Pictures: 24' Pro-Line Center Console - Detailing Class - 2013

[Mike Phillips]

Pictures: 24' Pro-Line Center Console - Detailing Class - 2013


From August, 2013



We used Steve's boat for some new segments on Ship Shape TV and tonight we're going to finish the boat and then install new graphics.

Here's a few pictures from today's filming for Ship Shape TV. I'll start an actual "Pictures & Comments" thread for the full write-up plus all the before and after pictures. (This is just the sign-up thread)


Most people would look at this boat and think the black gel-coat is in pretty good shape?

Here's what it really looks like, you just need some light...

And here's some pictures from last night's project. Note that Steve and I washed the boat during the day using the Marine 31 Foam Gun some Marine 31 Wash & Wax with Carnauba


Step 1 - Compounding
First thing was to compound the gel-coat. For some of the guys, compounding oxidized gel-coat using wool pads with rotary buffers was new for them and I think one of the things they had the chance to learn was how to lean into the buffer a little to really do some chopping on the oxidation...


Joseph running a rotary buffer to remove oxidation...

This is how you lean into the buffer....

DeWALT 849X sans handle and grabbing the rubber overmold on the head of the unit and the pushing down hard...

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 24' Pro-Line Boat - Extreme Marine Makeover - Oxidation Removal

Continued...


While some of use were compounding the black gel-coat, others were tackling the white gel-coat cap using PFWs or Purple Foamed Wool Pads with our new Gel-Coat Heavy Cut Cleaner/Wax and Flex 3401 Forced Rotation Dual Action Polishers.

The fibers that make up the PFWs are encapsulated with foam and this creates a pad that offers good correction due to the fibers leveraging any abrasive or chemical cleaners while the foam helps to maintain good gloss for finishing.

The forced rotation Flex 3401 provides plenty of power without instilling swirls at the same time.


Joseph using a Flex 3401 with a 4" Backing Plate and a 4" PFW

Chris using a Flex 3401 with the factory 5.5" backing plate and a 6.5" PFW

Shawn using a Flex 3401 with the factory 5.5" backing plate and a 6.5" PFW

Den using a Flex 3401 with a 4" PFW

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 24' Pro-Line Boat - Extreme Marine Makeover - Oxidation Removal

Continued...


While most of us were working on removing oxidation and/or using a cleaner/wax on the cap, Jay and Steve were using HEAT GUNS to remove the old graphics and the Boot Stripe.


Jay is really good at getting just the right balance of heat and pulling on the old boot stripe without tearing the old, weathered vinyl...

Steve's working on removing the boot stripe on the other side...

Success! The vinyl boot stripe is off the boat and on Jay! Thank you Jay!

You ca also see Paul following Jay and using 3M Adhesive Remover to remove the adhesive residue. Thanks Paul!

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 24' Pro-Line Boat - Extreme Marine Makeover - Oxidation Removal

Continued....


After compounding the black gel-coat we then polished it using the Flex 3401 with foam polishing pads to remove the holograms left by the wool pads. I didn't get any pictures of this process as I was busy running a rotary buffer and after that running a Flex 3401. Just wanted to note that we did machine polish the boat and did NOT go straight to wax after the rotary buffer procedure.

Anytime the last step on your boat is a wool pad with a rotary buffer the results are holograms or rotary buffer trails in the finish.

If you have a white gel-coat boat you might not see them but they are still there. These are simply circular cuts in the surface and they leave the surface more open to deterioration and oxidation than having a completely flat or smooth surface.


Next up we machine waxed the hull...

Here's Jay and Shawn machine applying Marine 31 Gel-Coat Carnauba Wax + Sealant using Porter Cable 7424XP dual action polishers and soft blue foam waxing pads.

Here's Paul and Niki machine waxing the other side.

You just can't beat machine waxing ...

Wipe-off time...

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 24' Pro-Line Boat - Extreme Marine Makeover - Oxidation Removal

Continued...


Next up... apply the new graphics.

Jay has a natural talent for installing vinyl graphics as he proved when he applied the new graphics to his 1999 Trans Am.

1999 Trans Am Extreme Makeover - Testing M101 Foam Cut Compound

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 24' Pro-Line Boat - Extreme Marine Makeover - Oxidation Removal

Continued...


Jay carefully removes the backing film and then gently and carefully squeegees out any minor imperfections...

Of course we installed graphics on the other side as well...

It's about 10:00pm now and time to start shutting down...

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 24' Pro-Line Boat - Extreme Marine Makeover - Oxidation Removal

Continued...


And here's the after shots...