A Hull Lot Better

leeccoll · Jan 29, 2020

Finished tackling my 33 year old gelcoat restoration on the hull.
First sanded out medium scuffs with 320 grit sandpaper, then whole hull with 600 grit, washed down and scrubbed gelcoat with a scrub sponge.
Moved on to 1200 grit wet sand.
Then Vibra cut 1000 cutting compound, followed by 3m Finesse-It II, and lastly 2 coats of West Marine Paste Wax.
Special thanks to ROBERTH for some great tips! It wouldn't have turned out as nicely without his advice.

Ky Grady · Jan 29, 2020

Looks great!!

Sdfish · Jan 29, 2020

WOW - very nice work! Looks brand new!

Fishtales · Jan 29, 2020

now you've got to do the topside! does look very nice.

leeccoll · Jan 29, 2020

Fishtales said:
now you've got to do the topside! does look very nice.

Let's not forget the rub rail and transom too

Yep It's on the "to do" list

leeccoll · Jan 29, 2020

Thanks to all, and thanks to Grady White for giving her ample gelcoat thickness to restore

usmm1234 · Feb 6, 2020

leeccoll said:
Finished tackling my 33 year old gelcoat restoration on the hull.
First sanded out medium scuffs with 320 grit sandpaper, then whole hull with 600 grit, washed down and scrubbed gelcoat with a scrub sponge.
Moved on to 1200 grit wet sand.
Then Vibra cut 1000 cutting compound, followed by 3m Finesse-It II, and lastly 2 coats of West Marine Paste Wax.
Special thanks to ROBERTH for some great tips! It wouldn't have turned out as nicely without his advice.View attachment 10683 View attachment 10684 View attachment 10685

Wow! Nice job! Looks better than factory.

leeccoll · Feb 16, 2020

Thanks usmm1234.

Working upward, scrubbed down the rub rail and applied some conditioner.
As usual, what I thought would take an hour took twice as long

usmm1234 · Feb 16, 2020

leeccoll said:
Thanks usmm1234.

Working upward, scrubbed down the rub rail and applied some conditioner.
As usual, what I thought would take an hour took twice as long
View attachment 10885

Ive just finished 6 months of retrofitting and now I’m starting to detail the boat. I think installing new equipment and replacing old items is easier then the detailing! I’m getting there though. It’s no where near to where you’ve got yours!

ScottyCee · Feb 17, 2020

What product / technique works on the rub rail? Mine is full of boat wax, stained white.

Doc Stressor · Feb 17, 2020

Wipe it with a cloth soaked in acetone. Wipe any excess off right away. Works like magic! It will even remove or lighten up any dings.

ScottyCee · Feb 17, 2020

Great. THanks.

Ky Grady · Feb 17, 2020

Looking good!!

I bought some Flitz metal polish and going to try that with a little bronze wool this spring on my hardtop legs and see if it helps some of the pits from saltwater go away.

leeccoll · Feb 17, 2020

These boats look great when you have the time and energy to properly maintain them.

Oh yeah, and an open checkbook

ROBERTH · Feb 17, 2020

Thanks Lee! It does look great! I am still going at it on mine! Love the Vibracut! I think I have at least 30 hours so far, but getting closer!

For the Rub Rails, best cleaning agent I have found is Interlux 333. It removes a bit more than the Acetone or Denatured Alcohol from my experience. Acetone does good though. The interlux will not dry as quickly, so gives a bit more worktime. It will turn your rags blue, so have to go through a couple of rags, but removes the top outer layer of old dried up rubber leaving a newer softer layer. Then I coat it. I have tried several coatings. The Mothers Back to Black has worked very well so far. I am pondering if my spray ceramic might work.....hmmmm.

Yamama · Feb 19, 2020

I use Eagle One tire shine as the last step. Available at NAPA.

PNW_Drifter · Feb 21, 2020

Did you hand sand your hull or use a orbital sander? I know that had to be a ton of work! Wrestling my 7" rotary buffer is no joke for an hour with the wool pad, but that's nothing compared to what you did. My back hurts already.

leeccoll · Feb 21, 2020

PNW_Drifter said:
Did you hand sand your hull or use a orbital sander? I know that had to be a ton of work! Wrestling my 7" rotary buffer is no joke for an hour with the wool pad, but that's nothing compared to what you did. My back hurts already.

I sanded with a Makita orbital random sander. No way in hell I would hand sand that hull Drifter!

I thought I would be alot sorer after the last day of contorted buffing and waxing, but miraculously I held up ok.

Give us some pics when you finish

ROBERTH · Feb 21, 2020

Haha, yeah, hours of polishing will reveal muscles you haven't used in years, but after a while you adjust. Best to find a comfortable position when polishing to keep the stress down and it will make it a lot easier. There is a technique!

The worst part for me is getting the cabin polished between the walk around area. Nothing there is easy to position into, so is a strain. Pace yourself!

Salmondogs · Feb 22, 2020

Dang looks amazing! Did I get this right, you buffed the boat using an orbital sander with a buffing pad?

K2Freak said:
What product / technique works on the rub rail? Mine is full of boat wax, stained white.

If your rub rail is REALLY bad, progressive wet sanding works really well too.

A Hull Lot Better

GreatGrady Captain

GreatGrady Captain

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

GreatGrady Captain

GreatGrady Captain

Well-Known Member

GreatGrady Captain

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

GreatGrady Captain

GreatGrady Captain

GreatGrady Captain

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

GreatGrady Captain

GreatGrady Captain

Well-Known Member