shinny Boats

[kennya]

Has anyone used The Vertglas gelcoat restoration system (http://www.marinestore.com/vertglas....220817#pricing) to bring back the shine on there boat? Can someone suggest something they have used that worked for them? Thanks for your thoughts and comments

Ken.

[PBzeer]

Lot depends on the age of the gelcoat and how well it was taken care of. It could be as simple as a good compounding and buffing to remove built up oxidation. I did that with a ten year old boat, and while it wasn't "like new" it was a very noticable improvement.

[kennya]

PB; my boat is an 80 model, the gel coat doesn’t look bad now but I would like it looking better. Reading the add for vetglass they are claming to bring back a wet look to the gel cote with out the use of compounding. I am wondering how accurate there clime is.

Ken

[fletchal]

I use this product call feness it by 3m if the fiberglass is not in that good of shape then the rubbing compound need to be applied first...the best results with the feness it is with a buffer...

[PBzeer]

Does your boat have a chalky white layer on the hull currently? That is oxidation. The problem I see with the Vertglas system is it would be a yearly thing, that would build up in time. I don't know enough about gelcoat or fiberglass to say if that would be good or bad, but my instincts tell me to hesitate. Also, judging by their instructions, I would be leery of having to make repairs to the glass with a build up on it.

Before deciding, I would use the heavy duty oxidation remover and wax from 3M, and see how it looks. You have to remove the oxidation in either case.

[kennya]

PB; I have removed the oxidation last spring, you can move about the boat without getting chalk marks on your clothes, but the finish is a little dull.

Ken

[Goodnewsboy]

I had excellent results with 3M Fiberglass restorer on a 25 year old hull that was not cleaned for 12 years in outside storage.

I used it with a 6" random orbit buffing pad after washing the hull with Starbrite cleaner. There are two grades, one is for "severe oxidation" and I used that one first. I went over the transom a second time with the regular grade to get the best possible surface for the sign painter.

The stuff contains a wax and it lasted all season without losing shine.

[k1vsk]

Vertiglass is similar to a number of other acrylic products intended to restore a faded hull such as PoliGlo and others. They all are fairly simple to apply and, like anything else on a boat, require periodic maintenance. Having used it once on an old boat I was trying to sell, it make the hull look better. However, if I had intended to keep the boat, I would have done it right and painted the hull.
These acrylics are a half-hearted way of improving the appearance. Regardless of how meticulious one is in applying the stuff, it still looks nothing like a new or painted shine. Therefore, it's all in how satisfied you'll be with the result.
Generally, if you let the hull get oxidized to the point you are considering this stuff, it's too late to try to revive it with rudding compound and wax.

[deerenick]

Bought a old 24 footer that had been neglected for many years.I rubbed it out with compound then used about four applications of Vertiglass.That was a year ago and still looks like new.I think it is great stuff for old boats because I do not like painted hulls.Good luck. Bill NC

[cardiacpaul]

I really liked the poli-glow stuff. Its shiny, and very slippery.
That being said, it will yellow a bit. not noticable if yo do the whole boat, but if you do topsides OR hull, you'll see a difference.