Sorry guys fell asleep at 9pm last night, long day. That is the true color of the gelcoat under the graphic. The red pigments in the brown are first to fade/oxidize, leaving grey.
@BlkGS , I dont think you are going to get the gelcoat restored to original without wetsanding. You can try a rotary buffer, instead of a D/A, with a wool pad, keep it moving, and 3-m heavy cut oxidation compound, but I think you will get faster results with wet sanding. Keep in mind, always err on the conservative side. I found starting with 1000 grit to be a long day of sanding. I was going to try a small area of 800 to see if it removed better without being too agressive, but I never did. So I did sand with 1000 then 2000 and then I used the polishing compound with the D/A. It took me a full weekend to do both Orange topsides. Work in small overlapping areas (2'x 2') square on the hull, use a sanding block, keep it wet and sand in a circular overlapping motion. If you start with 1000, it will not be too agressive, by the looks of your oxidation. For some it may be too much to do, my arms were sore after I finished, but the value restored was obvious. I grew up wetsanding all the FRP stuff my father made for boats and dunebuggies in the 70's, so I knew what I was getting into. Ours was oxidized pretty badly, spent her first 8 years in Va. (Lake Anna). Start off easy, try a small area with 1000, 2000 and compound. If you not getting desired results with 1000, try 800, but be careful, the gelcoat is a thin coat. Ask any questions, If I lived closer to you and were permitted to travel more than 10 miles, I would give you a hand. You have a good layer of oxidation on the gelcoat. That Taupe color is a nice color, it will come back with some elbow grease. I keep her covered and stored inside now.
This is after sanding with 1000 and using 2000, you can see the oxidation being removed and reflection of the fender coming back. This was me "free handing", no block. I dont recommend it, unless there is a curved area or you have done it a lot.
At the end of the weekend I was worn out but very happy with the results.
Some of the tools and Marine 31 products used on the Beneteau. I did not have the Shurhold rotary buffer when I did the Yamaha. Having variable speed on the buffers is mandatory. This was the first pass with heavy cut oxidation remover with a rotary and wool pad. No polish or wax yet. Thankful I didnot have to sand.
Marine 31 kits:
Porter Cable 7424xp Marine 31 Boat Oxidation Removal Kit this is the one I got, but a rotary will remove oxidation better. Here is a link to their products.
Marine 31 boat care products, boat detail products, best boat wax
