Dark Color Hulls
 

I have a 2003 Sabre 362 and the dark green hull is starting to become dull and mottled even after waxing. I am trying to decide whether to wet sand and reapply wax or just go ahead and paint with awlgrip. Glen at Sabre says that all dark hulls eventually need to be painted to continue looking good.

Does anyone out there have any experience with painting or wet sanding. I live in on the coast in south Georgia.

Jim Thompson

I would consider repainting, but in white. Dark colors in hot climates make for hotter interiors. And while, when in good shape, they look good, it's more a question of which is more important ... looks or utility. There are also other various things with dark colored hulls such as showing imperfections more easily.

Currently at 25 46 43 N 80 11 08 W

I would try rubbing compound before going to wet sanding. My hull is not dark, it's beige, but it was oxidized and looked mottled like you described. I used rubbing compound to remove the oxidation and then applied 2 coats of good wax.

Its my experience that colored hulls loss their color whether quickly or slowly, and need to be painted. I owned a red C&C back when, the first year I prpped her I buffed and waxed like mad, and she went into the water looking like the prettiest red fire engine you ever saw. After four weeks she turned pink...I had her painted that winter and 20+ when I happen to pass her by, she still looks good.
I believe the better builders are all painting boats now from the get go.

A 4 year old hull should come up just fine with buffing and waxing. Just cleaning/polishing compound should do it.
I strongly prefer a gel coated hull properly maintained over an Awlgripped hull. The Awlgrip looks nice but any small scratches etc. show up and hard to get rid of.
A little elbow grease and regular maintenace and it should look fine for many years. Wax is much cheaper as well. :)

Gary

If your hull was originally painted with Awlgrip or Imron and you have been waxing it...THAT is the problem...it should never be waxed...only use polymers like 3M Finesse-it or Awl-Care.
The solution to your problem is to get the wax finish off without damaging the underlying paint. I would use NO mechanical buffing and only the VERY FINEST rubbing compound you can find. There is NO WAY you need a new paint job or should use abrasives on your hull. It will take time and effort to bring it back. Suggest finding a kid who wants to make some summer $$'s! After the removal job...apply Finnesse-it in the same manner and the boat will look new.

Cam,
The OP has a Saber.
I believe Sabers are gelcoated. I don't think they are painted.

Can a dark pinted hull really be overpainted with white? I would think the dark color would show through and at least every scratch or rub would bring out the dark under coat. do you need to remove the dark awlgrip first? Is this possible?

It is possible if you put enough work into it. A few extra coats of primer should do the trick. The dark gelcoat would show through a scratch just as white gelcoat would show through a scratch on a dark painted boat.

In the future, please check the date of the posts you are replying to. In this case you replied to a thread that has been dead since 2007. It's better manners to put together a full and complete question and start your own new thread. No one will beat you up for asking a well researched question that includes all of the information needed to properly answer it. Floating an old, dead thread however....