Beginner questions: Polishing a gel coat hull

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Polishing a gel coat hull

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Beginner questions
Forum Discription: Advice for those who are new to sailing
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10006
Printed Date: 26 Jun 25 at 9:16am
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Topic: Polishing a gel coat hull

Posted By: Kev M
Subject: Polishing a gel coat hull
Date Posted: 08 Nov 12 at 1:51pm

Our club has been donated a red Laser two, it looks in reasonable nick, just needing a bit of tarting up but the worst thing is the fading of the red gel coat on the hull.

What polish is suitable for bringing this back to life, and can you use polishing mops on a drill or do you have to do it all by hand?

Cheers,

Kev

-------------
Successfully confusing ambition with ability since 1980.

Replies:

Posted By: Mister Nick
Date Posted: 08 Nov 12 at 4:50pm

Have you ever heard of T cut? Really good stuff, try and get the one in a red bottle with a screw cap and use that. Get it all over the hull and rub it right in, leave it for 10 minutes or so and then wipe it all back off again. We left our J80 on a swinging mooring with no antifoul for a while - all kinds of crap, marks and staining on the hull when we hauled her out, but an afternoon with some T cut left her looking brand new. It's great stuff. Afterwards you can put Mclube Hullkote on it to make it nice and fast. I wouldn't say you'd need to use a polishing mop on a drill for this, we always do the J80 by hand and it's never a problem. A Laser should only take an hour or so.

Posted By: marke
Date Posted: 08 Nov 12 at 5:57pm

Hi

If the colour is badly faded then T-cut will take you a long time. I've removed bad colour fading on a couple of dinghies and a 30' cruiser by:

sanding with 600 wet and dry, then 800 grade
apply cutting compound with a wet rag (something like farecla G3)
using a foam mop on a polisher (hired - a grinder goes to fast - I think professionals recommend around 1800 RPM) work the cutting compound - keep the working area wet with a hand spray and use the polisher at an angle of ~10 degrees.
repeat with a finer grade of cutting compound (farecla G10) - finish off with the mop flat on the surface
apply a wax to protect the gel (try to keep the hull out of direct sunlight or you'll be doing it again next year)

If you have the right kit and a nice day you could do a laser hull in a 2-3 hours. If you do it right it can come up looking pretty much like new.

Mark

Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 08 Nov 12 at 6:03pm

Faded red might need something a bit more agressive than T cut, which is also often overpriced.

May I refer you to the Farecla website? I think Screwfix sell the stuff.

If it is really aged, you may find starting with fine w+d paper is best, 1200 or even 2000 grade.

All these things are abrasive, the gel coat is not ever so thick so take care and don't over do it.

Any wax car polish will help keep it clean and stop so much UV fading it again.