Wet sand and compound

[Brian_NY]

I had some serious scratches that my 2017 SX240 sustained when I was in Lake George, NY last week. The scratches were caused by a fender tired to a post that got blasted with sand in a storm.

I got brave and wet sanded with 1500 and then followed up with 2000 grit paper. I don't see any more scratches. I then used 3M High Gloss Gel Coat compound on it. I brought back a shine but it is still a duller shine. I have 3M Finesse It which I put on by hand. Still the shine is not there. I did the compound with an electric buffer using a 100 percent wool pad.

It has been damp and very humid here, could the weather be a factor. Any help is appreciated. Yes, I watched tons of videos on line but I can't get the results.

Thanks

 

[Redneck_4Play]

Wool pads are fairly aggressive and are typically used with more aggressive compounds. I use my wool pad with Mcguires M105 Ultra Cut and then a foam finsihing pad with Mcguires M205 finishing polish to give it that showroom shine.

 

[swatski]

Exactly ^^^^
The 105 would really help in between sanding and buffing.

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[zipper]

Agreed, switch to a foam pad and an orbital or D/A (dual action) buffer if you were using a wool pad with a rotary buffer. Wool pad and rotary buffer are aggresive. Time to use a polishing compound as said above, and then wax.

 

[Brian_NY]

Thank you for all the help. I will get an orbital buffer today.

 

[Jgorm]

I did 1000, then 2000, then 3m heavy compound and it came out like new. There were marks from the previous cf numbers.
1000g

2000g


Buffed, dewalt orbital with wool.

 

[merlinjet]

Here is a great link I found on a sailboat site some time back. It was written by a guy who details boats for a living. The article is soup-to-nuts on how to bring your boat back to showroom (or better) condition. It includes cleaning product suggestions, orbital polisher pads recommendations and how to use them, along with a step by step process with pictures. I have used it to bring back some fairly battered used boats to like-new condition. You even get advise on buying the right orbital polisher.

https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/buff-magic.105832/&highlight=buff

 

[Brian_NY]

Finally got her done. Sanded with 1500 and then 2000. Used the 3mHigh Gloss Gel Coat Compound to bring back some of the shine back. Then I used a Maguire's #4 cut cleaner and polish to get it better and then Maguire's Boat wax. It came out excellent. It was my first wet sand and it took a lot of time for me but I saved $300. A boat detailer wanted $500.

 

[zipper]

@Jls1975 For someone who just joined the forum and has no posts yet, if you dislike the information you should post a better alternative. There is plenty of information to back up my post. I have by hand wet sanded several hulls and then used various power tools and compounds to remove oxidation and restore a mirror like shine to the hulls of more than one boat. What have you done? Trolls don't last long here.

Edit: The action that spawned my reaction above was resolved. Another case of "accidental fat fingering" on tiny buttons.

 

[MidnightRider]

@Jls1975 For someone who just joined the forum and has no posts yet, if you dislike the information you should post a better alternative. There is plenty of information to back up my post. I have by hand wet sanded several hulls and then used various power tools and compounds to remove oxidation and restore a mirror like shine to the hulls of more than one boat. What have you done? Trolls don't last long here.

Not sure what he could have possibly disliked with your post - hopefully being new and unfamiliar with the features it was just inadvertent.

 

[Brian_NY]

Dude, chill out!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yes, I am new to Yamaha but I have been on boats for the past 36 years. I am new to SANDING GELCOAT and was anxious about trying it myself. In the end, with the help of many, including you, I got the job done and learned a lot.

Your thread was uncalled for but I will shrug it off as a bad moment for you.

Thanks to ALL who helped me in this process.

 

[zipper]

@Brian_NY If you are talking about my second post just above, it had absolutely
nothing to do with you. Congrats on solving your original problem.

 

[swatski]

Dude, chill out!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yes, I am new to Yamaha but I have been on boats for the past 36 years. I am new to SANDING GELCOAT and was anxious about trying it myself. In the end, with the help of many, including you, I got the job done and learned a lot.

Your thread was uncalled for but I will shrug it off as a bad moment for you.

Thanks to ALL who helped me in this process.

@Brian_NY - zipper was addressing another member, @Jls1975 - by "tagging" him with the "@", it had nothing to do with your post.
Congrats on the first sand job, that can be nerve-racking!

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[Brian_NY]

@zipper I am relieved, I was confused on how I pissed someone off. Thanks for the post.

 

[Jls1975]

Not sure what he could have possibly disliked with your post - hopefully being new and unfamiliar with the features it was just inadvertent.

 

[Jls1975]

Yes I didn't realize I posted anything anything.

 

[Jls1975]

@Jls1975 For someone who just joined the forum and has no posts yet, if you dislike the information you should post a better alternative. There is plenty of information to back up my post. I have by hand wet sanded several hulls and then used various power tools and compounds to remove oxidation and restore a mirror like shine to the hulls of more than one boat. What have you done? Trolls don't last long here.

I didn't intend to post anything I must have hit it on accident. Just working late researching wet sanding my sx240. Sorry

 

[zipper]

@Jls1975 Welcome to the forum! There is a lot of good info on this forum. I am glad it ended up being an "accidental fat fingering" of that button. It happens now and then. My apologies for tagging you with attitude. I have seen great results by using the info in this book and the Marine 31 products.

The heavy cut oxidation cleaner works better than other brand name rubbing compounds, like Turtle wax.
This is what my hull looked like after I took off the graphics.

And then after using 1000 and 2000 grit wet paper.

And then after buffing with the Marine 31 products.

A big improvement over what I started with. Reflections of everything on the arena floor. Very satisfied with the results on the 23' Yamaha and the 35' Beneteau.

 

[Jls1975]

Thanks for the info.