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Topper bottom cleaning |
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Happilyover40 
Groupie 
Joined: 04 Jun 10 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 50 |
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 Topic: Topper bottom cleaningPosted: 22 Nov 10 at 12:36pm |
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Hi there
We are wanting to smooth the hull of the Topper this winter to get rid off the scratches and marks etc. Any ideas how to go about it? Can I sand it down if so what grade of paper can I use? If sanding will it be by hand or can I use and electric sander? Thanks in advance Graham Edited by Happilyover40 - 22 Nov 10 at 12:37pm |
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Pierre
Really should get out more 
Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1532 |
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Posted: 22 Nov 10 at 1:01pm |
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A sander !!!!! probably not.
But then again.. I suppose a bit of gentle sanding by hand just to take the furry bits off might be OK. I would have thought a hot air gun and a smoothing iron would be your best bet. |
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Contender 541
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Joined: 05 Dec 05 Location: Burton on Trent Online Status: Offline Posts: 1402 |
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Posted: 22 Nov 10 at 1:19pm |
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For Gods sake - dont touch it with a sander of any form (hand or powered)
You will take the 'skin' off the plastic
Best bet is a hot air gun - this will get rid of the fine scratches and 'ease' the deeper ones.
Just be very careful as you will melt the hull if you are too enthusiastic
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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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JimC
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Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6660 |
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Posted: 22 Nov 10 at 1:19pm |
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Best to get on the Topper website. ISTR this being a common topic on their forum...
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Mister Nick
Far too distracted from work 
Joined: 01 Aug 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 389 |
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Posted: 22 Nov 10 at 4:14pm |
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To get the scratches off of our Pico we just soaped the hull, pressure washed it and then gently sanded off any scratches or rough patches with some wet and dry sandpaper. Then we pressure washed it again. Hopefully that will work for you.
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Rupert
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Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956 |
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Posted: 22 Nov 10 at 4:43pm |
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I used a cabinet scraper to take the raised bits off, and lived with the hollows, when I sailed a Topper.
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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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PeterG
Really should get out more
Joined: 12 Jan 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 822 |
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Posted: 22 Nov 10 at 6:33pm |
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It probably won't do much good in terms of smoothing, but I was watching our training school boatswain cleaning a couple of dumped Toppers off with a pressure hose yesterday - the effect was remarkable. These are Toppers that hadn't been moved in probably 10+ years, sitting in a rack on the seafront and were indescribably foul looking, and a sort of off grey colour. The pressure hose restored the original colour almost instantly, it was quite impressive. I'd have thought following that up with a bit of careful sanding may be as good as you can do.
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Peter
Ex Cont 707 Ex Laser 189635 DY 59 |
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patj
Really should get out more
Joined: 16 Jul 04 Location: Wiltshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 643 |
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Posted: 22 Nov 10 at 8:39pm |
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Why not just a good clean with Muckoff or similar then polish up really well with car wax which not only fills the hollows and scratches but gives a lovely smooth shine. When we did the Lark people thought we'd bought a new boat.
Just don't do the deck where you sit......
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Guests
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Posted: 22 Nov 10 at 10:42pm |
When I was a "yoof" I used to really take care of the underneath of my topper. I rarely got a a scratch on it, and so deep cuts were almost unheard of.... However accidents did happen and so it was a case of sanding it down (by hand) with a very very very fine sandpaper and lots of water. You WILL loose the shine around the sand area however I used to polish it as well just to finish it. If you look at it in the light, you will ALWAYS see the patch where you sanded , but it will be smooth. I NEVER took the heat gun too it, as the possibilities of melting are worse than careful sanding. Was it worth doing? Mentally.... yes a psychological boost, in reality, hmmmm I reckon you are better off making sure it doesn't leak....silicon sealant round the edges we used to use. But I am talking over 21 years ago.  Timg |
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