Gelcoat issues with 2018 R-23

[cwalden]

First, Merry Christmas to all Tugnuts!
Our 2018 R-23 was pristine with its Claret Red hull. It has been meticulously maintained and cared for. She is kept on or mooring in the summer months and shrink wrapped in winter. The hull is now badly faded, water spotted and sun streaked even though has been cleaned, waxed and polished at least once a year.

We are at wits end knowing how to restore hull without adding another 6-8K in paint costs. Becoming disenchanted with the brand because of this. I've read the same issue multiple times. As far as I know the factory has not offered any tips or expressed culpability for low quality colored gelcoat.

So, short of any factory tips and response, I turn to you folks for your advice on restoring the hull to a passing grade, albeit the hull is 6 years old. Please let me know the best tips, tricks, compound, wax or ceramic/nano coatings, etc. I will be trying to do the work myself for the most-part.

Thanks to all and best wishes in the New Year!!

Toot Suite, Bristol, Rhode Island

 

[zekeandboone]

Merry Christmas, Toot Suite,
We are on our 3rd red Ranger Tug. The first, a classic 25, was kept on a trailer in my barn. I pampered that boat! It must have had 10 billion coats of wax on it when I traded it in on a new 27OB.
I ceramic coated the 27 myself because we put it in the water full time up in Seattle (2,5 hours drive from home). It looked brand new 2 years later when I traded that in for our 31. Kevin from Premier Ceramic coated the new 31 and 3 years later it still looks new. It sits in an uncovered slip. I'm sold, along with tons of other owners of Fluid Motion boats.
Good luck!

 

[scross]

Seasons greetings!
Not sure why you feel the problem with red gelcoat is solely due to the factory using a “low quality” product. I’ve had experience with gelcoat on boats and aircraft for over 50 years and the problems you are describing happen to almost all dark colored gelcoats when exposed to outdoor environments over long periods. In my opinion red is the absolute worst performing color followed by dark blue.
BTW environmental conditions (eg temp and humidity) as well as operator skill have a major impact on the longevity of gelcoat performance. Perhaps even more so than the “quality” of the gelcoat itself.
I’ve painted over gelcoat many, many times. Will be doing it again on selected small parts (eg propane locker) of my 2017 C-28 this spring. A good polyester urethane like AwlGrip is a good long term solution for fading and/or hard to maintain gelcoat. Yes, it’s an expensive and time consuming process to apply the AwlGrip.
I’ve seen others get good results with professionally applied ceramic coatings as noted by Steve above. While probably not as long lasting as painting, it’s somewhat more affordable initially.
I spend about 20-30 hours a season buffing, polishing and waxing our C-28’s dark blue hull. The glossy finish I get doesn’t last the whole season but it looks good for a few months.
For those who don’t want to do any of these processes, I’d suggest buying an all white boat!
Cheers!

 

[Martin610]

All the colored gel coat hulls require extra attention. Red is probably the most difficult. Mine is blue so I'm not far behind. I often hear people say their boat has been cleaned ,waxed and polished. One question is with what products?

Colored hulls generally require buffing. I use a Makita buffer with a wool pad and 3M heavy duty compound. I sometimes have to use super duty. Yes, its work. Labor of love for me. I don't have to wet sand with that process.

Carnauba based waxes don't work well for boats. You need polymer to provide enough protection. I have been using Collinite boat wax lately. That's a hybrid that has both Carnauba and polymer. Plenty of other choices out there, but Carnauba alone won't do it.

When I first got my boat, a 2013 C 28, it had all the issues you describe. Water spots, oxidation, etc. It needed I think about 10 hours of work to restore. it needs maintenance every year, which is why I do it myself.

Some pictures:

Yes, I need a haircut.

-martin610

 

[Mgmiller3]

Hope this “how to” may help someone.
Purchased my boat late last year (2017 R23) and finally polished and waxed the gel coat. Had quotes over a $1000 to do it and I decided to give it a try. Did a lot of research and this method worked very well for me as a first timer.
6 hours or fun and $165 and very happy with the results.
Harbor Freight - Bauer 7” Polisher $100
Collinite 631 Medium Cutting Compound $20
Collinite 925 Finish Wax $20
Wizards 7” 50/50 Wool Cutting Pad $15
Bauer 7” Foam Finishing Pad $10
Process:
1. Clean and Dry Hull
2. Tape off 36” sections at a time
3. Start with Wool Cutting pad and compound. Apply 5-7 nickel size drops to pad.
4. Stamp pad to surface and spread compound
5. Using a “cross hatch” technique at 600 rpm start your initial pad to set in compound. Apply pressure similar to pushing a lawn mower
6. Once compound is applied over area, increase speed to 1800-2200 rpm based on comfort to control the polisher
7. Once compound has dissipated, buff excess off and repeat if oxidation wasn’t fully removed.
8. Change Pads.and apply 3-5 nickel size drops of finish wax to pad
10. Stamp pad and spread wax over area.
11. Using a “cross hatch” technique at 1800-2200 rpm apply wax to surface
12. Allow wax to dry and buff excess
13. Repeat process, overlapping areas until entire boat is detailed.

 

[cswalden]

OMG! Thank you all so much for your detailed instructions and comments. Make no mistake, we love the boat, just want to keep it pristine.
I will report back on my efforts this spring !
Best to all!!!!!!
Toot Suite

 

[Cutwater28GG]

The other options are awlgrip paint or a vinyl wrap. They both have costs and pros and cons. Im personally pretty tempted to go vinyl from someone like prism graphics.

Having seen how many hours Ive spent polishing the hull I do actually wonder how much work it would be to paint awlgrip or similar product. Ive watched a number of videos and whilst it will take a little practice Im not sure its that difficult - especially if you have a boat on a trailer.

 

[Martin610]

Miller, I see you're a Jersey boy too! Boat looks wonderful. I have come to appreciate the Collinite products also, especially the hybrid waxes.

You need need a haircut!

-martin610

 

[Mgmiller3]

Miller, I see you're a Jersey boy too! Boat looks wonderful. I have come to appreciate the Collinite products also, especially the hybrid waxes.

You need need a haircut!

-martin610

I am a bit of a gypsy. Jersey was much cheaper to initially register to the boat in, so although I currently splash more often in Lake Erie and inland lakes, I plan to start running across the C&D Canal and exploring the Chesapeake. I am orginally from Pennsyvania, currently reside in Northeast Ohio. Parents my both went to Penn State and my mom worked on the shore one her summers, so growing up my warm weather vacations were always spent in South Jersey. I have maintained that tradition with my family now. Have a financial share and a seasonal spot in an Airstream Campground between Sea Isle and Avalon on the mainland and plan to use the R23 there now.

 

[briandunnington]

Hope this “how to” may help someone.
Purchased my boat late last year (2017 R23) and finally polished and waxed the gel coat. Had quotes over a $1000 to do it and I decided to give it a try. Did a lot of research and this method worked very well for me as a first timer.
6 hours or fun and $165 and very happy with the results.
Harbor Freight - Bauer 7” Polisher $100
Collinite 631 Medium Cutting Compound $20
Collinite 925 Finish Wax $20
Wizards 7” 50/50 Wool Cutting Pad $15
Bauer 7” Foam Finishing Pad $10
Process:
1. Clean and Dry Hull
2. Tape off 36” sections at a time
3. Start with Wool Cutting pad and compound. Apply 5-7 nickel size drops to pad.
4. Stamp pad to surface and spread compound
5. Using a “cross hatch” technique at 600 rpm start your initial pad to set in compound. Apply pressure similar to pushing a lawn mower
6. Once compound is applied over area, increase speed to 1800-2200 rpm based on comfort to control the polisher
7. Once compound has dissipated, buff excess off and repeat if oxidation wasn’t fully removed.
8. Change Pads.and apply 3-5 nickel size drops of finish wax to pad
10. Stamp pad and spread wax over area.
11. Using a “cross hatch” technique at 1800-2200 rpm apply wax to surface
12. Allow wax to dry and buff excess
13. Repeat process, overlapping areas until entire boat is detailed.

I followed this advice exactly (even bought the same tool and supplies) and it turned out great. I think i spent about 4-5 hours total (spread it over two days so just a couple of hours each day) and the results were fantastic.

One piece of advice for anyone else attempting this for the first time (like I was): the wool pad leaves a lot of stands/fibers all over the place. On my very first section, when I sped the polisher up to 1800 RPM, wool fuzz went flying everywhere, which kind of caught me off guard. For the subsequent sections, I taped a dropcloth over the already-completed sections so they didnt get polish/wax/fuzz all over them as I kept working.

 

[Mgmiller3]

I followed this advice exactly (even bought the same tool and supplies) and it turned out great. I think i spent about 4-5 hours total (spread it over two days so just a couple of hours each day) and the results were fantastic.

One piece of advice for anyone else attempting this for the first time (like I was): the wool pad leaves a lot of stands/fibers all over the place. On my very first section, when I sped the polisher up to 1800 RPM, wool fuzz went flying everywhere, which kind of caught me off guard. For the subsequent sections, I taped a dropcloth over the already-completed sections so they didnt get polish/wax/fuzz all over them as I kept working.

I checked out your website and detailed write ups on your upgrades before I purchased my boat, so things have come full circle now. Glad to hear your were able to obtain some good results as well with this technique and equipment. Took me about a week of late night YouTube videos and forum searching to solidify that polishing plan and take a chance trying it. Just pulled my boat out Easter Weekend and took off the cover and it still looks good. May just start with a wax this year