This is an old thread, but I wanted to follow up on the advice I was given. Yesterday I compounded my very oxidized blue hull. The results were ok but not great. Then I put on a coat of Penetrol. The results are spectacular. Except for the dings and scratches the blue hull looks new. I wasn't able to wipe it off after application because it dried too quickly. Next time I'll do smaller areas at a time. The finish I got is high gloss.
Thanks, Rick Langer M15 #337 Hudson River > Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 20:00:05 -0500 > From: "Craig F. Honshell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: M_Boats: hi, rick . . . > To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" > <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > > I am by no means the expert on this, so I hope others will weigh in . . . But I'll > repeat what I know, and hopefully get it right . . . > > Rubbing compound is a mild abrasive suspended in a paste, a paste much like liquid > wax for a car, and is a safe way to take the oxidation out of gelcoat . . . It comes > in degrees of abrasiveness and is available at marine outlets . . . It can be applied > with an orbital polisher, but one should take care not to use too much pressure and > "burn" the gelcoat, which I believe will yellow when damaged by heat. > > Penetrol, and I'm not sure of the spelling, is a paint additive . . . I think for > enamel paint . . . I believe it's a solvent, but someone please correct me if I'm > wrong . . . I believe it is available as "Marine Penetrol", but I've used the stuff > available at any hardware store . . . It is applied, left very briefly, and wiped > off, leaving a rich shine in the gelcoat . . . It's most impressive use I've seen is > Larry Yake's yellow-hulled M17, Tullamore . . . > > Vertglass was one brand of miracle fiberglass restorer . . . I don't know if it's > available anymore . . . Poliglow is another brand, one, I believe, that received high > marks from Practical Sailor magazine. I'm not sure what the miracle restorers do, if > they're like rubbing compound and wax in one or what, but Poliglow would basically > used to preserve the gelcoat's finish, like wax . . . I think . . . Please correct me > if I'm wrong . . . I believe these miracle restorers tout that they can be used on > oxidized gelcoat, skip the rubbing compound, and produce good results, but we had > much better success with Vertglass after using rubbing compound first . . . > > These are three steps I'm considering, but there's more than one way to skin this > cat, and West Marine sells complete kits for gelcoat care . . . I think Star Bright > caries a variation of every gelcoat, metal and wood preservative/restorer conceivable > . . . > > All the products make magnificent claims . . . > > But I saw pics of Tod's Busca after the Poliglow, don't know what steps he used > before, and it was very impressive . . . > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Rick Langer > To: [email protected] > Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 9:54 AM > Subject: i was thinkin' . . . too > > Craig, > > My blue hull is oxidized too and I'd like to bring it back. I have a 9" > compounder and a Cyclo random orbital polisher which I've used to polish a > vintage Airstream trailer. I'm guessing that polishing fiberglass is a lot > easier than aluminum, but I'm a bit confused i.e. rubbing compound, > Penetrol(?), Poliglow, Vertglass. > > I wonder if you could give us a brief tutorial on bringing back and keeping > the shine on our boats? > > BTW, my boat has repaired gouges, but the color match is so bad that I wish > they were left alone. I went through a similar thing when polishing my > Airstream. The experts advised me to leave the gouges and large scratches > alone and just polish them, kind of adds character. I think they were > right. > > Thanks, > Rick Langer > M15 #337 > > Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 23:29:50 -0500 > From: "Craig F. Honshell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: M_Boats: i was thinkin' . . . > To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" > <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > . . . this spring that I'd like to buff out my hull's oxidation, then go > over it > completely with Penetrol, then finish it with Poliglow or comparable > miracle > restorative . . . I think we used "Vertglass", something like that, on the > Flicka one > year . . . Don't know if that stuff is still available . . . > > I have gouges in my shear stripe that aren't going to go away without > major > restoration, but perhaps I can draw the eye away from them with a really > shiny hull . > . . :-) _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
