Awlgrip on 320 Sundancer

[coreyf311]

I am being told that the blue hull may not be able to be wet sanded as there may only a few MM of gel coat AND that an untrained guy may not recognize when NOT to wet sand. Meaning it would look a whole lot worse after. I habe a quote of 1300 and have more numbers to call of people whom supposidly have enough expirience that they would know its a good idea or not. We will see. So many helpful suggestions here though. All information is good information and helps guide a noob down the right path. Much appreciated!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fwebster]

I think it is about as much luck as experience when wet sanding a blue hull. If the gelcoat is already more purple than blue, it is even riskier. The challenge is that sanding turns the surface cloudy so the guy doing the sanding cannot see what he has done until he hits it with compound and a buffer. This is where the luck comes in. It is a little bit of a gamble since you will have to spend part of the $1300 wet sanding money to find out if you bought another year or so out of the blue gelcoat's life. If it doesn't work, it is back to where we started.....i.e. painting the hull.

I don't have a lot of experience with northern gelcoats, but down here in Florida, I wouldn't even try wet sanding 5+ year old a blue boat. I've seen too many end up with white spots and cloudy finishes just due to buffing and polishing or a minor gelcoat repair. I'd paint the boat in a NY minute and I'd really consider updating tosome of the newer colors like Sea Ray's Horizon or one of the AwlGrip blue shades:

http://www.awlgrip.com/support-and-advice/color-cards.aspx#

 

[coreyf311]

I think it is about as much luck as experience when wet sanding a blue hull. If the gelcoat is already more purple than blue, it is even riskier. The challenge is that sanding turns the surface cloudy so the guy doing the sanding cannot see what he has done until he hits it with compound and a buffer. This is where the luck comes in. It is a little bit of a gamble since you will have to spend part of the $1300 wet sanding money to find out if you bought another year or so out of the blue gelcoat's life. If it doesn't work, it is back to where we started.....i.e. painting the hull.

I don't have a lot of experience with northern gelcoats, but down here in Florida, I wouldn't even try wet sanding 5+ year old a blue boat. I've seen too many end up with white spots and cloudy finishes just due to buffing and polishing or a minor gelcoat repair. I'd paint the boat in a NY minute and I'd really consider updating tosome of the newer colors like Sea Ray's Horizon or one of the AwlGrip blue shades:

http://www.awlgrip.com/support-and-advice/color-cards.aspx#

well, if we were going to to keep the boat for a long time I could maybe justify the 10k cost. At least, that's where the 2 quotes I got where. The 9-10k range.

 

[fwebster]

If you are going to wet sand and buff to bring back what you can, after the wet sand and buff is done, you also need to plan to polish the blue often enough in your area to keep it from oxidizing.........in NW Fla, that would be 4X per year, probably less in Maryland

 

[coreyf311]

If you are going to wet sand and buff to bring back what you can, after the wet sand and buff is done, you also need to plan to polish the blue often enough in your area to keep it from oxidizing.........in NW Fla, that would be 4X per year, probably less in Maryland

I get it at least twice a year. That seems to keep the clouds at bay