Wetsanding faded 1988 Green Hull

[mondofromredondo]

Just had my 88 PSC Dark Green hull rubbed out with rubbing compound.
The dark green color had lots of oxidized fading.

But the results are less than I had hoped for.

The coloring appears to be splotchey for lack of a better word.
Not a consistent deep dark color across the full length of the boat.
The fellow who did the compounding explained to me that he could get better results by wetsanding the hull which would give him a more consistent result.
Sounds reasonable to me. I doubt this has been done to the hull before so I'm hoping there is enough coloring in the glass / gel coat to accomodate a wetsand. I've seen other PSC's with this dark green hull in photos and they look beautiful when the color is deep and dark. So hopefully I can get the same results by wetsanding. Has anyone used this approach or have any insight as to whether or not this wetsanding approach makes sense?

[stevemac00]

Last year I wet sanded by hand. Three passes with 600/1000/1500. Then followed with 3M rubbing compound, 3M FinesseIt and finally three coats of Collonite Fleetwax.

The results were amazing and people would be awestruck by how she looked. We then sailed 4 to 5 thousand miles all winter and she looked almost as good when hauled out at the PSC factory for summer refit work.

So, it can be done but I wouldn't use a machine for the sanding or rubbing compound. I only used a machine on the FinesseIt. You don't have that much gelcoat and you certainly don't want to get beneath the gelcoat. It takes weeks of hard labor to do it carefully.

[mondofromredondo]

Steve,

Thanks for the reply. Your results are just what I was hoping for.
My guy insists that the results will be as you've stated so I'm gonna go ahead and bite the bullet and have him do the wetsand along with the 3M and wax afterwards.

I'm sure it'll cost me at least (1) boat unit for all that work.
Just had the teak Bristol'd which looks great so I guess while the wound is still open I'll just open it up a little more and let out a little more blood.

Thanks again !!!
Keith

[mondofromredondo]

My boat guy wetsanded then rub compounded and waxed a 3' foot diameter portion of my hull. It looks like brand new.

Thats the good. The bad is now I have a 3' diameter part of my hull that looks beautiful and the rest is a very faded and oxidized green.

I'm sure u all know the drill. Gotta bite the bullet now !!!

He quoted me 1.4 boat units to do the entire hull.

Should look like a new boat !!!!

Keith
S/V Charity Rose
'88 PSC34'

[SecondWindNC]

Post photos when it's done!

[mondofromredondo]

Hello all,
Got the hull wetsanded. Incredible difference. Looks like a new boat.
Tried to post a pic but the "insert an image" icon wants me to input a link. Not a image file. Sorry! But wetsanding is the hot ticket !!!!

[bobdugan]

Then post a link to your post here.

I have a PSC34 as well, green... the previous owner awlgripped the boat, but it's nice to hear that you can wetsand and wax the boat instead.

Thanks for the great information!


Bob