Chaulky gel-coat
 

Anybody have any good secrets for restoring real chaulky gel-coat. Used some 3M Restorer/Wax but is there another way? How about the buff pads too. Which one is good for compounding (7 inch Milwaukee).Any input would be appreciated.

in April issue of powerboat on page 52 they talked about gel and painted finishes, for chalky gelcoat they said to use Ultra cutting creme it sells for 15.89 for 30 oz's contact presta products 1800-860-4488
you might find an issue of powerboat and read the article

I use a water soluble compound called Whizards. Works great on my red gel. Can get it on the internet.

Aquabuff, trust me, it works great! I bought two 16 oz jars, one in 1000, and one in 2000 grit. Stuff is easy to use. Here's a 1987 Donzi that Deb did the gel with it. It was really faded blue and it brought the color back better than I would have ever imagined. The stuff only cost $10 a tub, and we've done the Minx, and an 18 foot CC and still have enough left to do another boat.

Buff with Wizards Turbo Cut.

Have to agree with Cuda on this one. I was skeptical but I tried it anyway. Best I've found and no swirl marks!!!

Where can you get Aquabuff from?

chaulky surface
 

I agree. Aqua-Buff is the stuff.

Very inexpensive, easy to use, and produces excellent results. I recommend a wool pad. Buff at 1200 rpm. Once you achieve the desired finish, wash boat. Chamois and finish with Waxing Frenzy. You could end up with a "like new" finish!

There is a link to Aqua-Buff on our web site.

Good luck.

Thanks guys, just ordered a couple of tubs of Aqua-
buff. It should work good w/ my new Milwaukee polisher.

I, err, Debbie has the same polisher. :)

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

What model Milwaukee polisher is that??

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

I just used collinite wax to finish off the Formula. It goes on easy, kinda hard to get off, but looks like it will last a summer of washings. Took 2 coats and shines like nothing I've used before.
Although I will be trying aqua-buff next time I tackle a chalky boat.

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

A lot of elbow grease
Compound, whatever kind you like to work with and a good buffer and pad. No matter what you use it takes time and patience to make it look great. The compound makes a lasting like new shine, not the wax. The wax protects after the shine is achieved. Shortcuts as in pledge, baby oil, ect. work for real short periods of time. Used car dealers have a multitude of patches that work very temporarilly. Most guy's that detail cars are not good on boats. They are worried about burning thru the paint as on a car. Gelcoat needs aggressive pad work almost like sanding to make the shine come back. Think of it as sanding thru the bad or faded gelcoat to get to the shiny part. Your compound is sanding for you. Even with a good polisher it a lot of elbow grease. The good is the that the shine lasts and you created it.
VeeCat

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

I must be doing something wrong (?) as I tried Aquabuff but didn't think it did much of anything. 3M Microcut worked much better.

-Greg

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

I just tried Aquabuff 1000. It works ok, no miracles. Definitely need a rotary polisher with wool pad, I tried it with an orbiting Porter Cable and it did absolutely nothing. Two passes with Aquabuff 1000 using a rotary polisher & wool pad and I can still see some chaulk, and it was not bad at all to begin with, very minor chaulk. It is better but far less improved than I expected. I am sure better can be found.

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

Did you keep it wet? The secret is to use LOTS of water. At least that's what Deb tells me.

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

Try Meguiers #67 (?) One Step Compound. I used it on my boat a couple weeks ago and was much happier with it than I was with the Aquabuff.

-Greg

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

for something a little more commercially available try Meguires #44 colour restorer or the heavier cut version.......followed up by #45 boat/rv polish .....then Meguires #?? Pure Wax.......its a three step process so you gotta buy three bottles and use a rotary buffer to apply it ....... I had A LEAF get under my cover on the deck of my boat then it rained for like a month.....I had an actual imprint of a brown leaf on the white deck of my boat!!!!!....as plain as day :eek: ......I thought I was into re gelling :mad: .......this 3 step process not only got it out completly but made the whole boat look absolutly beautiful.....a deep "foot thick" shine that makes 15yr old gel look as good as anything around.....I am super impressed with this product and will stick with it and reccomend it to anyone I can......doug

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

I used the Aqua-Buff on my 85 Excalibur Hawk 40 following the instructions...If I remember correctly they said to use a rotary buffer with a wool pad and to spin it 2500rpm's, as Cuda said it requires the water mist....it worked better than any other thing I used including Starbrite color restorer, 3m microfinishing compoud, 3m oxidation remover....and more....the boat shined better than it ever did and the gel seems to be sooo much smoother and a year later it still shines and I did the whole boat with just one $9.99 tub....I love the stuff....Fred

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

There are many componds that will work great. Buffing a boat with gel coat is way easier than buffing a car. Veecat is right about auto detailers mostly they dont know anything about buffing. They use very light compounds with tons of silicones and waxes in them. They just cover the dead paint up. Not take it off. The trick is in the buffer and how you use it. Use a high speed heavy duty buffer with a wool wheel. Not the orbital kind! (They are for waxing at best) Work in small areas at a time. Apply slight pressure to the buffer and work slow and build a little heat. Don't worry about buffing though the geal coat its very thick. If you have to you can even wet sand before buffing using 1000 grit.

Russ

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

The aqua buff worked great on 17 year old blue gel that has been in the Florida sun. We used 2000 after the 1000. I just have to talk Deb into doing the hull too, which also is blue gel.

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

Cuda, your the one who told me about the Aqua-Buff....Thanks much...Fred

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

Cuda,

Deb is a boating gal who also runs a rotary buffer to polish the boat?!?!? Where does one find such a woman???? :D

Good thread and advice, I'll be buffing out my transom next week, it's all chalk.

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

I figured out the trick to Aqua-Buff, just keep doing it over and over and over and over until it shines. It will work eventually. It seems to go much better without the water. The stuff is so wet anyhow, like melted ice cream, that as long as you buff it out promptly, it seems to be wet enough on its own. Starting to look good. I did collinite wax on one side and mcquires wax on the other after two coats of teflon and the buffing of course.

Re: Chaulky gel-coat
 

Maguires makes a kit called Heavy Oxidation Remover. Best thing I have ever found. The seperate parts have been mentioned above, but it was said you have to buy the heavy oxidation remover, color restorer and polish separately but you can by it in a kit at Boat U.S. or West Marine or some place like that cheaper as a kit. Me and a friend did a boat where we had no access to power so we did it by hand it the boat looked fantastic.