Gelcoat restoration

Lobodemar

• Any fellow boaters out there use Poli Glow for gelcoat restoration 

Handymans342

Al, thanks for the pics. I have had 2 guys with over 25 years experience with gelcoat restoration and they both said that my gelcoat is not going to get any better. So it looks good now but I am not looking for 100% any more on a 13 year old boat. 

JohnDiStefano

Island  Girl worked pretty well.  the 2 step process

rinker342cr

i did mines this past weekend and all i used was a really grit compound just go to automotive place and feel with your fingers the most grit the better then use perfect it compound from 3m and also perfect it glaze from 3m.... shined like brand new the cutting compound was just some random brand... like i said feel with your fingers has to be really gritt

Handymans342

What color is your gelcoat?

rinker342cr

Handymans342 said:

What color is your gelcoat?

mines is all white the person who started the thread dont know but if its color gel coat do not sand what so ever here are photos of my restore i still have alot more to go and take out the guage to complete that area

Handymans342

Dark Blue Hull

Lobodemar

My gelcoat is red and fadding fast

DanD2

I used it this past summer....here is my thread http://rinkerboats.vanillaforums.com/discussion/3437/poli-glow#latest ..I'm sold!!!! Prep work is key

rinker342cr

ill try to get a video for you guys here.... no need to paint or apply any lacquer what so ever i was able to restore a bit more this weekend by console was really dole and bad and restored almost to new i need 2 more stages to get rid of swrils... u have to understand these boats are made of tooling gelcoat with alot of styrene wich is what makes it shine so at any point all you have to do is cut the gel coat with a buffer and compound the styrene on there will always be there for life 

pepmyster

Looks Great!

Handymans342

I am having my blue hull professionally done and so far they have had to wet sand it twice to get rid of the chalking. Then comes the buffing and wax

raybo3

Handy how much $$$$$$$

Handymans342

$800. He wanted $7000 to paint it because he said the chalk will keep coming back. 

raybo3

So for $800 there are no guarantees that the chalking wont come back?????

Handymans342

No one will guaranty that but as long as I maintain it properly it should be ok like Tikis boat

Dream_Inn

That sun down there will you keep you very busy Handy.  But hey, what else do you have better to do.  That is a decent price for what they are doing.  I will say the only hulls I've seen stay shiny (besides white ones), are the ones' that are constantly kept after.  There are probably a hundred colored hull Rinkers in my marina, only a handful that have a great shine.

rinker342cr

guys i went ahead and purchased that poli glow stuff.... o man went in the trash after 2 mins... blue liquid is just concentrated degreaser that stains white gel coat and the poly glow crap seems to some sort of VARNISH as instructions say this is probly for people with no experience in paint restoration or something....this is what i used TRU-GRITi will be doing more restoration this weekend this time ill take before and after i went ahead and wrapped the side of the boat in black 3m vinyl now i have to buff the above the black it does have chalk look so lets see how it goes

Michael T

@rinker342cr. Thanks for the good info. That's really interesting. Thanks too for the pictures. That 3M looks awesome!

MarkB

Wow, looks great. What did that set you back?

rinker342cr

MarkB $700 for the 75x5 ft roll did got it installed for $500....  Michael T thank you very much i will be doing before and afters tomorrow of the side of the boat the console was really burn up and chalky and i got it back to mirror gloass with just 1 application of tru grit and alot of elbow grease with the the buffer

Michael T

@rinker342cr. What a difference and for a really great price! Look forward to the pictures - they're worth a 1000 words!

MarkB

That is a great price to pay for the change in appearance. And I can tell you the stuff lasts a long time.

aero3113

How well will the vinyl hold up to bumpers rubbing on it?

MarkB

Well. My friend has had it on his boat for 3 years now and it still looks brand new. No issues with it. Tough as nails. If you are really worried just get the socks for your fenders.

Michael T

If anyone buys fender covers I recommend the premium covers. I have had both and the regular wear-out but the premium have lasted, so far, three years. I bought mine at West Marine. I saw a car with the 3M product on it that had gotten torn but someone must have fixed it because a few days later I couldn't see the spot - so the product must be repairable.

Dream_Inn

I have some good covers that were embroidered with boat name about 7 or 8 years ago.  I use them all the time and one or two are just starting to show some wear.  I'll have to look to see who I had bought them from, but it is where I'll be buying them again.

rinker342cr

update: ive done alot of fishing and not much gel coat restoration so today will be doing the top part above the black wrap i also tryed a new wax on my jet ski today and.... OHH MY GODDDD stay tune... gel coat restoration can be done by ANYONE dont pay ridiculous prices for something that can be done by anyone

Michael T

@rinker342cr, brother this is just the kind of practical stuff we love on this forum - real world experience from one of the guys! RE the poli glow, I have never been a fan of this type of product.  I keep the gel coat compounded and cleaned and wax it and keep it waxed.....and I must say I am fascinated by your side wrap as it looks awesome! Keep us posted with up-dates   :-)

Handymans342

Dont know if this a good picture of what it took to restore my hull. I will take a better pic once up on the lift. It took to levels of wet sand and then a heavy buffing with wax. Looks great. 

Michael T

Wow Steve, that looks brand new! Better see if that Florida sun shines down one side all day and get some sheets over it until you can have a side curtain made!

rasbury

I sued 3M heavy oxidation with a buffer, used meguiars finishing compound and then waxed and I restored to what I would say a like new appearance. Some areas that were particularly bad I hit with 1500 grit wet paper....I have not done the helm area yet but need to start all over when the weather clears.....hopefully since the hull is not in good shape I can get the entire boat waxed this year. My hull is tan...