How do I rub out a fiberglass boat that is 18 years old?

Question

How do I rub out a fiberglass boat that is 18 years old?

Answer 1

most fiber glass boats are not painted if it is original. this is a colored gel coat. you can wet sand it with around 1500 grit wet/dry paper and buff it out with a polishing compound,some darker colors will fade back out again and again. if you have the tools you can wet sand and then clear coat the boat and it will not be as apt to fade

Answer 2

wet sand your gel with 2500,,,nothing lower then that!,,after wet sanding, get 3m FINE buffing compound,,,as said above, west marine will have everything you need. when buffing, apply compound with a 2" chip brush, in about a 3'x3' section at a time,,,and as also said above,,pay VERY close attention to NOT stop moving the buffer,,,and after about 2 minutes of buffing that area,,stop,,,,feel the boat where you just buffed,,it will be warm to the touch,,,,,THATS your enemy buffing,,,you DONT want the heat,,,,now use the back of your chip brush and use it to "clean" your buffing pad,,,,turn on ya buffer, and run the handle across the pad.,,then move to your next section,,,but be carful while sanding and buffing not to "burn through" ya gel.,,then do your next section,,,and after 2 sections overlap your buffing a LITTLE to blend them togather.

Answer 3

ENDLESS elbow-grease !!

My brother purchased a 36ft Mariner sailboat back in 1988 that had sat idle for almost a decade and the gel-coat on the decks / hull were so faded it was sad.

We hauled it out at the Navy Marina on the Silver Strand in San Diego, bought a few kegs, 50 pounds of burgers, and lots of sand-paper. We invited friends and got to WORK !!

It took a weekend to sand / polish down the gel-coat, a month waiting for the right weather, and another weekend to spray on fresh epoxy-paint.

THEN came the fun of the bottom-paint !!

It took 4 months of total-work, but she was beautiful again !! My brother sailed her and lived aboard for 10 years... sailing her from San Diego to San Francisco to Redwood City.

CHECK with WEST MARINE !! They have great materials and supplies, and usually TERRIFIC and knowledgeable customer service

GOOD LUCK, Fair Winds & Following Seas !!

Answer 4

A double tap to the head works every time!!! lol j/k!! If you're talking about rubbing out a tired paint job...it's the same as any paint job. Get a good quality polishing compound, and an electric polisher/buffer (MAXIMUM 1200 RPM'S) and go to town! Use long smooth strokes back and forth with the polisher, never let it sit still in one place or you'll burn through the paint. All you're trying to do is remove the top mil or so of paint, keep that in mind. Good Luck!!