MacGregorSailors.com

My hull is dull white. Tried good cleaning and boat/marine wax....still cloudy and not really shiny. Any way to restore that bright glossy white shine?

3M cleaner and wax (one product) brought a reflection to my hull but it wasn't oxidized too badly when I started. Anyway, I'm really pleased with what it did to the white and black so I'll be using it again.

P.S. I didn't exactly follow the directions. I used my buffer to apply the product as directed but then came behind with a clean microfiber cloth and that seemed to really bring out the shine.

Try Poli Glow. I like it,nice result
http://www.poliglow-int.com/

one bit of caution to anyone using 3m products on their hull!!!!! check that it doesnot conatain ammonia in its composition,the stuff will make it shine them it will turn a yellowish tinge.thats why using bleach with ammonia on your whites is a bad idea

To buff the hull up i preferr Farecla as it does not contain ammonia,after that a good two pack acrilic wax will leave you boat looking like new.

Hmm. I don't think it has ammonia but now you've got me worried. I'll have to go check today. Thanks for the heads up.

bastonjock wrote:one bit of caution to anyone using 3m products on their hull!!!!! check that it doesnot conatain ammonia in its composition,the stuff will make it shine them it will turn a yellowish tinge.thats why using bleach with ammonia on your whites is a bad idea

Not to mention that the combination of a chlorine bleach and amonia will create mustard gas. You might not want to breath any of that stuff.

For a white glossy shine..

Completely sand gelcoat..Apply primer..Apply white glossy paint..Repeat every 2 years..

This Question was just asked n another post about retstoring shine to the black part of the boat.

I just located an old can of Marine Penetrol. It says on the can, Restores shine to fading fiberglass. I placed a little bit on a cloth and wiped my hull. It sure do shine, Its easy to apply and rub. My car is a little dull. I rubbed the penetrol on the car and it definitly returned its shine..

Has anyone tried Meguire's Quick Detail and Autosol on the perspex?

Guy that services my motors also imports boats, from Japan....28' - 40' cruisers.
Tells me thay are rough and dirty.
He refurbishes them.
He cleans them with Truck Wash CT18 which apparantly gets rid of salt, grime etc.
He then uses Septone Drifter and finally 3M Liquid Marine Wax.
Says the whole process is quick and gives good result.
Anyone tried any of those??

Off topic, but he also says to run the outboard with the leg in a drum of water and add the Truck Wash. I havn't done it, but apparantly it cleans the cooling system perfectly.
I use Truck Wash CT18 on my vehicles.....would never go back to using anything else.....I find it exceptional.
Cheers
Phillip

I'm an old body-man (car, that is) and I did mine pretty easily - after a thorough washing, I just hit it with a rotary buffer and some 3M "Finesse-It Machine Polish" - the finish came up beautifully and the whole boat took the better part of a day (and some sore shoulders!). Then after a second thorough washing to remove all the polishing residue and spatter, I covered the gel with Mother's Carnuba wax (an automotive wax). End result is that it looks very good indeed - the black is nice and black and white is very bright.

My hull was moderately oxidized. If yours is more deeply oxidized I might suggest a light wet-sanding beforehand with some 1000 paper over a soft block (denser sponges work nicely for this). Also, when you move to polishing, remember to keep cleaning the lambs-wool buffing pad from time-to-time with water and a pad cleaning tool to remove the built-up grunge - if you don't you won't get very far before the buffer starts chattering badly and you risk burning the surface.

BTW, you can polish over the windows as well - the 3M machine polish also brightens them up, too. Just use a light touch, a cleaned pad and always polish out to the edges, not into them, to avoid burning.

Click HERE for more information on 3M Finesse-It Machine Polish. They make a marine version, but frankly it's the same stuff as in the automotive, just different packaging. The 3M polishes are not cheap, but in my many, many years of restoring cars and boats, they are the best you can get - they provide excellent cutting with minimal swirl marks. Alternatively, 3M also makes "3M™ Marine Color/Gloss Restorer" which I suspect will work as well or better than the stuff I used.

Kevin,
From your description of polishing the windows, it sounds as if you must be using a 6-inch polishing bonnet?
I was wondering about which size is the best choice for the boat.

How do you remove the yellowish ting caused by the 3M wax??

I was wondering why the bottom half of the boat was yellowish (waxed only the bottom).

Victor

Use ON OFF, just put it on with a cottom Rag (don't scrub) and wash with water 1 min. later do a 3x3 section at a time as you don't want to keep it on the hull long,when yellow disappears rince with water. Use rubber gloves.
Dave

vkmaynard wrote:How do you remove the yellowish ting caused by the 3M wax??

I was wondering why the bottom half of the boat was yellowish (waxed only the bottom).

Victor

Frank C wrote:Kevin,
From your description of polishing the windows, it sounds as if you must be using a 6-inch polishing bonnet?
I was wondering about which size is the best choice for the boat.

No, I was using a standard 9" cotton buffing pad, same as one would use in automotive work. Buffer running at 2800rpm.

Another low cost trick for restoring the white if it's stained-lemon juice. The stuff is safe,green and amazing. Years of water stain on the hull dissapears in about 15 minutes. I use a spray bottle on the deck and hull areas,wait about 15 minutes and rinse. Now it's white,it's up to you to make it glossy,and there'sthe work.