calcman05
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2024
- Messages
- 46
- Location
- Bellingham WA
- Fluid Motion Model
- R-31 CB
- Vessel Name
- DINGLEHOPPER
I want to start sharing the path I'm starting down for restoring some shine to my 2015 Ranger Tug R31 CB with the dark blue hull.
I bought the boat a few years ago and right before purchase it was waxed and looked good for a few weeks, but oxidation showed through quickly again and it has been on a downhill trajectory since, and I have not done any work other than spraying with salt away and boat wash.
We finally decided that while it was out of the water getting bottom paint, that we would attempt correcting the hull on our own because professional service has such a high cost.
My motto is "progress over perfection", and so I was looking for something that was easy for a beginner, and wouldn't take dozens of hours of labor on my side. I landed on SKWOL products, and ordered their "protection" bundle that includes the #5 bottle of one step oxidation remover, and the #2 AF-S Marine Sealant along with pads and towels. I then went to harbor freight and bought their Hercules 6" forced random orbital polisher and their 900lb load yellow scaffolding.
My approach:
Results:
So far, I have been very impressed with the results. I would say a single pass made my hull 75% better and the second pass made it 90% better. As you can tell from the photos, my hull does have deep dings and scratches that no amount of buffing will take out as it has scratched very deep (you can feel how deep with your fingernail), but for the hull as a whole, the progress has been amazing.
I'm about 3 hours in and have made it nearly 1/3 of the way around. I'm hoping I can get it all complete in about 10ish hours. I'm encouraged by the fact that SKWOL does not contain any waxes or fillers, so I'm hoping the results I see are legitimate and not snake oil.
Next Steps:
I'm going to keep going these next few days, and then when all done I'll spray on the #2 AF-S marine sealant to lock it in. I'll keep the group updated in the short term as well as the long term for the results since I know there has been some interest in the SKWOL product.
I bought the boat a few years ago and right before purchase it was waxed and looked good for a few weeks, but oxidation showed through quickly again and it has been on a downhill trajectory since, and I have not done any work other than spraying with salt away and boat wash.
We finally decided that while it was out of the water getting bottom paint, that we would attempt correcting the hull on our own because professional service has such a high cost.
My motto is "progress over perfection", and so I was looking for something that was easy for a beginner, and wouldn't take dozens of hours of labor on my side. I landed on SKWOL products, and ordered their "protection" bundle that includes the #5 bottle of one step oxidation remover, and the #2 AF-S Marine Sealant along with pads and towels. I then went to harbor freight and bought their Hercules 6" forced random orbital polisher and their 900lb load yellow scaffolding.
My approach:
- Get up on the scaffolding and sit....way easier than standing the whole time!
- Spray the area I'm working with a bottle of water mixed with boat soap to clean off the hull and then dry
- Load a circle of the #5 product to the pad, and blot it a few times on the hull
- Spread the product across the target area at speed 1
- Start applying pressure and do one vertical and one horizontal overlapping pass at speed 3
- Bump up to speed 5 and do two vertical and two horizontal overlapping passes
- Wipe clean with microfiber rag
- Apply another circle of #5 product to the pad
- Blot and gently spread product while feathering the trigger
- While still on speed 5, complete 3 vertical and 3 horizontal overlapping passes
- Wipe hull clean with microfiber rag
Results:
So far, I have been very impressed with the results. I would say a single pass made my hull 75% better and the second pass made it 90% better. As you can tell from the photos, my hull does have deep dings and scratches that no amount of buffing will take out as it has scratched very deep (you can feel how deep with your fingernail), but for the hull as a whole, the progress has been amazing.
I'm about 3 hours in and have made it nearly 1/3 of the way around. I'm hoping I can get it all complete in about 10ish hours. I'm encouraged by the fact that SKWOL does not contain any waxes or fillers, so I'm hoping the results I see are legitimate and not snake oil.
Next Steps:
I'm going to keep going these next few days, and then when all done I'll spray on the #2 AF-S marine sealant to lock it in. I'll keep the group updated in the short term as well as the long term for the results since I know there has been some interest in the SKWOL product.
