Gel Coat Gone? Cloudy/dull issue with hull/topside

[brsox88]

So this is a multi question topic, so I guess I will just ask them in order:

1. Is it normal for the blue of my hull to come off on a rag when using Star Brite's cleaner wax?
2. How do I get that dull/cloudy look out from the hull? I have tried starbrites compound, cleaner wax, polish, etc..
3. The top side doesn't have any shine and is like a chalk board, I don't think there's any amount of buffing that would bring it back, is the gel coat gone or something? It's like this all the way around the boat
4. How do I get those dirt stains out from the pictures I showed, I've tried a pressure washer, hull cleaner, bleach, etc.

 

[QBhoy]

Hi

this is a common problem with some boats. Not sure what you have, but the coloured hull sections on pretty much all of the 90’s era bayliners, maxums and similar are terrible for it.
Often you can get the shine back with some polish brands, but it will fade within a few days. you need to be careful, because of it is one of the above brands or similar...there isn’t much thickness on the finish to work with. Many have had disastrous results with harsh abrasive compounds.
I wish I had known it at the time, when I had an early 90’s bayliner 2255 with a faded green section...but my friend recently tried the Meguars marine fibre glass restored stuff....and it’s incredible how it came up. Literally looks amazing. He used this along with some occasionally applied water with a proper rotary polishing machine.
Literally looks new, but be careful not to cross over onto the white bit of the hull (if applicable), it will run the colour into it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

1. Normal with oxidation

2. Buy a varible speed 7" polisher and some 1000 grit wet/dry sand paper and a giant tub of elbow grease. Your looking at a weekend if hard work

3. See the giant tub of elbow grease and wet/dry sand paper. You have to wet sand first.......

4. Oxalic acid

 

[tpenfield]

Gelcoat, as it ages and is exposed to the elements gets very chalky. The compounding, elbow grease, wet sanding, etc. will take gelcoat off in order to once again attain a smooth, shiny surface. Lots of work.

You could look into a product called ‘PoliGlow’ for an easier, although not permanent solution, but it may get you a few seasons of shiny boat.

I used it on my Catalina 22, which had become a chalky, stain-ridden mess. Got good results that last 3-4 years.

 

[Grub54891]

I've seen the poli glo stuff before, it works, but if you want to remove it later, it's quite the challenge.
I think it's some kind of mop and glo product. Maby even like a varnish. Pretty tough to sand off.
A customer used it on his gelcoat, then decided to have us paint the boat instead. Went through lots of sand paper, gummed up the paper pretty good.

 

[JoLin]

I applied Poli-Glo to the hull 3 season ago. It is a varnish applied in multiple coats with a soft mitt. Surface prep is absolutely critical, as is maintenance. I've been real careful with it, but after a few seasons I've got some streaks and blotches. I'm considering taking it off in the fall and reapplying it from scratch.

I'd say that using it depends on how picky you are about the boat's appearance. For my 26 year old boat I'm satisfied with it. It looks at least as good as it would with a deep cleaning and wax job. Application and yearly maintenance are a lot easier. You can skip the tub of elbow grease, except for the initial prep..

There's a product called Poli-Strip that you're supposed to use to remove it, and I understand it's a messy job. As I was trying to remove the streaks from the hull, I tried Mary Kate On and Off and a scotchbrite pad on a small area. It immediately dissolved the stuff right down to the gelcoat. If I decide to remove it all, I might try that. Gotta be careful with it, though. Don't breathe the fumes, and wash it off right away.

My .02

 

[Grub54891]

Thanks^^ did not know of poly strip, or mary Kate.

 

[brsox88]

Thanks for the info. I have a 2002 Starcraft 1810, so not sure if this boat applies to the 90's boat issues? Sounds like the PoliGlo wouldn't be a great option then especially long term. I looked into the Oxalic Acoid and looks like it could take the surface off and damage the gelcoat?

I am considering hiring on of the many boat finish restorers off craigslist. For $125 to do the entire top side of my boat it seems like a better option than spending a weekend of sanding, compounding, polishing, waxing, etc?

 

[tonyjh63]

^^^ What?? $125 for the entire topside of your boat?! Hell yeah! Where do you live? It might be worth the drive to your area! LOL!

 

[tpenfield]

The only thing I don't like about the sanding, compounding and buffing approach, besides the large amount of work, is that it removes gelcoat. So, you can only do the restoration thing once, maybe twice, until you have reduced the thickness of the gelcoat too much.

I did come across some Internet forum threads that talked about using ZEP Wet-Look floor finish (or the High-Traffic version) rather than PoliGlow. . . A lot cheaper than PoliGlow @ $24/gallon.

I spent the last couple of years trying the polishing & waxing thing with very temporary results. So, I figured what the heck, I'll try the ZEP

Soooo, I bought some and tried it out on my boat (22 year old gelcoat). A lot easier to apply than PoliGlow. I'll have to see how it holds up. :noidea:

I do like the PoliGlow 'Prep' solution as a cleaning agent. Also, works great on white aluminum gutters that have become stained. :thumb:

 

[Old Ironmaker]

1. Normal with oxidation

2. Buy a varible speed 7" polisher and some 1000 grit wet/dry sand paper and a giant tub of elbow grease. Your looking at a weekend if hard work

3. See the giant tub of elbow grease and wet/dry sand paper. You have to wet sand first.......

4. Oxalic acid

Without reading any further read Scotts answers above except for the concrete cleaner, Oxalic Acid if I'm correct.

As far as the shine coming back it all depends on the age and quality of the boats paint. Maguires Marine Deoxidizer works very well if you don't go the buffing compound route. A small amount goes a long way. I have worked many hours to return the shine to a 80's era 28' Owens this past winter, many hours in a cold shop. That shine is now mostly gone since the sunshine hit it in it's slip. By the time the customer paid me he could have had it painted above the water line or wrapped. He insisted that I could restore it based on other boats he saw that I did. I told him I would try and that's all I could guarantee. Not to be done on a regular basis because I have been convinced Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are "somewhat" abrasive. I did a white interior a few weeks back and rather than use water to wet them I sprayed them with regular formula Spray 9, wiped off the grime and finished in Gold Eagle 303 (Original Armor All works too). Marine Spray 9 is a marketing gimmick in my opinion. You know what happens to the price if Marine is on the label. If the dirt has imbedded itself into the "leatherette" it won't come 100% clean, especially white or light colours. Sometimes finishes are beyond saving. One reason I detail my boat 3 times a season, at least. Even while fishing. 94 StarCraft looks a few years old not 25.

I have found Maguires buffing compounds and car waxes stay on the longest. When you wash the boat use Head and Shoulders shampoo for the soap. It has the most wax in it than other soaps. 2nd choice is dollar store dish washing liquid. Don't get sucked into vehicle specific washes, Marine or Auto. Wax on a boat takes a beating unlike cars and trucks with a few layers of clear coat that comes on new vehicles today.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Thanks for the info. I have a 2002 Starcraft 1810, so not sure if this boat applies to the 90's boat issues? Sounds like the PoliGlo wouldn't be a great option then especially long term. I looked into the Oxalic Acoid and looks like it could take the surface off and damage the gelcoat?

I am considering hiring on of the many boat finish restorers off craigslist. For $125 to do the entire top side of my boat it seems like a better option than spending a weekend of sanding, compounding, polishing, waxing, etc?

That will get you a wash from me and a quick interior dusting, no wax. Ask what this person is going to do for you for 125 bucks? I've spent close to that for materials for a detail.

 

[SkiGuy1980]

Unconventional... but rather than oxalyc I've used Easy-off oven cleaner to get grime off vinyl seats and the hull. Does a remarkable job - clears the grain and brightens the color. Just don't get it on you when wiping off (no scrubbing required). I had a friend that used to restore old cars and he would routinely use this to clean vinyl tops (boy, that's a thing of the past... thankfully).

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Oven cleaner wow. And I'm told Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are abrasive.

 

[SkiGuy1980]

Oven cleaner wow. And I'm told Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are abrasive.

Yes... The oven cleaner wasn't abrasive... it just lifted all the junk out of the grain and was easy to wipe away. I noted you have to be careful to not get it on you. Also, DON'T do it in the sun (if it drys you'll never get it off) and work small areas at a time. I couldn't believe the results. I was planning to refit the interior but ended up only replacing a couple of torn seat cushions.

 

[brsox88]

So before all these recent replies, I ended up going with that "$125" guy. His craigslist: https://nh.craigslist.org/mas/d/boat-repair-and-maintenance/6596770064.html

He came out and did the topside for $125 and bottom for $150. He didn't sand but did a compound buff with a high speed buffer follow by a polish wax. The bottom part looks brand new now, top side looks considerably better but still doesn't have that mirror shine I was hoping for.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

OK I get it $125.00 just for the top, another 150 for the bottom. Convert that to CDN funds and that's about what I would charge for a boat that size. The topside of boats get hammered with UV rays from the Sun. If you want it looking new it painted or paint it yourself. Everything you need can be rented and You Tube has many how to videos. .