Top side gel coat shine

[Second Wind]

My top side gel coat is looking a dull white with no sheen. I've heard folks talk about waxing. What seems to give a nice shine back to a dull finish without making the deck too slippery? Thank you.



Jfsjr@aol.com

[Richard Hill]

A buddy of mine with a Westsail 32 talked me into using Poly Glow. He's used for several years and swears by it. I used it on my boat, and was ASTOUNDED by (a.) how easy it was, and (b.) how good it looked when I was through. After 15 months it's still holding up well in the southern sun. I'm a believer. You need to go to the web to find it, but someone in your local area may be a dealer. It costs about $40 or so, but that did my 32 Bristol easily.



captrahill@comcast.net

[Ed Roberts]

Are you two fellows talking about the same thing? Second Wind's concern about slippery deck suggests he believes the topsides are the deck, whereas this term refers to the above-water portion of the sides of the boat. It would be dangerous to wax the deck!

[Richard Hill]

Are you two fellows talking about the same thing? Second Wind's concern about slippery deck suggests he believes the topsides are the deck, whereas this term refers to the above-water portion of the sides of the boat. It would be dangerous to wax the deck!

Concur. I wouldn't even think of waxing the deck, so I assumed he meant everything above the water (i.e. hull, cabin sides, etc.)



captrahill@comcast.net

[Second Wind]

My top side gel coat is looking a dull white with no sheen. I've heard folks talk about waxing. What seems to give a nice shine back to a dull finish without making the deck too slippery? Thank you.

My mistake. I want to get a nice gloss again on the deck. Any ideas that are not major redos? Thank you.



Jfsjr@aol.com

[WSonntag]

Here is what I have used with great success over the past several years on everything fiberglass above the waterline except the deck non-skid, nothing real exotic - Meguires No. 50 one-step cleaner/wax (some areas need a couple of applications and buffs); light marks on the hull or deck get buffed out with Meguires No. 44 color restorer; all followed by an application of Meguires Hi-tech Yellow carnuba paste wax. The No. 50 cleans it up, the yellow paste wax is hard, lasts all season and buffs up nice, especially on the hull, topsides. I find it stands up well to the sun keeps the bow from getting a brown mark. Any good Cape Dory gelcoat that has had consistent maintenance will look just great with this simple regimin. I buff it out by hand with hard knap car wash towels I buy from Griots, but if you have an random orbital buffer and handle it right that will do too. Be careful about what kind of spray cleaners you use the rest of the season. Things like "Rolloff" and other strong formula cleaners will degrade if not take off the wax with the dirt.


It looks great - Enjoy!



wsonntags@earthlink.net

[stevez]

Some of the folks at the trailer sailing board like a wax product called "sure step" made by Aurora. Never tried it myself, but it is not supposed to make the deck slippery.