wet sanding???
 

Have a few fine scratches that will sand out easily with 1500-2000-2500, fine cut, then polish. Looks like boat was washed with grit in the sponge. What is the correct sanding pattern for best results:
Straight line,
circular, or
in a straight line then again at 90*

When wet sanding I prefer to sand @ 30 degrees one direction from straight... next finer grit.. 30 degrees the other direction from straight.. final grit... straight... so it looks like this...... / .... \ ..... l .... and avoid and movement like this.... ~ .... hahahahah... seriously... if you slightly cross sand... you can see the scratches from the previous grit disappear... then finish in a straight line... that way if any small final scratches don't get polished out... they aren't as noticable.

Just detailing mine now, its was chaulky and full of scratches. For fine scracthes, used 3M Finese It w/ 8 inch Milwaukee buffer. It took out the scrathes and gave the boat a "wet paint look". But it took hours and hours, doing a 2ft section at a time, well worth it.Then you have to wax it and I used Starbite w/ Teflon. BTW, used Aqua-Buff for the chaulky deck and its was long process but worked the best( recommened by the OSO forum).NO matter what you use its going to take HOURS. If you rush it its going to look worse than it is. Trust me I spent a whole week trying to see if there was an easier way, NO WAY other than sore arms. :)

Use straight strokes, back and forth with 1st grit, up and down with the next, then back and forth etc.

Maybe you should start with coarser grit and work your way up. At 2500 you should not have scratches.

2 cents worth
 

Man, that aqua buff is the sh*t. it will take out 600 grit scratches no problem, Then hit with finesse it and u r done. been doing this for years and haven't found an easier way yet.

anyone ever use Gel Gloss? Comes in a can like spray paint.

Kennyo, what,s the Auqua Buff you mentioned in your post.

Sam

Re: 2 cents worth
 

After Finesse it, you must use a quality wax or polish with U.V. inhibitors or else your oxidation will return ina coupleof weeks. Alway wash the boat down between compounding steps to close up the pours in the gel as well.

Thanks guys.
The scratches are very fine. The kind that only the owner can see. :rolleyes: ;) But it bugs me, so out they go. A bit deeper than what just a buffing will remove, but not deep enough to hit it with a too abrasive paper.

I just bought a marine wax with UV protectant. Used to use auto wax, but while researching this, I ran across a waxing/buffing discussion on the other board with good info on why to use marine/rv wax and not auto wax. Yes, got the marine finesse-it also.
Jerry