Boat polishing plan.

[PDoyle]

Hello, the 23ft boat is about 7 years old, has a red gellcoat stripe and the rest is white. One side of the boat is worse than the other but both sides have mild fade in the red. The boat has only been hand waxed and never with a buffer... Till now.



I have a full bottle of 3M Marine restorer & wax, and I would like to follow up with some Collinite Fleetwax 885.

My tools are a Griot`s 6" and a red pad and orange pad. 2 IPA beers.



On the average ....is a full bottle of the restorer going to be enough for this type of application.

Should I use a compound before the restorer?

And is the fleetwax a waste of time and product?

Any advice is always helpful, thanks.

[Ron Ketcham]

My advice it to forget the "restorer" and use a compoud, followed by a strong polish. The "restorer" is ok, but more "oil" than effective removal product for oxidized gel coat. One you think you have the finish up to your expectations, clean a spot with an IPA and water solution to remove any polishing oils and look at it. If it meets what you expect, then apply the 3M restorer/wax or the Collinite. Red, like in an automotive finish, is the most unstable of color pigments, and any oils in a product will create a " I fooled you" first apperance.

The "oxidized/dead" gel must be removed, and unlike an automotive clearcoat, is much more "dense" and can take the removal of up to a full 5 mil before you reach the "sponge" or "soft" gel.

Once you get down that far into the gel, it is a "sponge" and no one can polish a "sponge" and make it shine without the fake shine that oils provide.

[PDoyle]

Excellent. Thank you. Is there a special pad to apply the compound?

Is there a compound type I should look for ?

And what % IPA to water?

[Ron Ketcham]

Rotary buffer, use a 4 ply wool yarn for compounding, use either a "lambs wool" pad ( not bonnet) or a polishing foam pad for polishing.

Compound should be a "heavy cut" compound, mix the IPA for this situation, at half and half.

[PDoyle]

Thanks Ron. Gotta love the knowledge ....

I`m hunting for a 6" wool pad now.

Finding out 6" is uncommon. Found a 7" pad at a body supply shop 3 towns away for $34. but that`s ok .

Hoping to pick up the IPA at the same store.

Then it`s party time. I`ll try to remember to get some pics before and after.

[mikemurphy234]

Ron is 100% spot on with his recommendations!! Also, you can pick up IPA at most any drug store or any supermarket with a health section in it. 90% is best but if you have to get 70% then just increase the amount of IPA in the mix.

[Ron Ketcham]

6 inch pad? So I assume you are planning on using a dual action?

If that is the case, use a foam cutting pad in place of the wool yarn pad.

Going to be a long day if using a dual action.

[PDoyle]

Ron is 100% spot on with his recommendations!! Also, you can pick up IPA at most any drug store or any supermarket with a health section in it. 90% is best but if you have to get 70% then just increase the amount of IPA in the mix.

Great info. I was researching where to get it. Thanks much.

[PDoyle]

6 inch pad? So I assume you are planning on using a dual action?

If that is the case, use a foam cutting pad in place of the wool yarn pad.

Going to be a long day if using a dual action.

I`m using a Random Orbital. Dual action?

It`s going to be a long day anyway. It will be my first time using a buffer.

[lobster poutine]

a rotary will be your best friend for boats....

[PDoyle]

a rotary will be your best friend for boats....

This rotary will, yes. I aint buying another!



Speaking of.... I bought the Griot`s 6" rotary. I have been all over town looking for 6" pads.

Thought this process would be easier. I called around to a few body shop supply stores and these guys never even heard of Griot`s. Funny! A Sherman Williams auto paint guy

told me he used WipeNEW on part of his boat...***.

I gotta call Griot`s and order a compound pad. Think I can have it by Saturday?

[PDoyle]

6 inch pad? So I assume you are planning on using a dual action?

If that is the case, use a foam cutting pad in place of the wool yarn pad.

Going to be a long day if using a dual action.

ARG, called Griot`s and was told the orange pads are for compound.

[PDoyle]

Thanks for your help you guys....Got the chance to use the 6" yesterday before it rained in "my neck of the woods"

This is my first time using a buffer. I experimented on my $40k boat. It went very well.

I know some of you have years of experience using this type of tool. It was a slice of polishing heaven!

I used the IPA. I had direct sun on the first side so it dried quickly. Do you guys wash the IPA off then wax, or just quick rinse and wax over it?

I used the alot of compound on the pad kept it real wet and didn`t use much pressure. Afraid of any burn marks first time out. It took a couple of passes with compound and 90% of the haze is gone. The restorer wax is ok. But I`ll pull the boat off the lift next month or so and use the boat wax I have on it.

Now to practice on my cars...