Fishing Frenzy

Today, almost every pleasure boat on the water is made from fiberglass and gelcoat. This is not a coincidence. The fiberglass boats are much easier to make in comparison to the metal boats and the wooden boats. They also weigh less and are long-lasting. With all this said, you cannot buy one until you know how to restore faded fiberglass. This is the main maintenance procedure.

The process starts with cleaning. This should be done thoroughly to make sure that the surface is ready for the next step. In order to clean, just add one cup of a cleaning detergent to a gallon of warm water for better results. Stir to form a solution. A sponge is then used to wash the surface. Should the surface have mildew, the household bleach added to the solution is used to remove tough stains.

The restoration process starts with a thorough cleaning. This can be done simply by mixing detergent with water and then use a sponge to wash the surface with the resulting solution. A cup of household bleach is added to aid in removing mildew. In order to remove difficult stains, the direct application of concentrated cleaner that is specifically formulated for fiberglass is the answer.

The first step is often to start by cleaning the surface with the aim of removing tiny particles and any other substances that may affect a good quality finish. This can be done by adding detergent into warm water to form a washing solution. This is followed with a thorough scrubbing of the surface. In order to remove grease and oil, acetone and similar solutions may be used. It is then allowed to dry before the next step can begin.

Polish is an abrasive and not a coating. It works like a very fine sandpaper and is used to remove pitted surface. The procedure involves applying polish to a small area at a time using a soft cloth, then rubbing in a circular motion. This should leave a glassy surface. Polish does not offer any protection, and sealers or any other protective coating needs to be applied after polishing to prevent future oxidation.

After waxing, the next step is polishing. A polish is simply an abrasive, but not a coating. Rather than coating, it removes the pitted surface. The procedure involves using a soft cloth to apply the polish to small areas at a time. This is done by circular motion rubbing to get a glassy appearance. This is then followed by a wax application to protect the new coat.

Waxing should be the last step. It is used to offer the barrier between the elements and the gelcoat surface. If applied regularly, it can keep the boat in good condition for a long time. However, for older and faded boats, it is the last procedure after cleaning, polishing, and the application of sealers. It traps air in the microscopic surface crevices and holes allowing oxidation to continue after a while. This is the reason behind fading just after a month or two after cleaning and waxing. This put emphasis on the polishing and the sealers application.

First, apply it on the surface, after which a power buffer is then used. It results to a uniform color. In case it does not give a shiny finish, the surface is normally polished. The polish gives the final shine that you are looking for. The wax should always follow polishing, a good paste wax is enough to give the surface a new finish, similar to that in the showroom.