Astro Bass restore metflake gelcoat

[Madpole]

I have a new restore project this year and have read many suggestions on how to finish buffed out metal flake gelcoat. I have a feature stripe that I feel can be saved by removing the cloudy areas with compound. When wet the finish looks almost like new. But then it dries and the cloudy look returns.
I would like to put some kind of permanent coating in lieu of a labor intensive, annual wax job. I have read many of the suggestions on this board but none give me that permanent fix???
Can some of you great guys tell me if I can apply a spar varnish or polyurethane over the gelcoat? What would be the downside of doing that? Or suggest something else that does not require a visit to the mortgage company?

Any input is appreciated. Thanks

Don (madpole)

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Astro Bass restore metflake gelcoat

As you say Polishing with compound is prolly your best bet. If not then wet sanding would be the next step. Lots of threads on this here on the forum and the heavy metalflake gelcoats are NOT easily restored. Once they go cloudy, it's almost impossible to revive them.:blue:

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Astro Bass restore metflake gelcoat

Yep ^^^ read thru the results of a Metal Flake gelcoat forum search, lots of them start w/ 'What's this stuff peeling off my boat?' Usually it's a clear coat of some kind, applied at some point when the boat's finish started to look like what you describe.

Post up some pix of your boat & the gelcoat. But as WOG suggested, it's a challenging problem, very challenging once it gets to this point.

 

[Madpole]

Re: Astro Bass restore metflake gelcoat

As you say Polishing with compound is prolly your best bet. If not then wet sanding would be the next step. Lots of threads on this here on the forum and the heavy metalflake gelcoats are NOT easily restored. Once they go cloudy, it's almost impossible to revive them.:blue:

Thanks Woodonglass. I got the polishing step. Please read further in my post about using a permanent finish.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Astro Bass restore metflake gelcoat

As you say Polishing with compound is prolly your best bet. If not then wet sanding would be the next step. Lots of threads on this here on the forum and the heavy metalflake gelcoats are NOT easily restored. Once they go cloudy, it's almost impossible to revive them.:blue:

Thanks Woodonglass. I got the polishing step. Please read further in my post about using a permanent finish.

Not likely you'll find a permanent finish that gives you the results you want, w/ little or no maintenance. Hence my post:

Yep ^^^ read thru the results of a Metal Flake gelcoat forum search, lots of them start w/ 'What's this stuff peeling off my boat?' Usually it's a clear coat of some kind, applied at some point when the boat's finish started to look like what you describe.

Post up some pix of your boat & the gelcoat. But as WOG suggested, it's a challenging problem, very challenging once it gets to this point.

Advanced search for metal flake results

look for posts by:
Yacht Dr
Ondarvr
Oops
George Saloman (sp?, sorry george)

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Astro Bass restore metflake gelcoat

My take on this is the same as the others...anything that you do to the finish at this point is going to be a temporary fix at best...
A really high quality marine clear coat may bring back the shine, but the initial expense may not justify the length of time it will last...
If you can get a satisfactory shine by sanding and buffing the existing finish, just protect it as best you can for as long as you can.
If when you sand and buff the finish, it does not achieve and maintain a clear and shiny wet look and returns to looking cloudy, then it is too far gone...
Once the original clear gel coat that is first applied at the factory starts to cloud, it is considered pretty much gone...even if you get a decent shine by applying a clear coat over it...the porousness of the surface may create other problems such as poor adhesion, flaking, micro bubbling and other things which could easily make a 600 dollar plus clear coat kit, plus all of the prep work and actual application a pretty bad investment...
You can try and buff the surface back to a nice shine and use the tried and true maintenance of applying lots of wax, frequently...or you can just live with it as best as you can get it and save a ton of work and money, or finally, you can prep the surface for the addition of a custom metal flake paint job and make it look like new or better...the only drawbacks are the costs involved and no matter what, you will have to maintain it regularly, or it will turn ugly in a few years or less...
One of the reasons that a spar varnish or polyurethane won't work too well, at least in the long run is the fact that they are not very compatible with polyester finishes and to get a good enough "tooth" for any finish to adhere itself well enough, you may break through the already thin layer of gel coat that's left and raise the flake...once you do that, you are better off painting...
I have read many places where others have tried what you are contemplating and the brave ones come back after a season or three and admit that they are either back where they started or worse...
Whatever you decide, be sure to post up some pics of before and after...
Best of luck,
GT1M

 

[Madpole]

Re: Astro Bass restore metflake gelcoat

Thanks again....you guys are great! I have already repainted the top and sides. Am going to get started on buffing/polishing the stripe and will be sure to come back and post some pix and let you know what I accomplished.
Great boating to all!
Don (Madpole)

 

[MikDee]

Re: Astro Bass restore metflake gelcoat

I have a new restore project this year and have read many suggestions on how to finish buffed out metal flake gelcoat. I have a feature stripe that I feel can be saved by removing the cloudy areas with compound. When wet the finish looks almost like new. But then it dries and the cloudy look returns.
I would like to put some kind of permanent coating in lieu of a labor intensive, annual wax job. I have read many of the suggestions on this board but none give me that permanent fix???
Can some of you great guys tell me if I can apply a spar varnish or polyurethane over the gelcoat? What would be the downside of doing that? Or suggest something else that does not require a visit to the mortgage company?

Any input is appreciated. Thanks

Don (madpole)

You need something that will absorb into the surface, and have an everlasting weatherabilty, that's EASY to apply, and gives you the best results. Plus, once it's fully restored the finish, & color, can be waxed or polished over, for extra durability. The Best thing I've found for this is Vaseline! When applied, the silicons absorb into the finish immediately, & it acts like a cleaner as well. It will only absorb so much at a time, then save the excess. This is best done in the (hot sun) or a heated garage. After some drying time, removing the top layer cleans, & penetrates. It will look spotty at first, but the more applications with drying time in between, will get better, & better, till the surface is fully restored. This may take some time, days, or weeks, but the finished product will be remarkable, and ready for waxing, or polishing. Durability, will be as long as your finishing treatment will last.

 

[Madpole]

Re: Astro Bass restore metflake gelcoat

You need something that will absorb into the surface, and have an everlasting weatherabilty, that's EASY to apply, and gives you the best results. Plus, once it's fully restored the finish, & color, can be waxed or polished over, for extra durability. The Best thing I've found for this is Vaseline! When applied, the silicons absorb into the finish immediately, & it acts like a cleaner as well. It will only absorb so much at a time, then save the excess. This is best done in the (hot sun) or a heated garage. After some drying time, removing the top layer cleans, & penetrates. It will look spotty at first, but the more applications with drying time in between, will get better, & better, till the surface is fully restored. This may take some time, days, or weeks, but the finished product will be remarkable, and ready for waxing, or polishing. Durability, will be as long as your finishing treatment will last.

Thanks Mik!
I am going to try your solution, I think it will do what I am looking for. And if not, nothing much is lost!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Astro Bass restore metflake gelcoat

Uhmmm, the Vaseline solution has been discussed ad infinitum here on the forum and the general concensus of the PRO's is that it's temporary at best and causes more problems than its worth. You've been asking for a Permanent Solution and as stated by myself and others, once the metalflake gelcoat gets to this stage, there really is no permanent solution other than a "Do Over". If you decide to go with the Vaseline gimmick, for sure all the old Clear Coat will need o be removed first and then the porosity of the Gelcoat will be accessible. Once the pores of the Gelcoat have been filled with Vaseline, if and when you want to do any other restorative process to the finish, you'll be faced with the issue of how to get the Vaseline out of the pores of the the Gelcoat.

As always, it's your boat and you're free to do with it as you see fit!

 

[Madpole]

Re: Astro Bass restore metflake gelcoat

Thanks Wood,
I am grateful for all these replies. Looks like I will get it polished as best I can and wax it real good til I need to redo the finish. It is only a large stripe so not that much to maintain.
Thanks again guys
Don