502ss

What's the best procedure for sanding gelcoat that has just been soda blasted to remove some stripes?

marineclean

I would send GlassDave a PM on the soda blasted question.

wet_rat

I have my OR and polish. I attempted use of OR on the bow and all I got was caking and stains(assuming it is from need for wetsanding, so I read). I knew I was going to have to wetsand from the dash to the windshield to remove where the old graphics were. First problem......

I can't get the stain?? from the old graphics to remove. I used 2000 first with NO result, went to 1000 and I still can't get it off. I have been told by peeps with experience that Velocity's gel is thin so I don't want to overdo it with 1000. What now? Here's a link to what I'm dealing with

http://cid-246be8fd293d3e78.skydrive...omRichUpload=1

I will try the OR where I have wetsanded and there is no graphic stain and report back with results.

wet_rat

well, wetsanding wasn't the answer to fix the staining problem. I used the OR just as the bottle says on an area that was done with 1000 and here's the result.....

http://cid-246be8fd293d3e78.skydrive...deck/stain.jpg

marineclean

I looked at your problem areas WR and it looks like the boat is heavily oxidized. If you've tried 1000 grit and there's still no shine then you've done about all you can do. Due to the age of the boat and the thickness of the gel the boat may need professional help. My products have been used on thousands with great results, but there's always a few that just won't buff or wetsand back to a lasting shine. I can tell you what temporary products to use like aqua or even poli-glow, but the problem is still going to be there and it will be back shortly.

My recommendation is taking your boat to a paint/body guy or someone that does vinyl wraps and see what they say.

Griff

How do you have a stain from old graphics???????? Under the graphics is usually much whiter and brighter. If its like a water stain, try rubbing some muratic acid on it. The acid will eat into the pourous gel and remove staining. Also try wiping it down with acetone. It almost looks like the graphics bled color into the gel. If that what it is, then you will have to paint or regel the deck.

wet_rat

COlor bleeding is the only thing I could assume. Here's a pic of the graphics before they went south

http://cid-246be8fd293d3e78.skydrive...k/DSCN0004.jpg

I can't figure out how a green could bleed what's there, there was a green stripe by the windshield and I have the same stain?? there as well. I will try the acid. I have some hull cleaner that may work.

Griff

Hull cleaner and muratic acid are basically the same thing. Its worth a try, but if the color from the graphics bled into the gel, I doubt it will work. If it was a yellowish brown water type stain, the acid might work. My guess is you will have to have it painted or gel coated though. Anytime a decal is on for several years, it is next to impossible to blend it in.

wet_rat

Funny you say that. The "green" graphics lasted about 6 months from the time I bought the boat until I took them off due to the green turning brown. I thought there was mold or something growing under the vinyl.