Boy, are my arms tired

[Levitation]

When I purchased Charlotte Ann (1 year old) there were some scratches in the gel coat, especially on the port side just above the water line, wavering, jaggedy, scratches that are probably from dock nails, etc. running nearly the full length... They are only visible close up and when the angle of the light is right... But I know they are there and they bug me...

Tim was gone for the holidays and I did not feel like wrestling steel booms off the field sprayer, etc. on my own... So, I cleared space in the shop and brought the boat home... I spent most of yesterday swinging a screaming buffer (trying to at least)... I went over the worst scratches by wet sanding with 1000 grit until I could no longer see the scratch... Then I went over the sanded (dull and ugly) patches with the buffer using rubbing compound... Then I went over the area again using polishing compound... Then I went over the entire side of the hull with polishing compound to bring everything "down" to the same level of gloss - a rather dull gloss compared to the shiny gloss before I started... I finished the Starboard side up through an overall polish yesterday and today I am on the port side and about half done... The spirit is willing but my 'massively muscled' arms are not... (yeah right, 35 years of playing doctor leaves you with massive muscles - not)

I will need to get on the web today and order some Meguiare products the local stores do not carry - namely Power Cleaner #84 and Machine Glaze #3... The #84 will put on an even higher gloss (finer grit) than the polish left and the glaze is exactly what it sounds like,it's almost as fine as a jewelers rouge... There is nothing magic about this, they are just jugs of finer and finer grit as you go up the chain...

Let me give you one secret for cleaning your boat... If like me, you hate to see the dark streaks down the ivory sides - such as just below the antenna mount, the fresh water fill cap, etc. And also for tree sap... It is the Meguiare's Smooth Surface Clay Kit... This is an amazing product... Just give the stain/streak/sap a squirt of Instant Detailer (in the kit) and rub the clay bar over the contaminants a few strokes (no muscle required) and the mark just lifts off and is gone and the surface is ready for a coat of wax... Most auto stores (Autozone for sure) and all WalMarts wil have this kit...

OK back to the buffer (groan)

 

[JamesTXSD]

I did that in October... and my arms still ache. 😉 But, the boat sure looks (looked?) good.

Happy New Year!

Jim B.

 

[Levitation]

Come on Jim, that's the blonde's job...
It does look good... But salt deposits will cover any blemishes, eh...

 

[JamesTXSD]

While either of us can handle anything on the boat, we do have "pink" jobs and "blue" jobs - tasks that each of us generally do. She cleans the inside, I do the outside. Similar with cat duties - I take care of the "front end", she does the "back end." I thought I had the better part of that deal, until the first time the cat yakked... and she reminded me "that is the front end."

To get back on-topic, a boat builder friend of mine fixed me up with some 2000 grit stuff for the final buffing - brought it up to a beautiful shine with a lot of "putting your back into it."

http://www.aqua-buff.com/site/478459/page/75528

Once that job was done, I almost didn't want to put the boat back in the water.

Good luck with the project,
Jim B.

 

[RProffer]

That sounds too much like work Denny-o. I get some compound like oxidation remover and apply it with an orbital buffer. That will usually remove all the oxidation, light scratches, etc., and the hull will look like new. I then apply a couple coats of wax with the orbital buffer and that should keep it looking new for at least the rest of the summer, if not longer. I have not had to do it on my tug yet, but on my older boats the process would take a couple of hours.

 

[walldog]

While either of us can handle anything on the boat, we do have "pink" jobs and "blue" jobs - tasks that each of us generally do. She cleans the inside, I do the outside. Similar with cat duties - I take care of the "front end", she does the "back end." I thought I had the better part of that deal, until the first time the cat yakked... and she reminded me "that is the front end."

Jim B.

You need to renegotiate the cat jobs to "INPUT and OUTPUT"

 

[JamesTXSD]

While either of us can handle anything on the boat, we do have "pink" jobs and "blue" jobs - tasks that each of us generally do. She cleans the inside, I do the outside. Similar with cat duties - I take care of the "front end", she does the "back end." I thought I had the better part of that deal, until the first time the cat yakked... and she reminded me "that is the front end."

Jim B.

You need to renegotiate the cat jobs to "INPUT and OUTPUT"

A little late to change that contract. 😉 Besides, the cat poops more than she pukes. (Hope you weren't reading that while eating. :lol: )