Awlgrip care

owlmtn · #1 (**permalink**) 03-18-2005

our new (to us) Tartan 30 has an awlgrip hull. I''m wondering about maintenance. I know enough not to use abrasives or waxes on it. Awlgrip makes a washing formula, is this worth it. They also make a gloss coat of some sort, anybody have any experience with this stuff. Thanks Jim

camaraderie · #2 (**permalink**) 03-18-2005

Jim...you are right about not using wax on it! The awl-wash product they make works well for general cleaning and I do recommend it. For more serious cleaning/polishing needs, 3M''s Finesse works great and will not dull the finish. It is a lot of hard rubbing work to apply however so I do recommend an electric polisher if you try it.
As to clear coat Alwgrip...I believe this is just a clear awlgrip "paint". Our painter advised us not to use it until the boat was looking dull down the road...he recommended we finnesse it then use clear coat at that point. Hope this helps...BigGB

paulmcquillan · #3 (**permalink**) 03-19-2005

So how tough is the Awlgrip hull paint anyhow? I''m envisioning the boys bringing her into a guest dock with those not-so-clean rubber edges. They drive well, but....

How do you repair it, if at all?

PaulBl · #4 (**permalink**) 03-19-2005

Mine is three years old. I would say it is far more durable than I imagined. Gentle washing is all it needs.

I''ve had a few dock scrapes with it and was sure I had laid a long scratch in it. A gentle wash and it was gone.

A friend has a 48 ft Krogan. It has about an acre of Awlgrip. You have to go deeper than the finish to damage it.

It costs a lot. It also needs a skilled hand to do it like it was meant to be done.

The only bad thing is it''s onlty the hull on my boat done with it. The cabin and decks are much more worse for wear.

owlmtn · #5 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005

Thanks for the info. I was curious about a product called "Awlcare" It''s a polymer sealer thats supposed to keep haze from developing on older awlgrip. Has anyone used this stuff? thanks again, Jim

LH44 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-25-2005

Anybody know the difference between Finesse which is a white paste and comes in gallon containers and Finesse It II which comes as a
liquid in 14 oz containers?

Specifically for Awlgrip hulls

camaraderie · #7 (**permalink**) 04-25-2005

finesse itII is what you want to use on awlgrip for polishing/protection. Don''t know what the other stuff is!