How to wet sand and compound gelcoat

[Basscat7]

How to wet sand and compound gelcoat.
Stan Horne

All the peripheral hardware should be removed from the boat, cleats, handrails, lights, windshields, decals, anything that can be unbolted from the top cap and consoles, etc will make the job easier....less obstructions when using the buffer.
You will need a high speed buffer, not an orbital buffer, the high speed produces the heat that makes the compound cut thru the faded gelcoat, you can use a cheap buffer, no need for an expensive model.

Harbor Freight has an inexpensive 3,000 rpm model.
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-in-10...her-69696.html

compound
http://www.levineautoparts.com/3mperiirubco.html


Glaze
3M Perfect-It 3000 Ultrafina SE 1 Quart :
https://www.amazon.com/3M-06064-Perfect-Machine-Polish/dp/B000P0Q1J4/ref=sr_1_4?hvadid=243421070325&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9007225&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=6501957178070018108&hvtargid=kwd-331648321844&keywords=3m+06064+perfect-it+machine+polish&qid=1550594929&s=gateway&sr=8-4&tag=googhydr-20

3M waffle polishing pads.....the white one for compounding/cutting and the black pad for glazing/polishing.

black pad
http://www.levineautoparts.com/3mperplusfoa1.html

white pads
https://www.amazon.com/05737-Perfect-Foam-Compounding-Pad/dp/B000CQ6I0I

Wet Sandpaper in 1000/1200/and 1500 grit. The grit needs to be matched to the severity of the oxidation......if it is real bad you may have to start with 800 grit and work up to 1200 grit.


1st step is to remove all the hardware you can.

Make sure you cover the carpeting in the boat with a tarp or plastic to keep all the sanding/compound material off the rugs.
Wash the boat, remove any tar, bugs , etc stuck on the glass.

2nd step is to wet sand by hand with plenty of water, put a few drops of dishwashing liquid in the bucket of sanding water to make the paper slide easier, dunk the paper often to clean the sanded material off the paper.

Start with the lowest grit you need. Test a spot to see which grit will remove the oxidation till the sanding water running off the boat is clear.

Sand the whole area to be redone. When you are sanding and dunking the paper, the water will be a milky color as you sand and open the pores in the gelcoat, the white oxidation will be removed and run off with the water. Sand with one grit until the sanding water runs clear.

Rinse off with the hose, repeat with the process with a higher grit, if you started with 800, move up to 1000 grit, and rinse, then sand again with the 1200 grit....this is very labor intensive , may take you a few days to get thru , don't sand too hard in one spot, keep feeling the sanded area, if you feel any of the polyflake        ( rough , grainy after sanding ) stop sanding on that area or you will sand too deep and expose the flakes.

The initial lower grit will open the gelcoat pores and allow the white contamination to flush out with the water. The succeeding higher grits will remove the lower grit sanding marks and get any oxidation missed.

When the sanding is done, wash the boat again to get the glass clean of particles, it will look dull but not faded.

3rd step is using the high speed buffer with the white 3M pad and the rubbing compound, do small areas and move the buffer slowly, not keeping it in one spot or it might burn the gel.

The compound will remove all the sanding marks left from the paper and leave a uniform slightly dull finish to the gel.

When done compounding wash off the compound and dry the boat.

4th step is using the black 3M pad on the high speed buffer and the 3M final glaze to put on a high gloss glaze coat. The Glaze is a high end polish that will leave a high luster on the gel.

It will then need to be protected with a coat of wax or sealer. I prefer the polymer sealer as it will last 3 times what wax will and bonds to the gelcoat with UV protection in it.


Pro-Tec makes an excellent polymer sealer for the gelcoat, bonds to the glass and seals the pores to help prevent oxidation.

Pro - Tec sealant
https://protecproducts.com/all-products/sealant-polish.html


Collonite Heavy Duty Fleetwax is one of the best for marine environments :

https://www.amazon.com/Collinite-Paste-Fleetwax-12-885/dp/B001AZOLZO

By this time if their was not any actual gelcoat damage the gel should look almost new again.

The final step is putting on the Polymer Sealer or a good coat of high carnauba paste wax....then keep the boat clean by wiping it down as soon as it comes out of the water with one of the quick wax spray wipes like Bass Boat Saver..