Boat owners: Buffing/waxing/polishing

[slightlyhuman]

Looking to buff/polish/wax my 87 Mastercraft Pro Star 190. Runs like a 6-week old kitten. Just going to slowly restore it on the exterior. I have a porter cable 7424 XP buffer but was looking for recommendations on the type of compound. I'm not wanting to resort to a wet sand just yet, I don't think it needs it. Just seeing if any other boat owners have recently finished the same kind of project.

 

[dr150]

Here you Go: NSFW music video - not a how to video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=avaSdC0QOUM#t=26s


You're Welcome!

 

[Keeper]

What some people do to get their post count up... WOW.

OP,

What exactly are you trying to do? Deep Scratches? Or MANY MANY Fine ones?
Or just a high shine?
For scratches......
Ever hear of Novus? My kids once got Crazy Glue on a micro-wave door...
So I attacked it with a scotch brite pad and I thought I was doing well...
Till it dried.
Starting with 3 and ending at 2, that door looks better than new. Took swirls and scratches right out.

 

[slightlyhuman]

What some people do to get their post count up... WOW.

OP,

What exactly are you trying to do? Deep Scratches? Or MANY MANY Fine ones?
Or just a high shine?
For scratches......
Ever hear of Novus? My kids once got Crazy Glue on a micro-wave door...
So I attacked it with a scotch brite pad and I thought I was doing well...
Till it dried.
Starting with 3 and ending at 2, that door looks better than new. Took swirls and scratches right out.

the gel coat isn't in horrible condition, given it's age, which is why i don't think i need to wet sand it. just wanting to shine it up for the summer.

i've read about 3m rubbing compound and also compound from adamspolishes.com

really just looking for other experiences any one on the forum has had. i have an idea what i need to get, just looking for someone else's two coppers.

 

[Keeper]

the 3 M stuff is sold here (Long Island) in volume at car part stores. Doing my bikes, I can get away with the smaller Novus cotainers. So the 3M, I never used it.
If you are looking to do a whole boat, I'd go with that. Just called my car friend. He uses it.... A LOT.... And when we do "Custom work" he uses it to fix the clear.
His expression is you cant fix paint, but you can sure fix clear. to me, Gel = clear..

No?

 

[slightlyhuman]

the 3 M stuff is sold here (Long Island) in volume at car part stores. Doing my bikes, I can get away with the smaller Novus cotainers. So the 3M, I never used it.
If you are looking to do a whole boat, I'd go with that. Just called my car friend. He uses it.... A LOT.... And when we do "Custom work" he uses it to fix the clear.
His expression is you cant fix paint, but you can sure fix clear. to me, Gel = clear..

No?

yes, a lot tougher than paint on a vehicle. will look into it.

any one else?

 

[weadjust]

Meguiar's Marine/RV Fiberglass Restoration System from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Marin...2871630&sr=8-2

Worked great on my 30 year old fiberglass car.
Before

After

 

[slightlyhuman]

awesome post, thanks! what type pads? can't decide if i should get wool pad or foam..

 

[WaTaGuMp]

awesome post, thanks! what type pads? can't decide if i should get wool pad or foam..

Wool are designed for rotary polishers not DA. They do have some microfiber ones though. I have not tried them. I use Meguairs 105, its the best I have used, but I don't detail boats, just cars. So I dont know how good it would do on a gel coat.

 

[weadjust]

I used a wool pad. If you go with the Meguiars from amazon order an extra bottle of oxidation remover. I used pretty much the whole bottle on the car. That master craft has quite a bit more gel coat. Only used about a 1/4 - 1/2 bottle of the polish and wax.