Sorry, i'm sure the is a newbie question...
Almost my entire topside is a molded in non-skid pattern. The problem is that the gel coat is getting really chalky and nasty (mildew, etc). How do you clean up, renew, revibe, etc. that surface.
I have tried to buff it out with rubbing compound...
I tried to scrub it out with a heavy plastic brush on a rotary drill...
I tried to chemically strip it...
The problem is that there is no way to get into the little low spots in the non-skid pattern. All you end up doing is scubbing, sanding, treating, the proud points between the low areas.
An attempt to
paint it looked like crap...
When it was new it looked great and could be cleaned with a simple brush. I solved the wax issue with a spray variety that minimized build up in the low spots. However, after years of Florida UV, the gel coat has oxidized and it is so chalky and porous that it absorbes dirt and looks terrible.
I would think painting would be the answer but how do you prep/clean the surface? How do you
paint it without filling all the low spots with
paint while the proud areas barely get coated (trust me it looks like crap)
AAAAAAaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh
Any advice would be appreciated.