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Not exaclty a "British car" question, I am in need of advice on how to restore the shine to very old and weathered gell coat on a fiberglass canoe. The canoe has been in the sun for 20 years and has taken on that dull chalkey look. I was wondering if you folks would have any magic trick to make it look new again. Is it a matter of rubbing compound and such or is it just to the point that nothing can be done. If nothing can be done to bring the shine back, is there a "paint" (or new gell coat) that can sprayed on to make it look new again.
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retoring old gell coat
- Thread starter Adrio
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Biff
Jedi Trainee
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Adrio,
Unfortunately there is no 'magic' cure. That said there are a few things that will make it look better. Yes a very mild rubbing compound will remove the chalk and a good paste wax will help bring most of the color back but with a lot of elbow grease! A quick and easy but not permenant fix would be to use some 303 Aerospace Protectant on it. Wash the surface, dry, then spray on the 303 and wipe down. Color is back! Only problem is it is not permenant and will have to be done every month. 303 is available at Marine & Auto stores. I've used it on my boat(s) for the last 30 years. Good for vinyl too! The only permenant fix would be to have it repainted and keep a good coat of wax on it.
Unfortunately there is no 'magic' cure. That said there are a few things that will make it look better. Yes a very mild rubbing compound will remove the chalk and a good paste wax will help bring most of the color back but with a lot of elbow grease! A quick and easy but not permenant fix would be to use some 303 Aerospace Protectant on it. Wash the surface, dry, then spray on the 303 and wipe down. Color is back! Only problem is it is not permenant and will have to be done every month. 303 is available at Marine & Auto stores. I've used it on my boat(s) for the last 30 years. Good for vinyl too! The only permenant fix would be to have it repainted and keep a good coat of wax on it.
kennypinkerton
Yoda
Offline
Also, you can sand it down, and re-apply a couple coats of gelcoat... Get the stuff with the wax in it... It'll last a few more years. But wax it with carnuba wax at least once every few months...
I've got the same problem on my boat... and I've already sanded in down... Some areas were so worn that the fibre mesh was showing through. I plan to spray the wax embedded gelcoat in the next couple months.
I considered just painting over it, but new Gelcoat is the "right" way to do it. Search around "fiberglass refinishing" in google and or yahoo. There's lot's of good resources on the web.
I've got the same problem on my boat... and I've already sanded in down... Some areas were so worn that the fibre mesh was showing through. I plan to spray the wax embedded gelcoat in the next couple months.
I considered just painting over it, but new Gelcoat is the "right" way to do it. Search around "fiberglass refinishing" in google and or yahoo. There's lot's of good resources on the web.
kennypinkerton
Yoda
Offline
Cool... I considered at one point, just epoxy primer, and fresh paint.
I'll check out Valspar's stuff before my wallet says I can buy any stuff for refinishing it.
I'll check out Valspar's stuff before my wallet says I can buy any stuff for refinishing it.