Which tools and products will fix this?

[bjones]

I'm trying to get my boat looking good again. I found this site researching products and have already learned a few thing's here. I am thinking I will need to compound, then polish and finish off with a coat or 2 of wax.

My question is which polisher, compound/polish/wax and pads should take care of this?

Thanks!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Hi bjones,

Thank you for the Private Message with questions about your boat project. I try really hard to keep any of my answers, (typing time), on the "public side of the forum", not in a private message.

I'm trying to get my boat looking good again. I found this site researching products and have already learned a few thing's here. I am thinking I will need to compound, then polish and finish off with a coat or 2 of wax.

My question is which polisher, compound/polish/wax and pads should take care of this?

Thanks!

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The fastest and most effective way to remove dead, oxidized gel-coat is with a wool pad and a compound on a rotary buffer. Then remove the swirls if the color is dark and it's important to you to have a swirl-free or fairly swirl-free finish.


The Flex PE14 is a lightweight, compact rotary buffer but it's going to be a challenge to operate it with one hand.

Can you operate a rotary buffer right now?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

3M, Meguiar's, Buff Magic and Gel Coat Labs are 4 brands that we carry that all make aggressive compounds for removing oxidation off boat.


The Meguiar's M91 is a very aggressive compound that cuts fast while leaving a low swirl finish.

M91 Power Cut Compound


The oxidation looks bad but if I were you, I would try using a one-step cleaner/wax first and see if that won't do the job. If it will, then you just reduced the number of steps you have to do to one-step.

M50 Marine/RV Cleaner Wax is a fairly aggressive cleaner/wax that you can apply by hand or machine. If you stick with a DA Polisher and an aggressive foam cutting pad you won't leave any swirls.

 

[Hoytman]

I would certainly try Mr. Phillip's suggestion to use M50, first. That is, sticking with the least aggressive method first.

Mr. Phillips,
Why no suggestion of M67? Is it because the abrasives start out too aggressive then reducing to a polish? I had someone suggest to me that the abrasives in M67 were more aggressive than those of M91, but I'm not sure the information came from a credible source, of which I do not recall.

Why doesn't Autogeek carry this wonderful One-Step Compound/Polish from Meguiar's, M67?

 

[1oldsalt]

I'm from the old school with gel coat polishing. That is, burning a compound stick into a wool pad and going to town. A some years ago I tried Buff Magic. Great product. For ease of use this stuff is fantastic. It has a diminishing compound that makes it more or less a one step product. Follow up with their polish and sealant. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Hope this helps
Check out this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I9cEDKSLHE

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I would certainly try Mr. Phillip's suggestion to use M50, first. That is, sticking with the least aggressive method first.

Plus boats are huge...

It's kind of hard to tell for the oxidation picture and it could be REALLY bad but it could also be nothing more than light surface oxidation and if that's the case, some well spent time with a one-step cleaner/wax might do the trick with just one trip around the boat.

Mr. Phillips,
Why no suggestion of M67? Is it because the abrasives start out too aggressive then reducing to a polish? I had someone suggest to me that the abrasives in M67 were more aggressive than those of M91, but I'm not sure the information came from a credible source, of which I do not recall.

Why doesn't Autogeek carry this wonderful One-Step Compound/Polish from Meguiar's, M67?

Good questions and although we carry a ton of Meguiar's product this is one we have not brought in yet, perhaps you'll see it in the near future.