taking on quite a beast of a project in detailing a 32 foot boat. The boat is fairly new and has been kept in good shape. I`m halfway done with the hull - and have been using automotive products, although I suspect there are better suited marine products available for the gelcoated finish. I have so far done a two step process of optimum hyper compound applied via PC, followed up by collinite 885 fleetwax with `good` results although the finish is not perfectly clear, there are minor imperfections in the finish. I do have and am experienced with a rotary buffer - although with so much hull I did not want to have to clean up after a rotary with the PC as an extra step. Does anyone have a recommendation on a polish to use with a foam pad and rotary that will get a little more correction yet still finish cleanly? It`s a white gelcoat.







Wool pads are the only way for gelcoat

try some Finess it with an orange foamer, but then try it with a wool pad I think you will be blown away by the difference of the wool



try some woodywax on the nonskid.........otherwise never wax nonskid

the woody wax is made for non skid

[zackslapshot20]

Use some sort of floor wax for the non-skid if you cannot get ahold of woody wax. I prefer pledge floor wax. Suprisingly it works great on non-skid and leaves a nice shine, but yet is not slippery which would defeat the purpose of non-skid!



Good Luck

[imported_Lightman]

Thanks..are you doing anything to buff or polish the non skid sections before applying woodywax or just cleaning well?

[Tarpon Marine]

wool, wool, wool, wool!! lay into too like its your *****



dont wax non skid. especially diamond cut. no reason to. Just clean it. If it is a non-coarse then maybe buff it but no wax. and get PAID for it!

[yachtfisher]

Thanks..are you doing anything to buff or polish the non skid sections before applying woodywax or just cleaning well?

No the woody wax just puts a nice no slick shine, the trick is to wet the deck and spray a small amount then hit it with a soft deck brush. A small amount goes a long way