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fleaberto View Drop Down
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Joined: 12 Jan 09
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Posts: 302 		Post Options Post Options   Quote fleaberto Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Cutting/Polishing Hull
    Posted: 11 May 09 at 12:26pm

Hi,

As the little refurb on my Lightning comes to an end, i want to just give 'Ginger' a nice clean & polish (The new rigging works a treat & she is so very comfortable to sail - beat a laser upwind in nothing yesterday!!) Anyway, cutting & polishing the hull. What would any of you recommend? Ive seen the 'Trade secret' stuff that seems to fit the bill (budget being VERY important). What's 'Carnauba'?

I guess car cut/polish will be too harsh but for a nice general 'gleaminess', what d'you reckon?
Lightning368 'All the Gear' (409), Lightning368 'Sprite' (101), Laser (big number) 'Yellow Jack', RS Vareo (432)'The Golden Rays'
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Contender 541 View Drop Down
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Posts: 1402 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Contender 541 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 May 09 at 1:00pm

If you have some stains to get ou of the hull then a bit of T-Cut (coloured if necessary) is fine.  You could also rub with some very fine (P800 or higher) wet and dry - ensure that all wet and dry polishing is finished off in 'line of draw' (you want the scratches to be in line with the water flow)

I would then give the whole thing a good waxing - autoglym or equivalent - to promote a good shine and general slippiness in the water.

Word of warning though - what is slippy through the water is slippy when you have to stand on it to recover a capsize.
When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss

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Merlinboy View Drop Down
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Posts: 3169 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Merlinboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 May 09 at 7:00pm
I was always told not to use car polish as it has a high silicone content??  Does it not create more surface tension between the water and the boat or is what i have been told total guff??
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JimC View Drop Down
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Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 May 09 at 7:30pm
Originally posted by Merlinboy

I was always told not to use car polish as it has a high silicone content??  Does it not create more surface tension between the water and the boat or is what i have been told total guff??

Sounds like total guff to me... A variation on the good old one about having a matt finish because the water doesn't form beads o the surface...
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Paramedic View Drop Down
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Posts: 929 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Paramedic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 09 at 7:16am

Originally posted by Merlinboy

I was always told not to use car polish as it has a high silicone content??  Does it not create more surface tension between the water and the boat or is what i have been told total guff??

This is certainly true on wooden boats or a boat that you might want to repaint because it can be difficult to get all of the wax polish off. Any left remaining will ruin the repaint and you'd have to do it again.

On a plastic boat it's much less of a problem.
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Contender 541 View Drop Down
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Posts: 1402 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Contender 541 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 09 at 8:11am
Originally posted by Paramedic

Originally posted by Merlinboy

I was always told not to use car polish as it has a high silicone content??  Does it not create more surface tension between the water and the boat or is what i have been told total guff??

This is certainly true on wooden boats or a boat that you might want to repaint because it can be difficult to get all of the wax polish off. Any left remaining will ruin the repaint and you'd have to do it again.

On a plastic boat it's much less of a problem.

Silicone and paint are a very bad idea - even airbourne silicone can and will kill a paint finish.

I remember a few years ago hearing about a guy who was fired from a car paint plant. He returned some small time later and emptied a can of silicone mould release thru a motice lock via a straw (think WD40 type straw).  A weeks lost production and a clean up were required.  The bill was in the region of £300k
When you find a big kettle of crazy it's probably best not to stir it - Pointy Haired Boss

Crew on 505 8780

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