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Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:58 am

I am taking my buggy to a show in a few weeks, It was built in'76 and is unrestored other than missing or damaged parts. Unfortunately the gel coat is faded badly. If it is wet it looks presentable.
Is there something I could put on it to bring up the shine for the show or am I going to have to use the rat rod look ?
Bart

Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:47 am

Rub (buff) it out with very fine (micro cut) "cleaner/polish".... Then coat of wax afterward.....

Used to be a liquid fiberglass cleaner that came in a purple can used for "cleaning" oxidized gelcoat, you might find it in home improvement center for cleaning fiberglass tubs and showers, or at local boat dealer....

You may get lucky and try some of the "instant detailers" that come in spritz bottles. It may bring the shine back, but I really think its going to take serious action to get it looking good....

Dale

Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:03 pm

Two things that I know of that will get faded gel coat presentable.

Island girl makes a line of gel coat prducts that specialize in hammered gel coat. It's not cheap, nor is it permanent. It does a good job though and can last weeks if not months. I have the whole line in my garage.

Cheap route. Lemon pledge.

Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:33 pm

Duragloss 265 in a yellow spray can...spray on, wipe off. Get it at CARQUEST or NAPA.

I sell it to used car dealers to revive old dead clear coats.

Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:08 pm

3M fiberglass color and gloss restorer. Awesome product for your problem. I got mine at a marina. Be prepared, its not cheap. I think mine was just over $20.00 for a bottle.

I use the Mothers Powerball with the 3M color and gloss restorer and buff it to a high gloss. :wink:

Jay

Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:21 pm

Last time I was at my Porsche mechanics, they had a flyer from a company down the road that does some sort of gelcoat re-finishing process that is, if the pictures in their brochure are any indication, fantastic. And it's permanent (supposedly). I'll look at it tonight when I get home from work and post the link. I'm sure there's a supplier in your area.

One of the pictures was of a mid-70's Corvette that looked like it had sat in the SouthWest sun for twenty years. The "after" looked like it was ready for a show. Couple of boats with similar results. I'm going to have them do my body when I get to that stage, and I was certain it was going to require a re-paint.

Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:15 pm

Has anyone tried just shooting clear over the gell coat? It sounds like it would bring it back and then provide a perminant solution.

Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:53 pm

This IMP had dead flat gelcoat....not a bit of shine. It now shines fairly well with a coat of clear sprayed on it. It's not perfect, but very presentable.

Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:28 pm

Check this out.................$85 but it looks like it works.

Vertglas Gel Coat Restoration System and Marine Maintenance Products

Quality Vertglas marine maintenance products are the best choice for all your marine cleaning and protection needs. Vertglas marine products are 100% guaranteed. Clean and protect your boat with the best!

State-of-the-Art Gelcoat Restoration System

Quick & Easy Application of VertglasThe Vertglas Gel Coat Restoration System utilizes Vertglas Color Restorer/Sealer, a copolymer coating, not a wax or polish, to provide a glossy and protective sealed surface that resists oxidation and fading much longer than ordinary paste or liquid wax – and can be applied just as quickly. With Vertglas your fiberglass will stay glossy and resist oxidation all season long. Vertglas Color/Restorer Sealer can be used on fiberglass, stainless steel, aluminum, brass and plastic, but is most impressive when used on a gel-coated surface which has lost its original luster and color due to oxidation. Your boat will stay brighter and glossier with Vertglas.

The Vertglas System removes oxidation, dirt, grime and penetrates into the porous gel coat to seal out air and protect the surface from future oxidation. Conventional waxes and polishes merely sit on the surface of the gel coat and do not seal out air – or future oxidation.

This System, consists of four components that are formulated to work together. The first two, Vertglas #1 Oxidation Remover and #2 Boat Wash, remove the oxidation, dirt, grime and prepare the surface for coating. Vertglas #3 Color Restorer/Sealer is applied by simply wiping it on with the applicator. There is no rubbing or buffing! Each coat dries in less than a minute and you can see the shine build with each coat. Vertglas #4 Sealer Remover is used to remove the Color Restorer/Sealer in case you accidentally seal in dirt or oxidation.
Before Gel Coat Restoration After Gel Coat Restoration

Our Kit (which includes the Scrub Pad, Special Applicator, and How-To Guide Manual) contains enough Vertglas to restore up to a 25 foot boat. Once you have applied Vertglas, maintenance is easy. Just clean your boat regularly with Vertglas Boat Wash. The finish will stay brighter than if you waxed it every month. The next season, just wash your boat and apply another two coats of Color Restorer/Sealer to refresh the shine.

Gelcoat Restoration System

If your gel coat is faded, oxidized and chalky, and you are tired of waxing your boat every month or just watching it fade throughout the season, this state-of-the-art Gel Coat Restoration System from Lovett Marine is what you are looking for. One kit will do up to a 25' boat.

Item #10500A
KIT INCLUDES:
16 oz. Vertglas #1 Oxidation Remover
8 oz. Vertglas #2 Boat Wash
16 oz. Vertglas #3 Color Restorer/Sealer
8 oz. Vertglas #4 Sealer Remover
4" Special Applicator
Scrub Pad
How-To Guide Manual

Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:19 am

I haven't posted in a long time cause I sold my buggy, :cry: but I'm currently looking for the next one.

Anyway, yall are gonna think I'm nuts but this works. My buggy had a faded gelcoat. Someone told me to rub it with mayonaise and it would make it look better. Wouldn't last a long time but would look good. I didn't have anything to loose so I tried it. It really did work.

It might draw flies at a car show, I really don't know. But it looked pretty good for a weekend.

Back to lurk mode till the new buggy arrives.

Peace,
<><
TC

Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:23 pm

doc martins shoe paste works great for a weekend show /a real good bottle of tire wet works ok but will dry out in the sun. Im giving up and clear coating my manx this week. Everyone else says its the best thing.

Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:40 pm

Tire Shine is Silicone based and you will have a heck of a time painting over andy of the left over traces of it.

I would avoid it.

Mayo probably worked because it is oil based.

Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:09 pm

cheap old mineral baby oil. I got tired of trying everyting under the sun. With my old hydrostream. squirt and rub it in. Even if you wash it with soap and water, the gloss lasts a month or so. Just be careful walking on the deck ;)

Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:52 pm

I have thought about some of these products - but I think they work with solid colors. with metal flake it would make sense that the rough surface is caused by the exposed flakes sticking through, and thus they have oxidized as well. You would think that to shine that up would take wet sanding prior to any topcoat.
For a weekend show mayo may be the way to go in my case :)

Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:39 am

Penetrol about 6 bux at homey de pot store

Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:18 am

I've used marine penetrol on regular oxidized fiberglass but never used it on the metalflake. It works very well on otherwise clean oxidized fiberglass. I've never been able to deterimne if is is simply re-packaged hardware penetrol, but tacking marine onto anything is good for 25% price premium.

Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:19 am

glassbuggy wrote: I have thought about some of these products - but I think they work with solid colors. with metal flake it would make sense that the rough surface is caused by the exposed flakes sticking through, and thus they have oxidized as well. You would think that to shine that up would take wet sanding prior to any topcoat.
For a weekend show mayo may be the way to go in my case :)

Mayo spoils. ;) I guarantee the baby oil works.