Wet sand and buff is...

[Mr. Crusader 83]

not very much f#cking fun. Let me tell you.

[73cv19]

Never is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[squirt'nmyload]

HA HA.....i just fininshed doing mine AGAIN for the 3rd time.....my arms are sore:D

[Mr. Crusader 83]

my arms hurt but it looks bad a$$

[75MillerJet]

how'd you go about it? turn out nice? got any before and afters? i want to do mine but i'm scurred

[IMPATIENT 1]

what's the "shiat" as far as protecting the gel coat after the buffing? i know wax just melts off the 1st trip out, fiberglass wax lasts alittle longer but not by much.there's gotta be some kinda sealer or wax that'll keep the gel shiny and protect against uv's at the same time.what's everyone using????

[Mr. Crusader 83]

I washed the boat. Then sprayed water on the bow, and rubbed it lightly with 1500 grit sandpaper. KEEP THE BOAT WET!!! Then I washed it again, And used a high speed buffer with Miguires Fiberglass restorer. Then Buffed it off by hand. Looks bitchen, but no pics. I have red on the deck which does not like 120 heat. It had light sun faded spots in it. Almost looked pink. And it brought it back.
Try a small spot on the back of the boat. Make sure not to rub the same spot to much. You can rub through the gel. I triied everything from compounds to Finesse It II by 3M. And wet sanding and buffing worked the best.

[atxwrangler]

what's the "shiat" as far as protecting the gel coat after the buffing? i know wax just melts off the 1st trip out, fiberglass wax lasts alittle longer but not by much.there's gotta be some kinda sealer or wax that'll keep the gel shiny and protect against uv's at the same time.what's everyone using????
i used imron clear! l.o.l.,didn't want to keep fighting it!
http://texas***boats.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2079

[HammerDown]

Here's the part that really sucks...(not so much on newer Hulls) but, as the Suns UV rays dig deeper and deeper into the Gel coat and you wet sand then buff over and over, you can be sure you'll eventually run out of good color to bring back.
This started to happen with the Black Gel areas on my 83 Daytona. Was it ever a fight keeping the Black-Black!. :boxingguy
I then decided enough...I cleared over the whole boat. Now a simple wax just for giggles (not even needed) and it's like new all the time.
I wish I done it years ago;)
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/medium/1064Picture_049.jpg

[75MillerJet]

my problem is the red also. i've buffed god knows how many times and just doesn't go away. i guess i'll have to try it sooner or later. i have rubbing compound, meguiars polish, meguiars scratch and swirl remover, and starbrite fiberglass restorer. will any of these work for the after-sand buffing?

[squirt'nmyload]

Here's the part that really sucks...(not so much on newer Hulls) but, as the Suns UV rays dig deeper and deeper into the Gel coat and you wet sand then buff over and over, you can be sure you'll eventually run out of good color to bring back.
This started to happen with the Black Gel areas on my 83 Daytona. Was it ever a fight keeping the Black-Black!. :boxingguy
I then decided enough...I cleared over the whole boat. Now a simple wax just for giggles (not even needed) and it's like new all the time.
I wish I done it years ago;)
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/medium/1064Picture_049.jpg
i will be clearcoating soon!!!......the white on my boat looks great, it's the metalflake parts i keep working on......the last time i wet sanded i used 1500 on the whole thing...well, today i wetsanded the metalflake only with 800 then with 1500 then used meguiars diamond cut compound 2.0....after today, it looks like a mirror......
here is a before pic and a after from the last time i did it.....you can really notice on the sides too how "dull" it looked.....
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k265/squirtnmyload/DSCF0308.jpg
after....it looks even better than this after today.....i'll get some pics outside tomorrow at the lake
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k265/squirtnmyload/DSCF0883.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k265/squirtnmyload/DSCF0802.jpg

[IMPATIENT 1]

well, i'm gonna clear mine next yr. fo sure.seems like imron is the brand of choice and i got a basic body shop 20yrds out my backdoor(i bought all the paint equipment most body shops have, less booth @3yrs ago to do my own work)i've done all the wet sanding and buffing i can stand when i had the taylor sc, and it was a constant battle to keep it shiny. i finally resorted to pledge, no joke, it works. my wife's papa told me about it and what little oil the pledge has really keeps the gel "conditioned". i'd spray some on a rag after a trip out, wipe the sc off good with it, throw on the cover.may do that to the tx-19 for this summer after i 1500 then 2000 it, buff. i thought maybe someone made gel conditioner for this exact purpose??????

[Mr. Crusader 83]

my problem is the red also. i've buffed god knows how many times and just doesn't go away. i guess i'll have to try it sooner or later. i have rubbing compound, meguiars polish, meguiars scratch and swirl remover, and starbrite fiberglass restorer. will any of these work for the after-sand buffing?
Just hit it with 1500 grit then use the meguiars. atleast thats what i used and im happy. I thought about clear coating my boat but i have seen when they go bad and the clear comes off in pieces. I think i will wait on clearing it and have it painted next year.
I have heard the pledge works well to. I personally have never used it, but some guy i met at the sandbar swears by it.

[Mr. Crusader 83]

i will be clearcoating soon!!!......the white on my boat looks great, it's the metalflake parts i keep working on......the last time i wet sanded i used 1500 on the whole thing...well, today i wetsanded the metalflake only with 800 then with 1500 then used meguiars diamond cut compound 2.0....after today, it looks like a mirror......
here is a before pic and a after from the last time i did it.....you can really notice on the sides too how "dull" it looked.....
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k265/squirtnmyload/DSCF0308.jpg
after....it looks even better than this after today.....i'll get some pics outside tomorrow at the lake
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k265/squirtnmyload/DSCF0883.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k265/squirtnmyload/DSCF0802.jpg
looks good.
I talked to a body shop guy lastnight and he said there is 3 stages to wet sand and buff. Something with steal wool. I dont remember. I was drunk.

[flat broke]

Maybe a wool pad, then a foam pad, but I've never heard of steel wool. Doesn't mean someone hasn't done it; just haven't heard of it.
Chris

[Xlration Marine]

Use a high temp mold wax. Stands up nice to the Az heat. Put it on in the dirrect sun light as well. Put on a coat let it sit for an hour or so, take it off. Let it flash off, put on another coat. It's all I use, car,truck or boat, luv it. The first coat will take some work but the secound and third just wipe right off. You know when it's flashed off when you can't see you finger print in it. Wet on wet is only good if it's fiberglass.