Black Gelcoat stripes

[mc2]

I spent countless hours cleaning and waxing my when I first got it home, but after several times using the boat I have noticed the need for a deeper clean so I purchased a bottle of Nortons liguid-ice and was going to buff the boat when I got off work today, but beore I do and create a bigger mess - I was wondering if any one has ever done this before and if so is it safe to apply pressure and "cut" the gel coat on the black stripes to bring them back out or should i just go over the stripes lightly?

[Don T]

Hello,
I have been buffing my black stripes to a glossy shine since 96 when I pulled her out for spring prep. I use Meguires medium cut when there is a lot of oxidation and finish with their Cleaner Wax which I also use on the windows to make them clear.

[Divecoz]

Most of us here have been attacking those black stripes for years. IMHO it would take a lot of effort to damage them. I have buffed them back to shine with numerous products, both off the shelf and more specialized Body shop quality. We have all as well, tried to find a product that preserves the shine.
I have one now, waiting to be used that seems to have a following on this board. I am not sure of the name of it and my garage is still a mess, as I just moved down here in late Oct and have been remodeling the house, so I cannot find it. Its a clear product , wipes on and lasts about a year. Never yellows so that's a plus.

[raycarlson]

Just finished sanding down all black stripes forward of side windows, and regelcoating in standard white.really really glad to get rid of the black,at noon in summer you could acctually feel a thirty degree surface temp change on the inside cabin liner where the black stripes were.

[Tomfoolery]

Just finished sanding down all black stripes forward of side windows, and regelcoating in standard white.

Got any pics of the finished project?

Edit: Oh, looky there - post count is all ones.

[mc2]

After working a small area of the black stripe toward the transom I've decided to put the buffer down and apply by hand many, many, many coats of wax to the boat. It took 3 layers last night on the port side to get a minimal shine back to it. I figure I'll do 1 side per night after work this week and work on the top this weekend. Hopefully have it ready for the water on Sunday!!

[NiceAft]

I have simply given up on trying to buff and wax the fake windows on my Fed up, fed up, and again, fed up trying to make them shine
This season I will be painting them with a very glossy black paint

Ray

[Steve K]

Having had much experience with gel coat and fiberglass and having owned an X boat, trimmed in black and now a D boat, trimmed in dark blue..................
and getting older and busier with other things............

I don't polish or wax the D boat anymore.

Several years ago, when trying to get the boat to have a little shine and get the dark blue trim back from a chalky, faded light blue, I decided to try Penetrol.
This turned my blue trim dark again and gave the boat a little of it's shine back. I now give the boat this treatment every spring and it looks better and better each year. The trim is a deep, dark blue, as it was when new and the whole boat has a nice shine. I wouldn't say it's a new boat........ boat show shine, but it does look nice, has a glow and my friends always ask me how I keep the old girl looking so good.

Penetrol is applied much like furniture oil. Wipe some on with a rag (or even use a paint brush...... works good on the non-skid areas), then buff the residual off with a clean rag or towel. It's really easy and I can do the whole boat in an hour or so.

The boat looked better, the first time I did it, but over the years, it looks better and better.

The problem is, it is not sold in California anymore (screwy ACMD rules here). So last time I was at Lake Mead, I stopped in a nearby Home Depot and got a gallon (which will likely be a lifetime supply for me.... a little goes a long way).

My boat sits in the California desert sun, when not in use (which is most of the time) and it never gets dull and chalky anymore.

The idea is that cured fiberglass, like wood has oils and solvents in it and these oils evaporate out of it over the years. The Penetrol replaces some of these oils and feeds the fiberglass. Makes sense to me

Haven't even opened that foot locker that contains all my buffers, pads and polishes in about three years now.

Oh and my deck areas don't creek and crackle anymore when I walk around on them.

Best Breezes
Steve K.

[NiceAft]

So Steve,

Now you decide to crawl out from under a desert bush Why did you wait until I ordered the paint Not nice bro, not nice

Ray

[Steve K]

So Steve,

Now you decide to crawl out from under a desert bush Why did you wait until I ordered the paint Not nice bro, not nice

Ray

Sorry Ray,
Been so busy..... then the old net book's hard drive crashed.

But, paint is good too.... right?

I'm going up to Mead, a week from today, for a little sailing.
Then when I get back, all I have to do is set 600 more cement blocks and pour two more trucks of concrete and the home improvements should be done.

Then I'll, likely, go back into hiding under the "desert bush" for a little while, just to rest
I may have a little more time for this stuff by the end of summer

'Course, now the Admiral is already talking about an Alaska cruise and a US motor home tour. I may not get to rest until I am truly under that bush for good

Best Breezes,
Steve K.
Mac 26D "Three Sheets"

[NiceAft]

Steve,

If you do take a U.S. motor home tour, think about finding which MacGregorSailors.com board members are in the areas you visit.

Whenever we travel, I try to find board members in those areas. We have met the nicest people.

Ray

[Steve K]

Steve,

If you do take a U.S. motor home tour, think about finding which MacGregorSailors.com board members are in the areas you visit.

Whenever we travel, I try to find board members in those areas. We have met the nicest people.

Ray

Hoping to actually drag the boat with me I've always wanted to explore some new waters throughout the US.

And, as far as people here on the forum go. Your are correct that some of the nicest people are Mac owners. I've been here (on and off) since it started and it's a great group

Which reminds me....... anyone within reach of Lake Mead are ALWAYS welcome to join us on our trips there (April 20 through 26 for this trip). We monitor channel 68.

BB,
SK

[NiceAft]

You will be the one with the shiny blue paint on the very old boat.

[Steve K]

You will be the one with the shiny blue paint on the very old boat.

Well...... an acceptable shine anyway

[DaveB]

Penetrol is no way to protect Gelcoat, neither is Polyglow. I tried both and Penetrol is worse by far( used mostly for those who want to sell a boat and make it shine) as it is only tempory.
Just redo gelcoat with gelcoat at 20mils thick, Factory only put on less than 10 mils thick on my 1997 and 5 mils thick on hatches.
Going to regelcoat mine.
I work with all types of fiberglassing and Gelcoating at a water park I work at past 5.5 years.
Apoxies, Polyester,Vinyelester resins, many diffrent layup methods and materiels used.
Water Slides Joint fix useing 3m 4200,slow dryed 7 day cure 5200, fast dried 5200 ,secaflex and much more.
There is always a product out there, you just need to know the right one to use and experance with it.
Dave

Having had much experience with gel coat and fiberglass and having owned an X boat, trimmed in black and now a D boat, trimmed in dark blue..................
and getting older and busier with other things............

I don't polish or wax the D boat anymore.

Several years ago, when trying to get the boat to have a little shine and get the dark blue trim back from a chalky, faded light blue, I decided to try Penetrol.
This turned my blue trim dark again and gave the boat a little of it's shine back. I now give the boat this treatment every spring and it looks better and better each year. The trim is a deep, dark blue, as it was when new and the whole boat has a nice shine. I wouldn't say it's a new boat........ boat show shine, but it does look nice, has a glow and my friends always ask me how I keep the old girl looking so good.

Penetrol is applied much like furniture oil. Wipe some on with a rag (or even use a paint brush...... works good on the non-skid areas), then buff the residual off with a clean rag or towel. It's really easy and I can do the whole boat in an hour or so.

The boat looked better, the first time I did it, but over the years, it looks better and better.

The problem is, it is not sold in California anymore (screwy ACMD rules here). So last time I was at Lake Mead, I stopped in a nearby Home Depot and got a gallon (which will likely be a lifetime supply for me.... a little goes a long way).

My boat sits in the California desert sun, when not in use (which is most of the time) and it never gets dull and chalky anymore.

The idea is that cured fiberglass, like wood has oils and solvents in it and these oils evaporate out of it over the years. The Penetrol replaces some of these oils and feeds the fiberglass. Makes sense to me

Haven't even opened that foot locker that contains all my buffers, pads and polishes in about three years now.

Oh and my deck areas don't creek and crackle anymore when I walk around on them.

Best Breezes
Steve K.