DeepBlue2010
Lieutenant
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2010
- Messages
- 1,304
I have been dealing with gelcoat stains as a fact of boating life. I Oxalic the heck out of the bottom of my hull to make it nice an shiny only to have it brown and stained couple of weeks later.
Early this season, I had a chip on the hull in the bottom area. I prepped it and sprayed with gel but the season started and I did not have a chance to finish it (fairing, sanding , buffing and polishing). Few days ago when I was looking at it, I noticed that this area specifically is not stained and it stand bright even though all the surroundings are stained brown. It lasted the whole season. I have been reactively treating them but obviously, there is a way to proactively prevent them. I think!
I can only assume it is the wax in the gel. But I am not sure this is the case because I tried to apply wax after Oxalic acid and I still got stains so I stopped since it is too much work to wax the whole bottom for nothing.
Is it really the wax that protects the hull from staining? If so, what is the correct wax to use? I can’t remember which one I used since I have so many different waxes (mold release, UV protection, etc)
Also, if any of our local experts, ondarvr , can shed some light on the nature of these brown stains, it would be greatly appreciated. I am curious to know thier nature. Are they organic organisims? Are they local to Buget Sound area or it is common to all waters?
Early this season, I had a chip on the hull in the bottom area. I prepped it and sprayed with gel but the season started and I did not have a chance to finish it (fairing, sanding , buffing and polishing). Few days ago when I was looking at it, I noticed that this area specifically is not stained and it stand bright even though all the surroundings are stained brown. It lasted the whole season. I have been reactively treating them but obviously, there is a way to proactively prevent them. I think!
I can only assume it is the wax in the gel. But I am not sure this is the case because I tried to apply wax after Oxalic acid and I still got stains so I stopped since it is too much work to wax the whole bottom for nothing.
Is it really the wax that protects the hull from staining? If so, what is the correct wax to use? I can’t remember which one I used since I have so many different waxes (mold release, UV protection, etc)
Also, if any of our local experts, ondarvr , can shed some light on the nature of these brown stains, it would be greatly appreciated. I am curious to know thier nature. Are they organic organisims? Are they local to Buget Sound area or it is common to all waters?
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