Like all of you here, I don't stop thinking of boating even in the face of a blizzard that is going to shut down the entire state at midnight. Two days ago I met my new detailer at the dock to go over what I want done on my blue hull this spring. As I was having that conversation, my mechanic was removing my intercoolers to take them for an acid bath and new gaskets. Looking forward to cheap diesel in 2015. Going to put a lot of hours visiting a lot of ports and she's got to shine.
Winter maintenance on my 48DA
- Thread starter JV II
- Start date
brewster16
Well-Known Member
So who is the detailer? Where is your home port?
LV Marine Services in Boston. Last year I had a detailer buff and wax my 9 year old blue hull. By the end of the season it was hazy again. This hull needs to be cut down and maybe even wet sanded to get down through the oxidation. Sure it looks good from 10 feet after a buff and wax, but I look at it from 2 feet away and I don't like what I see. I want to see a blue mirror. LV is a fiberglass repair AND detailer. That's what I need. I want this thing looking brand new for another 10 years.
Tman
Member
- Aug 10, 2012
- 284
- Boat Info
- 2014 Sabre 48 Salon Express
- Engines
- Twin Cummins QSC 550
Zeus Pod Drives
Wet sanding followed by 5 coats of Awlgrip paint. Try as they could, the cut and buff just wouldn't last...looked great for a week and then dull again. The port side in the pic is clearly being sanded. The starboard side was after a cut and buff of the gelcoat...which from a distance looks great but up close....not so great.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e63t74fp09imktl/2013-10-17 15.43.15.jpg?dl=0
Here is a pic of the finished product....complete blue hull in awlgrip...carinthian blue.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ehr1r8wdylbo57o/2013-11-07 13.03.51.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/k3dg8pb5c6uvr8m/2013-11-16 11.19.57.jpg?dl=0
Tom
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brewster16
Well-Known Member
Chaaaaaaaaaa Ching!!!
Exactly. I'm looking at maybe a $2,500 detail with scratch repair, cut and buff top to bottom. If the best end result is looking great from 10', then I have to accept it for what I have and know I tried my best to make it new. Painting the hull would be the best visual result, for sure, but I'm guessing that tab will not be less than $20,000 for my boat. Aside from the cost, the concern I have with Awlgrip is the occasional rub on a dock or another boat tied up or fenders will take off a layer of paint and not be as durable as gel coat. I'm super particular with my gel coat and anything touching it. I think I would be crazed with Awlgrip.
BlueYonder
Active Member
Nice! I have a blue gelcoat hull also. I expect to go the awlgrip route in the future too. I'm under cover so the sun is killing my gelcoat more slowly. I have had awlgripped hulls before. It's pretty tough stuff and low maintenance. Awlgrip makes a wash concentrate and a wax specifically for their paint. The wax is great, goes on and comes off very easily.
