Preventing Oxidation On Boat Gel Coat[How Pros Do It!]
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
- Keeping boat gel coat from oxidizing requires more than just waxing. Gelcoats best defense against UV rays is to reflect them away rather than absorbing them. The key to this is to keep the gelcoat itself as glossy as possible by regularly polishing the gelcoat then waxing it!
IMPOTANT NOTE - the gelcoat needs to be completely free off oxidation before you polish. If you have oxidation check out my video on Oxidation Removal and follow the steps there first before you begin a polishing and waxing maintenance program.
Tools needed:
Makita 9237 Polisher
Materials:
Presta Green Blended Wool Light Cutting Pad
Presta Ultra Polish [Chroma 1500]
Microfiber Towels
![Best Boat Polishing Compounds [2019]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_7L_hstoPa4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Best Boat Polishing Compounds [2019]](/img/tr.png)
If you need to remove oxidation first watch this tps://th-cam.com/video/uiH7F6z02t4/w-d-xo.html Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Brian
Thanks Brian.
Brian been around boats all my life, at 77 it's refreshing to learn new things, keep up the great work. Gods speed,
WaterCop amen! I’m 46 and I find it shocking how much I don’t know! One of the things I love about TH-cam platform is how much you can learn. And meeting people from all around the world is cool too!
I am sorry but I am confused. Can you please explain what is polishing, what’s buffing? Using a compound to remove the oxidation with a heavy 100% will bonnet is polishing. What is buffing then?
Good information. Thanks for getting right to it without a lot of non information. look forward to more vids from you.
John, thank you! If you ever have any questions just leave them for me in the comments and I’ll get back to you. Thanks for subscribing!
Brian
Calm, good, and very informative video. Thanks
Hi Brian, thank you so much. Would you please list the three products and type of pads you referenced in your video. Great video
Much appreciated videos. Keep them coming please.
John E Thank you. There are more coming! If you ever have an question you can always reach me here. Thanks for subscribing. Brian
Brian, thanks so much for your time and information. Doug here from Worthington Ohio. Recently retired and in the pursuit of a lifelong passion, I just purchased a 1989 MONK 36 for Lake Erie adventures. The hull is in pretty good shape but has been neglected for about five years and is Oxidized. I dry docked it this winter in a heated lighted facility so I could get a few things done. One of which is to care for the hull and gelcoat generally on the boat. Temperature in the building stays steady right at 65 degrees so the conditions should be good. I'm looking for a 10" polisher and for the products and pads you use. My question is this. The transom had decal graphics on it which I have removed, including the adhesive but the decal shadows are really noticeable. Do I need to use a heavier rubbing compound on the transom? Thanks again for all your help! I'm
having a hard time finding the polishing compound you use. Any advice there?
Great stuff, thanks Brian!
Your welcome. Good luck with it! Brian
Hey Brian! Henry & Karol from Erie PA here. We just inherited a 1966 Arrow Glass boat and we’re trying to get it buffed, polished and waxed. Loved your video- very helpful, however, we need to know “do we remove the buffing compound before polished? And same for the polish before waxing”. We buff, polish and still get fingerprints in residual products. Please let us know ASAP as we’d like to get her in the water before it’s too far into fall weather. Thanks!
Thanks Brian.. Not a bunch of excess yappin' and promoting some BS product.. Right to the point!
Hi Brian, Great videos. I have already learned a lot from them. I have a question about how long can I wait before polishing after compounding. I have a big project(at least for me) and I can only work on it a few hours at a time. I have been currently been working the whole boat in the compounding stage. However, I'm concerned that the time between compounding and polishing will be too long(approx 1 month). Should I instead do one section fully(compound/polish/wax) or continue as I am currently with the whole but for each stage?
Great videos! I have a 2002 SeaFox - been in Florida outside. I've had it detailed under a year ago. Compounded, waxed etc. It's oxidizing again. I've had them tell me that I need to paint the boat as the gel coat is pretty much gone. Any thoughts or recommendations? Thanks Clay
Hmm I was asking which product I should use on the chrome railings but I do not see my question here so I will ask again. Please tell me which product you prefer to use to polish up the chrome bow railings. Thanks love your video and have all the product you suggest using.
Brian, Jeff from Cleveland here. New to boating and maintaining. My 2007 Rinker has oxidation, last year I tried just polishing and waxing. My question is do I need to do anything to prep the surface (remove the old wax) prior to cutting to remove the oxidation ?
Thanks for this - I thought with a new boat, you don't polish as it is removing gelcoat - if you do this multiple times a year aren't you grinding away gelcoat? Or is the reflectiveness the key to slowing oxidation?
Is a ceramic finish superior to a good waxing? Trying to decide whether this would the worth the extra expense of having done professionally to protect against oxidation on my boat. Thanks you.
How should you handle a seam where there is a white gelcoat topside and a blue painted bootstripe? Does the same method apply to both cutting and polishing?
Down in Florida. I have large decals on my boat. Is it ok to polish and wax? Thanks
Saw your video and wondering do I need to remove existing wax on (metal flake ranger boat) boat prior to using your technique and products?
Which temp should you be polishing at, probly not direct hot sun but any preferences? Also what do you think about ceramic coating after polishing?
Would you please tell me what size inch pad you recommending in the video. Thank you!
What size backing plate and Presta pads are you using on the Makita 9237? Thanks
Hey also when your waxing with the collimate past wax are you using the polishing tool or are you hand waxing ?
Hey Brian first off thank you for a quick informational video on the subject, I’ve followed your steps and products that you’ve suggested and I still have foggy areas on my boat. I know this video is a bit old but if your still excepting questions I’m curious what you might suggest me trying next. Thanks in advance....
Jon Carter what is year, make, and color of the gelcoat?
Brian I own a 2002 regal Commodore and she is white. Sorry for the late response, I honesty didn’t expect a response based off the time this video was publicized, my bad!!! I’ve upgraded my polisher and results have been better but I still have foggy areas. Some areas of the boat are turning out much better than others and I’m at a bit of a loss!! I’ve burnt older boats while compounding and I really am nervous to push this one to that point! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated....
Jon Carter I follow the comments closely. You can always reach me pretty fast. So your Regal is white. What condition was she in when you started and which buffer and compound and pads are you using?
Brian thanks again, there’s a lot of trolls out there and at times leave me frustrated with even asking so again I really appreciate you responding.. the boat is white and in decent shape considering it sat for two years however it did have patchy areas of oxidation. I’m using presta pads (white wool and blue sinthetic) I purchased prestas super cut compound and had frecla’ polish from a previous job. My new polisher is a dewalt and like I said results have been better but still running into foggy areas. I’ve cut twice now and got it looking good but I feel like some areas are much better, which makes me feel like the entire boat could be the same¡
Jon Carter 👍. Your using good products. There are a couple possibilities. One these foggy areas could be what is Reffered to as “dock rash”. Tiny scratches that have accumulated from rubbing against docks, fenders, side trailer guides, etc. There could also be some areas we have deeper oxidation. And sometimes you’ll see a “layering affect” caused by the gelcoat being sprayed too hot in mold during production. Whatever the cause, sanding an area with 600 followed by 1000 grit then compounding would be what I would do next and see if that solves the problem. Unfortunately, I don’t have any videos on sanding at the moment. Sorry about that..😌
Hey , the polishing pad you’re talking about is a lite cutting green blend pad ? And not the blue blend soft polishing pad . Is that correct ?
Dare I ask, I bought a new jetski..I want to keep it pristine. With the polish and wax method work as well? What pads do you recommend?
Is it important to use a wax with UV protection?
Just subscribed and great videos. What do you do around boat lettering and decals, best to avoid? Also, a video on keeping up the deck would be great. I scrub my deck forever after fishing to get up all the stains and dirt. Looks great as long as I don’t use it again. Is there a sealer or other option for non skid?
Onetime75 For decals and Vinyl lettering just act like they aren’t there and go over them just like every other area. You shouldn’t have any problems over properly applied vinyl.
Onetime75 As far as nonskid, what is the make and model of boat?
What pad do you use when applying the wax, the blue?
You advise polish and wax. You do not say if you need to remove the old wax before polishing. I am hoping just a quick wash, then polish and wax. Thanks for any advice.
between the polishing and waxing, do you have to wash the boat
Jim from " The Papoo" in souther Massacusetts looking to buy a new buffer what model is your Makita or what would you recommend an what compound an polish thanks Jim L
Makita 9237. I have a video specifically on compound and polish that make sure you get the correct product. It explains better than I can type it.
Brian, I just discovered you, great information!!
I have a blue hull that already had significant oxidation in the gel. I have had it cut, polished, and detailed 3x over the last 6 years. The last time was back in late June. The hull again came out great.
I'm in CT and the season is winding down and I'm beginning to see some clouding in places. I don't have the skill to cut nor do I want to burn through any more gelcoat. I do want to preserve the finish I have now for as long as I can. Will just polish and wax do the trick and preserve the finish while the boats on the hard sitting through the cold snowy ct winter? Are there any other materials/products /processes you recommend I apply? I see coatings/protectants/ polishes for cars with claims of superior armor-like UV paint protection. Should I be looking at these?
Any suggestions would be great. Thanks for the help.
Ken, have you seen the video on my channel “preventing oxidation on boat gel coat”?
Circumstances like what you describe are precisely the reason I made these videos to help boat owners avoid the “let it get bad-sand the hell out of it cycle”. The trick to gel coat is to get it perfect then frequently polish so that stays perfect. The secret isn’t ceramic coatings or some special wax. It’s polishing.
I have a Winnebago travel trailer with light oxidation, I’m concerned about the decals, can I use a blue Presta to cut and polish
Don’t worry about vinyl decals. Just go over them like they are not there.😉
Polish over the old wax?
I don’t have any oxidation on my boat but I have some light, I guess I would call them scuff marks. How would I get rid of them?
Sanding with 1000 grit and then buffing them out
Just bought a 2021 sea hunt black hull boat. do you suggest compound polish and wax straight from the factory? Not sure if they did a good job at the factory. there’s some cloudy areas that I see when I look at it at an angle.
I have seen what you describe in several brands boats that were brand new. Simple answer- do a test spot in that area and see whether you need to polish or compound and polish to get it right.
In that case do a test spot to see exactly what is required. My gues is you are correct and you will need to compound polish wax. On some brands it’s not unusual. I fixed one last week oddly enough.
Do u recommend any particular polymer sealant or just wax ? Thanks
Polishing is the key! Just polish and use whatever wax or sealant you like and you’ll get good results. I use Farleca Polymer wax just because it goes down in any weather.
So oxidization only comes from UV rays? If so, does keeping the boat covered prevent oxidization?
Yes, Covering the boat will greatly reduce the amount of oxidation and I highly recommend it if possible.
I have a new boat on the way. What is the best waxing pad I should use?
I would just wax by hand. A mequiars or any so ft foam bad and a few microfiber rags and your all set. Enjoy the boat!
How are you Sir, Do you use the Makita to wax also?
You can if you want on the hull sides. Not a big time difference in doing it by hand. Use a soft foam pad.
How far down the hull should I remove oxidation? Should I go under the boat?
I would go as far as you can or need to. Let me know if you have any questions as you go along.
Thanks for the info. I bought a new 20 ft bowride from Stingray in 2013 and have waxed 1-2 times a year. I recently bought a gelcoat repair kit (with the original gelcoat color) and repaired a few long scratches and dings. After following the directions to sand with 5 different grades of sandpaper and some hand buffing with a medium grade buffing compound, I noticed how much darker the boat appeared compared to the 'original' color of the boat. So rather than just wax the boat, I am taking your advice to buff, polish and wax the entire boat. Is it realistic for me to expect the gel coat repair to perfectly match the rest of boat when I'm done? Also, how important is glaze necessary if you are using a marine wax?
Your welcome! Couple of questions. What color gel coat is the hull?(I am assuming this was the repair area).
@@SportfishingBoats Sort of an off-white: Spectrum Color Stingray, 2006-2011, Seashell White ASH LVOC Color Boat Gel Coat Patch Paste Repair Kit
scott f Was it the new gelcoat that looked a different color or the surrounding area that was sanded in process of the repair that is now a different color? Thanks, Brian
@@SportfishingBoats The gel coat repair appears to be the same as the sanded area of the old gel coat. The old gelcoat, away from the repair area, is a duller color of white. My suspicion is the undisturbed gelcoat (ie anything not near the repair) is a bit dull due to oxidation... thus why I was thinking I needed to buff / polish the entire boat.
scott f Gotcha spectrums colors are usually dead on, atleast in my experience they have been. So does the boat have some oxidation that is causing the repair area to look different than the rest of the hull.(Because the repair area was sanded and compound removing oxidation there). Or does the new gelcoat not match exactly?
From NH. What kind of buffer? Pressure?
Good Question! Makita 9237. More pressure when compounding than you would use on car paint. Sometimes a lot more pressure!
2 questions:
What should I use to get rid a minor water “tinge” line. (Had an issue w/my trailer and had to leave the boat in the lake for 2 days; freshwater).
Do I need to cut? I don’t have a “chalky” feel to the surface but can see and feel what seems like a wax build up?
1. Acid will remove organic stains. Mary Kate Hull Cleaner. 2. How old is boat? Is it kept inside or out?
Sportfishing Boats it is a 1996 Carerra jet boat. It was stored under an awning and covered before I got it a year ago. Now it’s stored under a tarp and then boat cover.
motoxguy7 If you can’t see your reflection in the gel coat it needs some compound.
Sportfishing Boats I appreciate the advice!! Will the compound remove the stains or should I work on that first?
motoxguy7 good question! You want to remove stains first.
Scott what is the best polish to use on boat.
I like Presta Chroma
My topside is heavily oxidized. Can I use a wet sanding (2000 grit) instead of heavy compounding? It just seems easier.
Do a test spot and find out. I would recommend 1000 grit.
@@SportfishingBoats Thanks. Will do. Great channel, by the way.
Thanks! Let me know if you have any more questions
@@SportfishingBoats Will do. Have subscribed. I have an 86 Albin 27, so lots of work ahead.
these steps work for allumium hull?
No. Not at all. Just on gelcoat.
what pad do you use for waxing/
Usually just wax by hand.
Is there a limit to how much you can polish before you are through the gel coat?
ALOT! What hurts gelcoat is when you don’t polish and then you compound it often as it continually oxidizes.
If done from new... and NOT compounded(you would never need to). Probably not in your lifetime.
@@SportfishingBoats interesting! Can I get your advice. I am restoring a 31 foot sailboat from 1981 heavily oxidized. I’m using stark level R and second pass with elevate with rotary buffer and wool pads. Lots of Detailers say to use a forced action with polish for last step. Do you use forced action polishers for the maintenance polish? Thanks for the reply great vids learning a lot.
Those are not links in the description
Whoops.. I’ll try and correct
Bill Smith hey why don’t you calm down buddy. He made a mistake you don’t need to persecute so harshly.
justieml8 seriously? That was harsh? It was calm and matter of fact. Even the video poster found it simply informative. Jeez.
Bill Smith boys! Everything is fine😀. This is my fault that I dropped the ball on the links. No one except me did anything wrong. Thank both of you for watching!
What do you do for nonskid
Scott Hehner Depends, nonskids have a lot of different patterns and textures. Some will eat a buffing pad quickly. Try using an old pad on slow speed.
I have a 2019 Bluewater 2550 and the non skid is new. I tried the pad on slow and the non skid chewed it up.
Scott Hehner I wouldn’t worry about it. Most boats I don’t do anything to the nonskid other than clean it. One thing I recommend you don’t do is wax it. Slippery nonskid is the opposite of what we want. Brian
I used Starbright deck cleaner with a dual action polisher from Harbor freight with a Shurhold medium brush . Followed up with Starbrite non skid deck polish. Works like a charm. there are videos for it on You tube.
So to avoid having to buff and polish the boat after a few years, we just have to polish and wax it 4 times a year... got it! 😆
Correct! You can only buff a boat so many times till you run out of gel coat, polish then waxing your hardy removing any of the gel coat.
@@jaxon9326 Makes sense. The more i learn about maintaining gelcoat, the more i lean towards just painting it all over with 2 part polyurethane instead.
My technique is just to buy a new boat