Started to restore the gelcoat on my '84 Monaco 207

[mjrubino]

When I first bought the boat two years ago it had sat in outside storage for about 1.5 years prior. The gelcoat was in good shape, but looked like crap. I did the best I could given the short amount of time I had to prep the boat and had it looking servicable.

Last year I was excited to get out boating, and pretty much took the shrinkwrap off and threw it in the water.

This year the gelcoat's back to looking like it did when I first bought it. I decided this time I'd do it right. This is after I hit it with 3M Gelcoat restorer twice, but right before I dropped my buffer in a bucket of water while it was running :smt021.

I'd like to get the pinstriping redone, but I'm not sure if I'll have time... I'm trying to get in the water this saturday and besides hitting the other 3/4s of the boat with the 3M stuff then doing a wax job, I still have a million other projects left as well.

 

[jarhead]

That sounds so familiar! I did the same thing last year, but this year I'm de-oxidizing and redoing all of the teak. I can't wait to be done and in the water.
I used the 3M restorer and wax.

 

[katricol]

So your buffer is nice and clean, right?

 

[JEMCO]

Looks really neat cleaned up - how long did it take to get that shine?

 

[GoofyLeo3]

That 3M Imperial is some great stuff! Also have their 'Finesse-it II' but it doesn't do a whole 'lot more as a 'stage 2'.
So 'Jarhead'; when you run out of provisions, do you jump off the swim platform and wade ashore for more, or do you hop in a Zodiak with a blacked out outboard?
(USN '89-'93) hee hee hee

 

[JVM225]

This will be my fourth season with this boat. It was pretty badly oxidized when I got it. It stays in the water for the season, so routine maintenance below the rub rail is limited to whatever washing I can do from the dock. I take the time to detail it in the spring.
This year I tried the Meguiar's three step kit.
I usually borrow an old rotary buffer from a friend who had a body shop back in the old days, and now has a regular auto repair business, but still does some bodywork for customers from time to time. His machine dates back to the seventies, and weighs a ton. My arms kill me every year after a couple of days (one for oxidation removal, a second for final polish) of working on my hull below the rub rails. But it's worth it! It comes up pretty nice for a 23 year old boat that had it's finish neglected for at least some of those years.
I've tried my Flex 3401 orbital on the boat, but although it works great on my cars, the boat really needs a rotary and wool pads. The Flex, as great as it is, just doesn't measure up on the boat. I suspect it might be fine if you start with a new boat and keep up with it, but fr anything beyond that you really need a rotary buffer.
After finishing the routine this year, I ordered myself a Makita 9227 rotary. Although still a chore, it should be a lot lighter than my friends old work horse.
A big problem is that as good as the hull looks when I get done with it, I get black streaks from the canvas every time it rains. Once the boat goes back in the water, some of the streaks along the sides are impossible to get to.
I've taken the canvas off the boat, scrubbed it clean, put it back up, and I still get the streaks.

 

[1956olds]

are you moored near a coal burning electric company?We are across the river from bay power and occasionally get a dusting that leaves streaks when it rains .The power co. has a number to call if our boats have issues with the coal dust .It usually blows east but occasionally i have had to remove the carpets and hose them down before getting on the boat as our for sale bayliner had only a cockpit drop curtain and didnt protect the carpet on the stern .

 

[jarhead]

That 3M Imperial is some great stuff! Also have their 'Finesse-it II' but it doesn't do a whole 'lot more as a 'stage 2'.
So 'Jarhead'; when you run out of provisions, do you jump off the swim platform and wade ashore for more, or do you hop in a Zodiak with a blacked out outboard?
(USN '89-'93) hee hee hee

Goofy, I did have a rectifier go out on a boat once and jumped in, swam with a bow line in tow to get my family across the lake. Not lake Michigan, of course, but I sure was tired pulling that old FULL Glasspar Seafair sedan!