Dull Gelcoat

[IndyDyne]

Hello all.  The gelcoat on my boat is quite dull.  I know there are many methods/products to correct this, but I was wondering if anyone had a preferred method/product to buff my gelcoat back to factory shine?  Also, I was wondering of the swim platform of my boat would have been painted in automotive paint, or if it would have been gelcoated?  It has seen the same sunshine as the sides of my boat, but the platform has faded considerably more than the sides of the boat.  However, the bow of the boat does have a section of automotive paint that has faded consistently with the swim platform.  My boat is a 1986 Barefoot Skier on a Volante hull with the molded swim platform.  (I still haven't taken any pictures to aid in my forum illustrations, sorry)  Thanks in advance for any ideas, tips, or tricks to help our beauty shine once again.   

[brandon]

Short answer to your questions.  Without using specific product names, everybody has their own preference, if the GELCOAT is heavily oxidized you will need to use a very coarse buffing compound possibly wet sanding before the buffing.  Work your way from coarse to fine compound and finish with a good quality marine wax.  The hard part you will have to deal with is if you have a mix of PAINT and GELCOAT, you will buff thru the paint very easily, where the gelcoat is more forgiving.  As far as preferences, I have used orange rouge (sp?) followed by white rouge, followed with a paste compound to fine polish, and followed with a good quality paste wax.  Where you start depends on how bad the oxidation is.  I have had great results with 3M products and Meguires products.  Also be careful around any decals, if possible you will have better overall results removing the decals and replacing when done.  You can tape over the decals with masking tape to protect, but you can't get too close as it will peel also.   

[Midskier]

your boat was all gel coat from the factory,  a previous owner may have had repairs done with automotive paint.........

as mentioned already depending on how oxidized the surface is would determine which cut to use
3M is my fav and they make a nice "cleaner / wax" in one bottle in light , medium and heavy
it can be found @ walmart getting it to do it's job to the fullest requires a rotary buffer
one that spins , not an orbital buffer, and some decent lambs wool pads

Ron may be happy to make a tech article on this one............. or maybe rather you just bring to him

the burgundy '84 on the headed screen, real shiny........ was done here last year in about 4-6 hours

good luck

Dan T

[56mulberry]

Mine is orange (read "tangerine" according to AS...)  and was so oxidized it looked pinkish white when I got it!.....I wet-sanded with 1200 then 1500, then 2000 then buffed it with Maguiars Anti-Oxidisation compound, then waxed--all by hand.....hard on the shoulders.  But it looks sweet now!  been sitting outside under a cover and no fading after 6 mos....DOUG