Why is this happening to my gelcoat?

Jimmy Buoy said:
Maybe part of my issue was applying my compound/polish directly to my wool pad then using it on the hull. I've got a new 3M double sided wool pad now and will try using your method of applying product to the hull before using the buffer. Thanks!
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If you look at the pic of the boat with the bird flying by look at the area aft of the engine room vents. I would dab polishing compound on the hull from the vents back to the transom. You don't have to cover the entire area. Just put enough dabs on at regular intervals so the wheel spreads it around as you work that area of the hull. You can put too much compound on and it will load up your pad and make it less effective. With practice you learn what works best to get the shine without gumming up the pad.
 
Geowh said:
So you used pads and a rotary to apply the polish and the wax? Makita? Did you use a compounding pad for polish and a polishing pad for wax? What wax did you use?
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Used a towel not a pad. Polish towel and a wax towel, both clean. One wool pad for polish. Different one for wax. Both clean. Used Flagship liquid wax that was rubbed out with the wheel. Rotary machine, not random orbit.
 
super happy with the line of Smoove products. i'm having to do 3 steps due to heavy oxidation. i bet the OP need only do a 2 step with the 2500 then high gloss polymer. use a polishing pad cleaner! -kirk out
pro-cut 1000
pro-cut 2500
white cloud high gloss polymer

searaysmoove.jpg


31j9ipQRkoL._AC_.jpg
 
James T Kirk said:
super happy with the line of Smoove products. i'm having to do 3 steps due to heavy oxidation. i bet the OP need only do a 2 step with the 2500 then high gloss polymer. use a polishing pad cleaner! -kirk out
pro-cut 1000
pro-cut 2500
white cloud high gloss polymer

View attachment 105092

31j9ipQRkoL._AC_.jpg
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I've used that setup with excellent results. Except for the 2500 - that's a new product. I used Smoove's ProCut wool pad. I found that ProCut does not load up and clog pads in the way that Buff Magic and 3M products do. It's very easy to work. The ProCut really does what they claim - with pressure and heat from the rotary it breaks down to finer grits.

I've also used the Bubblegum Micropolish / Polymer as well, applied with a Smoove ProPolish yellow pad. Works very well to remove fine scratches.

The Smoove stuff is seriously impressive.
 
sbw1 said:
View attachment 105088
Used a towel not a pad. Polish towel and a wax towel, both clean. One wool pad for polish. Different one for wax. Both clean. Used Flagship liquid wax that was rubbed out with the wheel. Rotary machine, not random orbit.
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sbw1 said:
View attachment 105088
Used a towel not a pad. Polish towel and a wax towel, both clean. One wool pad for polish. Different one for wax. Both clean. Used Flagship liquid wax that was rubbed out with the wheel. Rotary machine, not random orbit.
Click to expand...
Sorry - I was asking if you used a rotary for the polish and the wax - rotary to spread it across the gel coat after you applied the polish and after you applied the wax to the boat with its own towel.
 
What kind of yellow pad is that? Looks like foam but it must be a yellow polishing pad? Not foam?
 
Geowh said:
Sorry - I was asking if you used a rotary for the polish and the wax - rotary to spread it across the gel coat after you applied the polish and after you applied the wax to the boat with its own towel.
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Yes.
 
Geowh said:
Last questions - I have a 330DA. Will one pad for each process be enough? Do you do this procee every year? I'm concerned about polishing the gel coat too often. I've read that each time you use a rotary with a wool pad your removing a fine layer of gel coat.
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FFE34259-17AA-4882-AFE4-87EF21070032_1_201_a.jpeg

Yes. One pad for each process. Do it every year. There is enough gel coat to last longer than you will ever own the boat. Polishes are very fine. Not to worry.
 
Geowh said:
What kind of yellow pad is that? Looks like foam but it must be a yellow polishing pad? Not foam?
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That's a foam pad. It came with the Makita polisher. I have a pad for each product 1000/2500/polymer. I don't mix the wool pads with the different compounds. Some day I'll finally get to use the foam pad for the polymer. I'm still working away at the 1000 and 2500 phases. UGH! My lower back hurts!
 
sbw1 said:
View attachment 105135
Yes. One pad for each process. Do it every year. There is enough gel coat to last longer than you will ever own the boat. Polishes are very fine. Not to worry.
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Sorry, one more question. (I just really like your process and results) What type of pads are you using? Compounding, polishing, one of each, both pads the same, what brand, if you don't mind me asking? Thanks again.
 
Geowh said:
Sorry, one more question. (I just really like your process and results) What type of pads are you using? Compounding, polishing, one of each, both pads the same, what brand, if you don't mind me asking? Thanks again.
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10B312BC-EA91-48EF-A94A-4B55679016DD.jpeg

I bought two wool pads at an auto parts store 30 years ago and they are a store brand. They really do not wear out since they have only been used thirty or thirty five times. Once I’m done I wash them with a the boat towels and put them on the shelf until the next season.
 
toddh said:
I used buff magic with a wool pad and a DA. Working a small area at a time. Then used a polishing pad and meguires polish, finally used meguires wax by hand. Turned out great. Lots of YouTube videos on this process.
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You used a DA orbital with a wool pad or a rotary? If DA what make/model because I didn't think the DA's were powerful enough for wool pads. Was it white or yellow wool pad?
 
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