[Rhodes22-list] restoring finish to fiberglass questions...advice requested

[Clarke, Donald R (Don), NEO]

Also see the current issue of Cruising World, April 2004, page 78. Article by William Burr, The Professional Way to Restore Gelcoat".



 -----Original Message-----
From: 	rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]  On Behalf Of Mark Kaynor
Sent:	Tuesday, April 06, 2004 9:45 PM
To:	The Rhodes 22 mail list
Subject:	RE: [Rhodes22-list] restoring finish to fiberglass questions...advice requested

Fred,

When Julie & I were at the SSCA gam in FL last November, a gal from DYE Boat
Owner did an excellent presentation on restoring gel coat - go to
http://www.diy-boat.com/ for some really good info. Also, Practical Sailor
just started a test of gel coat restorers that would also probably be a good
reference.

Mark


-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]On Behalf Of
FNuttersNY at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2004 9:19 PM
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list]restoring finish to fiberglass questions...
advicerequested


My 73 has never been painted neither top or bottom.  The hull is chaulky
looking instead of the origonal light blue.   I started to polish it with #7
rubbing compond and a 6 inch orbital polisher. I also tried 150 grit sand
paper on
the orbital and noticed some cross hatch  areas almost resembeling  heavy
fiberglass matting.  This patern could also be seen in certain other parts
of the
hull  before I did any polishing.  Note that  the gell coat is entirely
intact
accept for a chip here and there.  At these locations I can se the
thicknesss
of the gell coat and it looks substantial.  I tried sanding   out the cross
hatch pattern in one small location and was abble to remove it leaving a
nice
blue finish.  I polished that area with #7 white polishing compound which
restored the shine with farely even coloring.  Question:  should the hull be
lightly sanded, polished, and waxed?  Just polished and waxed?  I'm afraid I
may not
get an even result by sanding down the entire hull.  I may be taking to much
gell coat off and getting close to the fiber glass?  A polish and wax job
will be a great improvement but by sanding can I restore the color like new?
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