faded red gel

bigboat28 · 12-31-2008, 09:50 AM

Is there any way to get red gelcoat back? The boat is a 90 and it is faded pretty bad. If it does come back how long will it last?

happy hours · 12-31-2008, 02:42 PM

I had decent luck once with red gel coat by wet sanding it with 1200 , then 200 grit and buffing with compound, Looked pretty good but was not as durable as "fresh" gel coat.

bigboat28 · 12-31-2008, 03:49 PM

What do you mean by not as durable?

Fenderjack · 12-31-2008, 04:00 PM

I have to buff the **** out of my stinger(red) every year, then keep a coat of wax on it every week. I wet sanded the deck, around the transom, with 1400. Had great results. Then hit it with 3m cut compound, then with finishing compound, finally wax. It look like new. Durable I am sure he means you have to stay after, witch you do much more then new gel..

John jr

glassdave · 12-31-2008, 06:00 PM

I'm a big fan of having an original gel finish but sometimes it just gets to be to much work to keep up on it. Red will always be a problem, seems the more you work it the more work is need to keep iy up. I went through a similar problem with a 260 Scorpion i had. It was black and grey and would buff out ok but died back quickly. In the end it was better just to paint and get it over with, way less work in the long run.

ezstriper · 01-03-2009, 08:49 AM

I agree, far better off to paint it at this point, you can get it looking good...for a month..with lots of work !!!

marineclean · 01-03-2009, 05:03 PM

I agree with Dave. Red is extemely hard to maintain unless you saty on it from New. I can educate you on Wetsanding & Buffing to provide an excellent shine, but you'll need to stay on top of it as everyone states. I can also educate you on how to maintain it if you decide to go with new paint.

It's a hard decision, but we can cover you either way.

Donnie

Big Boys Toys · 01-04-2009, 08:03 AM

Do you want a quick detail that does not look great but will make the gelcoat shine pretty good.
Penetrol it says on the can it makes fiberglass shine.
It does not last a long time but is quick looks better than faded gelcoat and is cheap. Penetrol is used to add lubricant to oil based paints , allows the brush to move nicley and minimises brush marks. Most Benjamin Moore paint stores have it in stock. Try a spot.
The real solution for the red it to re paint it, a lot money and time.
Post your findings.
Good luck.

smcclay · 01-04-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happy hours

I had decent luck once with red gel coat by wet sanding it with 1200 , then 200 grit and buffing with compound, Looked pretty good but was not as durable as "fresh" gel coat.

Better follow that 1200 with 2000 grit, 200 would really make a mess. I know that's pretty obvious but it's better to say it now...

happy hours · 01-04-2009, 03:58 PM

Opps, yes I meant 2000, was typo. Yea, sanding your gelcoat w/ 200 is not advised. :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by smcclay

Better follow that 1200 with 2000 grit, 200 would really make a mess. I know that's pretty obvious but it's better to say it now...