BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - Need a Power Tool to Polish/Wax the Gelcoat

wrote:
I am thinking of getting a power tool to help me to polish/wax the
gelcoat of my 18-ft boat (it is quite dull). I really don't want to do
this by hands based on my experience of polishing/waxing my car that is
smaller than the boat. I would like to know the right power tool to do
this.

Based on past posts in newsgroup, people seems to use a rotary polisher
to polish/wax their boats. It is like the Makita sander/polisher. But
we must use it very carefully. If we stay in one place for too long,
it may remove too much gelcoat.

I am also thinking of using a random orbital polisher such as
Porter-Cable 7424. It is supposed to be safer to use around gelcoat or
painted surface (like on a car body). But past posts seemed to say
that it is not effective for restoring dull gelcoat. All these get me
confused.

My questions a
Confusing.

I would only use a "random orbit polisher" as a light duty tool. You
want to do some real polishing, buy a real polisher. Remember that
light duty, regular polishing, requires different tools than heavy duty
polishing of neglected surfaces.
____________________________

My advice:
Go to your local yard, (or the local fire station) and observe. These
guys do a lot of polishing. See what they use.

Don't listen to advice from people who think polishing their car means
sitting in a plastic chair and drinking an expensive coffee drink while
someone else does the work.

Don't fall for the people trying to sell an easy way. Buy the proper
tools and materials.