Wax Stripping - Restoration

[hostage]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

Looking good hostage.

Thanks.

Also, thanks BGC for the input on how to make it look this nice.

I did not really work on any part of the hull, other than the green areas show a lot more oxidation. My mechanic uses something that seems to do a quicker job, though I am thinking it is a little more abbrasive and bad for the decals and pin stripe. The pin Striping seems in bad shape, so I plan to replace it. Also making the boat look nicer also shows the nicks in my gel coat. I need to work on gel coat repair. Any suggetions for that?

-Hostage

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

Also making the boat look nicer also shows the nicks in my gel coat. I need to work on gel coat repair. Any suggetions for that?

I am noticing the same thing. It is going to be tough to match the color with those gel coat repair kits. I am not sure what would look worse -- clear gel or a botched attempt at matching the color?

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

Ok well I couldn't get a decent before picture and the after is somewhat fuzzy also. I managed to get one side - lower half done. Alot easier with orbital buffer. The guy at WM told me to use Starbrite compound and 3M with Scotchguard. It did a pretty good job so far but it isn't perfect. Unfortunately I never got my boat off the trailer as I couldn't get spark - Ughhh. Did look good on trailer. i stil have probably 6 - 8 hrs left on it. Although one side isn't nearly as bad as the other.

 

[bgc]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

I am noticing the same thing. It is going to be tough to match the color with those gel coat repair kits. I am not sure what would look worse -- clear gel or a botched attempt at matching the color?

If you take a Dremel Tool, felt bob, and Finesse-it to the deep scratches they virtually disappear.... Its a trick I use in the shop(I hate touching up GelCoat)

 

[bgc]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

View attachment 158931Ok well I couldn't get a decent before picture and the after is somewhat fuzzy also. I managed to get one side - lower half done. Alot easier with orbital buffer. The guy at WM told me to use Starbrite compound and 3M with Scotchguard. It did a pretty good job so far but it isn't perfect. Unfortunately I never got my boat off the trailer as I couldn't get spark - Ughhh. Did look good on trailer. i stil have probably 6 - 8 hrs left on it. Although one side isn't nearly as bad as the other.

Frank, It looks great! Find the spark issue and get her in the water.....

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

Frank, It looks great! Find the spark issue and get her in the water.....

Hopefully Sunday! Thanks - I am pretty happy with it so far - still have a ways to go though!

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

Hey Frank, Sorry to hear about the electrical problem. At least it looks great. How much time do you have into the paint restoration process so far? I am about 6 hours in with another hour or so to go. It looks great, but this reaffirms my past efforts to keep her shining with unconventional means.

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

Hey Frank, Sorry to hear about the electrical problem. At least it looks great. How much time do you have into the paint restoration process so far? I am about 6 hours in with another hour or so to go. It looks great, but this reaffirms my past efforts to keep her shining with unconventional means.

I have 2-3 hrs into it. Probably another 4. It won't be exactly where I want it. iw ill save that for a cool fall day.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

It won't be exactly where I want it. iw ill save that for a cool fall day.

Me too. It looks 100 times better than it did, but I could probably have done better. Hopefully a couple rounds with Finesse-it (I used Meguire's) in the fall and it should be perfect.

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

Me too. It looks 100 times better than it did, but I could probably have done better. Hopefully a couple rounds with Finesse-it (I used Meguire's) in the fall and it should be perfect.

It looked superb on my boat in teh trailer parking area while I fished from the shore and swam with 4 year old son. Such is the life with boat ownership. After extensive reading I think I may need to replace lower shift cable. Ughhh - no amount of wax will fix that. I can't complain too much i bouth the boat for 600 bucks and put in about that.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

Shift cable? Could that be your spark issue? I did the cable when I did bellows last year. To tell you the truth, I am not sure what would be worse - wet sanding, compounding, polishing, and waxing or the shift cable job. I did all bellows and the cable in much less time than it has taken me to do this paint restoration.

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

Shift cable? Could that be your spark issue? I did the cable when I did bellows last year. To tell you the truth, I am not sure what would be worse - wet sanding, compounding, polishing, and waxing or the shift cable job. I did all bellows and the cable in much less time than it has taken me to do this paint restoration.

Summer is slipping away - I guess that is my biggest concern.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

You can do the shift cable in one evening or a Saturday morning. Just watch some youtube videos and get or make the special tool.

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

You can do the shift cable in one evening or a Saturday morning. Just watch some youtube videos and get or make the special tool.

Thanks for the advice- Still not sure that is it but I supsect it from what I have read and how it affects the shift interupter switch.

 

[bgc]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

I HATE doing cables.....
Frank, whats the boat doing? Is it hard to shift?

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

Did you post your electrical issue to the Mercruiser I/O section of the forum? Those guys will get you back on the water.

 

[frankttaylor]

Re: Wax Stripping - Restoration

Did you post your electrical issue to the Mercruiser I/O section of the forum? Those guys will get you back on the water.

I will start a new thread for the electrical issue. I need to do some trouble shooting and work 2 jobs so weekends are my only time to dedicate to my boat. Since I have 2 kids (14 and 4 ) and a very understanding wife I have a lot to balance.