Jump to content

Cleaning and polishing hull


Recommended Posts

You could look into 3M - and their professional range which is what I would go for if it was me.  Here are some details....

 

They have a range of high quality products: http://www.3mdirect.co.uk/c-805-marine-supplies.aspx

 

And this, (while specified for car use) seems pretty comprehensive with three different polishes and buffing pads getting ever finer: http://www.3mdirect.co.uk/p-1998-3m-perfect-it-iii-compound-and-polish-kit-50873-including-free-storage-box.aspx

 

Your need a varible speed polisher - it must be varialble speed because if not you can burn the gelcoat through heat bulit up with friction: http://www.3mdirect.co.uk/p-2319-3m-electric-car-polisher-240v-1-pack-64393.aspx

 

You will find all the polishing pads here: http://www.3mdirect.co.uk/c-593-polishing-pads-and-accessories.aspx

 

To clean the hull prior to polish have a look at: http://www.marinemegastore.com/product.asp?pf_id=BUR_381700&jump=0&cat_id=MAICLE002&cid=OOMQ7C3VV1XKX5CQ57XNZEU4QO7Y5C8V

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Clive will probably be along to comment soon :dance  Personally I use this, http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing-machines/das-6-pro-dual-action-polisher/das-6-pro-dual-action-polisher/prod_673.html it's random orbital and does a brilliant job, and best of all it's fairly cheap compared to a lot of the other makes, I think most people will tell you to stay away from the Angle grinder type machines, Ok! they are half the price and if you know how to use them and do a brilliant job, but if you don't you can ruin your gel coat very easily, I bought mine from this company about five years ago and have done my boat and my son-in laws a few times, it's not as quick as using the angle grinder type but much safer and you won't burn through your gel coat if you get it wrong, the company is good to deal with and have everything you need..

 

Regards Frank,,,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

cleaning a hull ................ummm....polish

 

wear glove and spec too....

 

old squirty  bottle of mix light fairey and water all to help luub as yer go and not get to dry

 

read all intruc and warning on product yer use

 

get rid of the lime scale build up first, use what yer like that works

 

wash and rinse

 

 

remove all fender,s ...........or push them ooot orf thay whey....

 

if dry  place a wide beam marsking tape on the water line to protect the antifoul and to stop it geeting contaminated from all that ole polish and stuff

 

don,t for get to remove ole tape  or leave it on for weeks and watch me larff.....!!!!

 

if not, then stand and watch yer nice hull blend in to a red and blue blurr......!!!!

 

use a good quality polishin machine with either a sponge mop of the correct grade or a wooly mop again which works best fort you ......

 

if hull dull don,t go mad a compound the hole thing at once ....

 

leave it .......wait a while and step back and see........

 

do a test area first and let it stand a week or two if yer can let the wherther work on it and also you can see how thick yer ole gel is

 

if it still bright and shiney and not gone milky or dull carry on

 

now move yer ole head around and trunk a while

 

look closely at yer hull or top can yer see the fibre s in the layup !!!!!..???

 

be careful...........

 

when yer polish/compound  do a area as big as yer arms can stectch and no more ...NO MORE .......

 

yer know when its rite as it will clean ,polish and leave no residue as yer do it

 

luub when dry ..experiment try it out

 

keep yer polish machine speed low .....not to slow but not to fast ,naa scorchers ere.............

 

its simple but yer can muck it up ..........

 

 

watch them ole sign ritten names and vinyl stripe to easy to wipe them away ,don't press to hard and keep movin .....

 

lookout for those ole fittings etc

 

 

polish the same way ...............do it several times and build yer shine up to protect the ole light rays and grime runs  etc

 

 

yer know when yer done a good job no streaks ,no smugging and during the year she still shine and wash with a wash and wax to keep .....

 

protect the wood if yer got wooden rubber and be carefull ,no silly balancing act ole ole crappy ladders ...........

 

 

have fun ...................

 

 

warning...... do not use some old tin orf grandad best car poilish  that been in yer garge since the 60,s.................why .........

 

cuz it,ll have some great ole rong ingredients like ammonia and stuff ,that make nice marks on yer hull with a machine ...!!!!!

 

ask for the posh half decent stuff for fibre glass etc

 

quality some time is best .............

 

well some of my views on the matter .I,m sure each to there own ....

 

let us know how yer get on .........??

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Hello

 

I've just come across this.  Hope your cleaning went well.

 

I must admit I find polishing gel-coat very therapeutic. 

 

I've spent many happy hours over the years polishing gel-coat wings on gliders, usually by hand.

 

Mind you to do a 38ft boat like MS by hand would take me forever.

 

Him-in-charge thinks I'm bonkers!

 

SueH

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Sponsors

    Norfolk Broads Network is run by volunteers - You can help us run it by making a donation

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

For details of our Guidelines, please take a look at the Terms of Use here.