Restoring Gel Coat

[ShaeMcLaren]

What is the best procedure to bring back the gel coat on a boat that's been sitting for years. I understand a good wet sand, stain remover, and polish will do alot. How far gone is too far gone? Which are the best products for bringing it back? PFA

 

[searun]

Most FG boats will come back, a good way to decide if its worthwhile is to do a test area to see how the gell coat responds. It won't be easy or quick.

 

[Aces]

This should be your first step after a basic wash. Make a paste mix it with water, rub it in, let it sit for a few hours then scrub it off. Amazing stuff

 

[ShaeMcLaren]

Already looks better with a quick scrub down. I'll try that paste next .

 

[brutus]

Gel coat on that thing is thick, wet sand to take oxidation off, to 1500gr then a good boat polish and go to town, once you got it nice and shinny a good coat of wax and it look brand new. Just do a small area for a test and you will be surprised, it’s not that hard, time consuming but not that hard to do

 

[ShaeMcLaren]

I think @Sttr was onto something with the chopped roof! I dig it!

 

[Sttr]

Wow! it’s growing on me…
Take that thing all the way off her!!

 

[ShaeMcLaren]

Wow! it’s growing on me…
Take that thing all the way off her!!

Haha I think the little brow looks good. Reminds me of an 88 to 98 obs chevy with a visor. For now I'll keep it like this and see how it looks moving forward.

 

[KMay]

I just used meguiars one step compound #67 on my 1984 zeta with a wool pad on a polish/sander. It was amazing how the gel coat came back to life.

 

[Dorman Point]

I just used meguiars one step compound #67 on my 1984 zeta with a wool pad on a polish/sander. It was amazing how the gel coat came back to life.

Pics of your Zeta please? I’ll show you mine if you show me yours…

 

[Newf]

Not to hijack the OP's original question but when you get the gelcoat back to where you are happy with it, is there a good sealer or polish that stands out as the best UV protectant? My hull is RED and after getting it nice and shiny it's only a matter of 3-4 summer months and you can see the UV doing it's thing and oxidizing the gelcoat. I've looked online on other boating forums and there's many many recommendation. So from first hand experiences what's your pick for best UV protectant once she's looking good? Maybe there's no such thing.

 

[brutus]

Not to hijack the OP's original question but when you get the gelcoat back to where you are happy with it, is there a good sealer or polish that stands out as the best UV protectant? My hull is RED and after getting it nice and shiny it's only a matter of 3-4 summer months and you can see the UV doing it's thing and oxidizing the gelcoat. I've looked online on other boating forums and there's many many recommendation. So from first hand experiences what's your pick for best UV protectant once she's looking good? Maybe there's no such thing.

Good quality boat wax once a year

 

[KMay]

Pics of your Zeta please? I’ll show you mine if you show me yours…

I love seeing other people zetas!

 

[Dorman Point]

Love it! Thanks for posting those. What a great-looking, functional set-up. Ours is the third 24’ to come out of the mold, which would put her at 1972 or so, I think (there is no builder’s hull number to confirm date). We did a bunch of work on her about 11 years ago. She is really a work boat; just fishing and commuting to/from the cabin, so she’s not Bristol by any stretch.

To keep this post related to the thread, her hull is currently painted with matte Hempel freighter paint. It has not proven to be as tough as I expected, and I’m considering repainting her with an epoxy top-side gloss finish. A proper, professional Awlgrip or similar job aren’t really in-budget, so I was looking at Pettit’s one-part epoxy topside paint. I am open to comments, suggestions and advice, as I will do the work myself.

 

[brutus]

Here you go, 33 year old boat, lol it’s not that hard

 

[Newf]

I’m told that a white boat is the easiest to keep looking good. Don’t know but just what I’ve read and been told. Mine is Red and 10 years old. Where I have to park it, the bow is directly in the afternoon/evening sun. I’ve found that for the same effort it’s getting harder and harder to keep the oxidation off.

I use a Starbrite brand rubbing compound and have tried different wax brands. My last one was Meguiar’s Flagship Premium Marine Wax.

It seems like I’m not getting through the oxidation good enough. May have to try a heavier cutting compound.

 

[brutus]

I’m told that a white boat is the easiest to keep looking good. Don’t know but just what I’ve read and been told. Mine is Red and 10 years old. Where I have to park it, the bow is directly in the afternoon/evening sun. I’ve found that for the same effort it’s getting harder and harder to keep the oxidation off.

I use a Starbrite brand rubbing compound and have tried different wax brands. My last one was Meguiar’s Flagship Premium Marine Wax.

It seems like I’m not getting through the oxidation good enough. May have to try a heavier cutting compound.

You probably need to wet sand the oxidation off first, once that’s taken care of, then light compound and wax once a year, mine was dull as hell when I bought it 7 years ago, wet sand from 240gr to 1500 gr and been just keeping up on wax since then, it dulls up over the season, if was to leave it for a 2 plus year period it would oxidize again