Sand/polish metal flake gelcoat?

[InfinitySurf 302]

Getting ready to polish up my boat and it has metal flake on sides....very light scratches in a couple areas so dont think it will require wet sanding or anything, but I got the Boat Candy products from the extreme to the polish. Is there any different process to the metal flake compared to regular gelcoat or can I just do what I do, making sure I dont take too much off?

Planning to start this tomorrow. Thanks

[RhuntIII 555]

Did  you get the speed gloss?

[InfinitySurf 302]

4 hours ago, RhuntIII said:

Did  you get the speed gloss?

I have the crystal cut compound supreme....the crystal cut compound and the crystal polish. Vary from roughly 1200 grit to 2500. Made to use with a rotary machine, I bought the variable speed Makita with pads over winter prepping for this and planned to do the entire boat and end with Collonite Wax. I have the quickie sauce to maintain it.

95% of the boat just has some very light oxidation starting and some water spots, few areas have some minor scratches and one spot near bow has a long scuff mark from when it was dry docked....forklift operator must have been lifting as he backed up after setting boat down and it dragged across the hull. I dont think that will be hard to get our tho cause not a deep scratch or anything, more of a scuff mark. 

Really the only thing I am worried about is going over the metal flake. Most of the boat I only intent to use the crystal polish since its only that light oxidation.....but in the few areas with scratches and scuff I was going to start with the cutting compound and if that does not work go to the supreme and then work my way back to the polish. I have read a lot of thread and understand the process, while it makes me nervous on expensive boat like this, I am confident I can do it. Just do see much talk about flake areas of gelcoat so want to be sure before I start on it.

[Shaka 146]

The metal flake has clear coat over it so you should be fine.

[Nick213 583]

Just get a can of TR3 and wax the boat in the spring and fall with it. During the season use babes, boat candy, 303, or what ever brand you prefer to clean after every outing and your boat will be in top notch shape years on end.

[InfinitySurf 302]

6 hours ago, Nick213 said:

Just get a can of TR3 and wax the boat in the spring and fall with it. During the season use babes, boat candy, 303, or what ever brand you prefer to clean after every outing and your boat will be in top notch shape years on end.

That does not fix the issues tho. After I fix it.....that is exactly what I am gonna do. Boat came with these scratches/light oxidation cause they dry stored boat and did not wipe down gelcoat after each outing. I have been planning this fix and working up the nerve for a year, so gotta polish it first. Sounds like there is clearcoat over the flake tho so I will move forward and just keep it light on flake areas. Thanks

[InfinitySurf 302]

I just looked up TR3. Its cleaner and polish, since its for cars....does it also work on gelcoat?

I did try acetone already and while it certainly helped, did not remove the oxidation

[Nick213 583]

I have used it on all my boats and the gelcoats have all been pristine.

[InfinitySurf 302]

42 minutes ago, Nick213 said:

I have used it on all my boats and the gelcoats have all been pristine.

Just ordered some from Amazon, according to reviews, works even better using a rotary polisher, which I have. Thanks for the tip, if this gets rid of the oxidation and I only have to use the compound for the light scratches, that will be nice. I assume you still wax after using this? I use Collonite, seems to last the longest

[Nick213 583]

That is what I use for wax twice a year. Then I use boat candy products to clean after every use.

[Dan gib 8]

I have a similar situation the flake on my boat is kinda faded the worse is on the transom above the centurion logo bc it is exposed to the sun the most.

What products would you fellows recommend. Thanks

[Dan gib 8]

On 3/24/2018 at 1:51 PM, Nick213 said:

That is what I use for wax twice a year. Then I use boat candy products to clean after every use.

What the TR3

[Shaka 146]

7 hours ago, Dan gib said:

I have a similar situation the flake on my boat is kinda faded the worse is on the transom above the centurion logo bc it is exposed to the sun the most.

What products would you fellows recommend. Thanks

I would get a line where the sun would fade what wasn't covered by the cover. I used rubbing compound and a buffer to get it out. I believe I had the best results with 3m products.

[Dan gib 8]

1 hour ago, Shaka said:

I would get a line where the sun would fade what wasn't covered by the cover. I used rubbing compound and a buffer to get it out. I believe I had the best results with 3m products.

They make so many anything specific?

[InfinitySurf 302]

Whichever brand you use....cutting compound first, then polish, then wax.

I used Boat Candy and it worked excellent. Boat Candy also has an "extreme" cutting compound, which I did get but did not need, just used the regular cutting compound. Boat is now shiny with no scratches or oxidation. Mirror finish.

I did have to wet sand a few deeper scratches from the forklift....I used 2000 for most, but a couple I had to go with 1500 then 2000 then cutting compound then polish. After sanding you may have to go over it a few times with the cutting compound till you are happy. Go slow, start on low rpm for first few passes and then faster.

[Dan gib 8]

4 hours ago, InfinitySurf said:

Whichever brand you use....cutting compound first, then polish, then wax.

I used Boat Candy and it worked excellent. Boat Candy also has an "extreme" cutting compound, which I did get but did not need, just used the regular cutting compound. Boat is now shiny with no scratches or oxidation. Mirror finish.

I did have to wet sand a few deeper scratches from the forklift....I used 2000 for most, but a couple I had to go with 1500 then 2000 then cutting compound then polish. After sanding you may have to go over it a few times with the cutting compound till you are happy. Go slow, start on low rpm for first few passes and then faster.

guess i gotta get a buffer you guys using rotary or DA and decent ones for a once a year use on the cheap?

[Dieselbreath 8]

What collonite is everyone using?

[InfinitySurf 302]

2 hours ago, Dan gib said:

guess i gotta get a buffer you guys using rotary or DA and decent ones for a once a year use on the cheap?

I bought a Makita, rotary with variable speed.....but knew I would be working on boat quite a bit and also plan to use it on vehicles. I hear Harbor Freight has a cheaper one and sure it will do fine. I would say it is important to have the variable speed tho cause you can "burn" the gelcoat if you go too fast. I started @ 600rpm to spread compound/polish and did first 2 passes at that speed and then sped it up to 1200-1500 max for another 2-3 passes going side/side and up/down over each 2x2-2x3 section. Time consuming and probably spent around 16hrs doing the wetsand, compound and polish, but I am a perfectionist and it was worth it once done.

[InfinitySurf 302]

41 minutes ago, Dieselbreath said:

What collonite is everyone using?

I bought the cleaner and the 945 wax (think it was a package deal on Amazon I found). Never actually used the cleaner on the boat, but probably will on the vehicles. Wax is awesome....used it on boat, trailer, trailer rims, carbon fiber vents (after polishing and using TR3)....and will be using it on vehicles when I get around to it. Boat was the priority, lol

[Shaka 146]

17 hours ago, Dan gib said:

They make so many anything specific?

I use this followed by Finesse It II and then regular wax.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Marine-Rubbing-Compound/?N=5002385+8709375+8710663+8710721+3293083915&rt=rud