Hull Paint now dull where cleaned - Help

browntdb

West Marine recommended MaryKay On Off Jel to clean the hull of my new to me CD-22 Now the blue paint is dull and not bright and blue as it was. What do I need to do to restore the deep blue color I had before.

Thanks,

Terry

Sunbeam · Last edited by Sunbeam on Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:11 pm; edited 3 times in total

bridma

Hi Terry,

When I bought my used boat it came with lots of scratch's along the blue stripe. I 'roughed' it up using a fine grit paper. Then re-painted it by hand using a brush. I was a bit apprehensive at first, but it turned out great. Did not take long to do either.

Martin.

browntdb · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:30 pm Post subject:

It is the original paint under the jel coat. product said it would not harm pain or jel coat. It just looks like the paint is oxidized and needs polished but I don't know which product to use for a boat.

I used a touch of Nu Finish on one spot, and it brought back the color, so I think it just needs a good wax/cleaner. I just need advice on what to use on a boat that will be in salt water at times. NuFinish is a car wax.

Thanks,

Terry

Sunbeam · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:40 pm Post subject:

JamesTXSD · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:04 pm Post subject:

+1 on the compounding and polishing. On the recommendation of a boat builder friend/neighbor of ours, I compounded and polished the whole boat... it took me the better part of two full days. I used a 2000 grit compound. On his recommendation, I did not wax it afterwards. Next time I had the boat on the trailer, I decided to wax it. I did not compound the blue on the brow or the stripe at the top of the cabin, out of concern that it would ruin the black tape stripe. I did carefully go over all that by hand. A couple coats of wax there brought that back to its former shine.

Checking the MSD on Mary Kate On/Off, it is hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, and oxalic acid... don't let it get on the galvanized trailer or the tires! I use Starbrite Hull Cleaner (similar stuff), and am careful to put it on with a sponge and use a tarp over the trailer, flooding with LOTS of fresh water. Gloves and eye protection. Do not let it get on the bottom paint, if your boat is so equipped. I do NOT use it on the colored portions of the hull, only on the white; it is really good at taking the "mustache" off at the waterline.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

Last week, the brow was due for some spiffing up - I put on 4 coats of wax to bring the shine back.

thataway · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:33 pm Post subject:

Someone at West Marine gave you bad advice. The On/off would be mostly for stains near the waterline, but not for the entire boat! Remember that many folks who work at West Marine are not experts in the marine field. In fact at our local store, none are! Some get technical expertise by taking courses taught by West Marine. I have seen dark gel coat discolored by the products like On/off--usually a bit more harsh product.

First I would try using a rubbing compound by hand, and see how it polished out. I am not a fan of Nu Finish for boats. It is a polish, and does not protect the gel coat. Wax will protect the gel coat. Gel coat is fairly pouris and the wax will both fill the pores and protect form the UV to some degree. Waxing should be done at least twice a year.

Any compound on a small area will see how it works, and what it will look like. Jim's idea of a 1200 compound is fairly aggressive, but that may be what is necessary. I usually start with 3 M Finessette II by hand, and go from there. It may pay to have a professional do it the first time. I would put painting the color stripe way down the line on what I need to to to restore a boat, unless it has already been painted.

Sunbeam · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:12 pm Post subject:

Although, even if it was overkill for much of the topsides (and I agree that I would generally only use it for specific stains), I wouldn't think it would "wreck" gelcoat. It seems a bit like the Davis FSR (an acid/gel stain remover for fiberglass), which I don't think would damage colored gelcoat (although I have only used it on small areas of the white gelcoat). That's not to say I recommend using it for general cleaning, but I'd think it would be safe.

That's what makes me think that either the stripes/color has been painted over (and it *would* damage paint, I believe), or someone used one of the "topical" products to improve the gelcoat (such as Poliglow) and that has simply washed off re-revealing oxidized gelcoat that was under the Poliglow-type product. I say "topical," because things like Poliglow are coatings vs. actually "exfoliating" the "dead" gelcoat with compound/polish.

Hard to tell without seeing it, but trying to give you something to go on.

Sunbeam

browntdb · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:25 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the advice. I did use the product only on waterline stains. I went to the local marina in Corvallis and got a high quality marine wax and put it on the painted areas on the lower sides of the boat (on top of gel coat...my error in previous post) and the oxidation look pretty much went away. The gel coat on the non painted surfaces is still shiny on the boat, so just a good washing and waxing should do the trick.

I just stressed too soon I suppose. Thanks again for all the input to my problem. I really do appreciate it.

Sunbeam · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:27 pm Post subject:

Ah, so maybe you were talking about blue bottom paint? I'm really glad to hear you have found a way to fix the problem (whew!), but still a bit curious as to which part of the boat was (temporarily) affected.

Wayne McCown · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:48 pm Post subject: Poli-Glow

We have several older RVs. One is a 1973 white fiberglass SCAMP 13' trailer. Due to age (it had always sat outside), the gel-coat on the top had literally worn through.

I sprayed white paint (using a linen finish) over the worn areas, then applied Poli-Glow. Two years later, it still looks like new. Even given what I have told you here, you would not be able to tell where the Poli-Glow covers gel-coat and where it covers white spray paint.

I am so impressed with this product, that I also have applied it to our 32' Jayco fifth wheel trailer, and to our 22' C-Dory. I did all of these units two years ago; I plan to apply a new coating of Poli-Glow this season.

Sunbeam · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:05 pm Post subject:

I think that now it sounds like the issue was the Mary Kate product affecting the color/texture of the bottom paint, and not the gelcoat at all (I bet the OP will come back and confirm).

Sunbeam

thataway · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:48 pm Post subject:

If you keep the :Poly Glow product up it will work for a number of years. At some point--usually about 5 years, it has to be stripped. That is where it is difficult.

Sunbeam, I have seen cases where acid wash has damaged gel coat. It probably was poorly applied, or perhaps a "patch", but it can happen, especially with dark colors.

That being said, it does sound as if it was bottom paint which he put the product on--and in that case "no harm, no foul".

Sunbeam · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:00 pm Post subject: