I just bought a new 18 ft. runabout. It was a 2005 model that the
dealer had for a year. The boat was stored outside but under a large
canopy.

On our first trip out we scratched the bow area of the boat due to
inexperience in docking. I desparetly wanted them gone and tried the
following:

1. Cleaned with hull cleaner.
2. Used 3M compound.
3. Used 3M wax.

My first mistake was not reading this newsgroup first and getting
advice!!! My second was the compound. The hull is black and I freaked
out at the amount of black paint coming off on the white rag. The wax
made it look better but it definately doesn't look new. Now I could
care less about the scratches, I just want my new boat back. Did I ruin
the gelcoat?

Any opinions welcome. You can even call me a dummy cause I sure feel
like one!!!

Thanks.

Gene Kearns wrote:

Got a picture? Just because you took off a bit of black color (unless
it is white underneath) doesn't mean you did any real harm. There are
gel coat repair kits available.....

.... but I'm not sure what it looks like, now.....

Dummy? No. It happens to everybody sooner or later......

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats

I'll take pictures tonight but I don't know how well anything will show
up. I don't know if it is white underneath.

It appears the dealer did nothing to clean the boat except get it water
ready. I could tell by the vinyl. It looked clean until I shampooed it
-- now it's showroom clean. I'm thinking since it sat outside for a
year that it wouldn't hurt to do a full finish job on it. I've read
alot about Zaino products. I just want to make sure I know what to use
and how to to do it first.

"supsand" wrote in message
ps.com...
I just bought a new 18 ft. runabout. It was a 2005 model that the
dealer had for a year. The boat was stored outside but under a large
canopy.

On our first trip out we scratched the bow area of the boat due to
inexperience in docking. I desparetly wanted them gone and tried the
following:

1. Cleaned with hull cleaner.
2. Used 3M compound.
3. Used 3M wax.

My first mistake was not reading this newsgroup first and getting
advice!!! My second was the compound. The hull is black and I freaked
out at the amount of black paint coming off on the white rag. The wax
made it look better but it definately doesn't look new. Now I could
care less about the scratches, I just want my new boat back. Did I ruin
the gelcoat?

Any opinions welcome. You can even call me a dummy cause I sure feel
like one!!!

Thanks.


As Gene said the gelcoat is repairable. Either call the dealer to see if
they stock or can order an OEM repair kit......or try Spectrum
Colors.....they are on the net.

"supsand" wrote in message
ups.com...

I'll take pictures tonight but I don't know how well anything will show
up. I don't know if it is white underneath.

Use a tripod, if you have one, or some other method of keeping the camera
ABSOLUTELY still. And, do NOT use flash.

supsand writes:

Did I ruin the gelcoat?

Sounds like you just dulled the surface finish. Not hard to restore.

The camera can't capture it even with the flash off. Got too much
reflection even in the shade.

Sounds like you just dulled the surface finish. Not hard to restore.

I'm hoping this is correct. I didn't scrub down very far because I
stopped when I kept getting so much black paint. The strip is about 5
inches high going back about 2 feet from the tip of the bow. The wax
did help but it is definately duller than the rest of boat and has
little scratch marks in it like the compound actually scratched it even
though I followed the instructions.

So where do I go from here? I assume I need to get that 3M wax off. My
search showed alot of praise for Zaino and that I should wash the boat
down with Dawn to remove old wax first. Some prefer traditional wax. I
don't mind doing the entire boat since like I said it's been outside
for a year.

Yeah.... dummy.....

I guess I did ask for that. I may be new to this particular forum but
I've been in much tougher rooms ... I can take it!!

I'm hoping this is correct. I didn't scrub down very far because I
stopped when I kept getting so much black paint.

Wait, paint? It's colored gelcoat, is it not? It's important to call it by
the right name if you want advice on fixing it the right way.

So where do I go from here? I assume I need to get that 3M wax off. My
search showed alot of praise for Zaino and that I should wash the boat
down with Dawn to remove old wax first. Some prefer traditional wax. I
don't mind doing the entire boat since like I said it's been outside
for a year.

Where are you getting these ideas? Dawn dish soap? JUST STOP. I'm sure
there's any number of wives tale solutions out there. But you'd really do
well to use products intended for the job.

Poliglow works wonders on rejuvenating a tired finish. If not that then
Collinite makes a fiberglas cleaner and wax.

But given the adventures thus far, it really does seem like you ought to
have someone that KNOWS fiberglas come take a look at what you've done.
Don't keep making it worse by doing the wrong things. Especially not to a
brand new boat!

Bill Kearney wrote:
I'm hoping this is correct. I didn't scrub down very far because I
stopped when I kept getting so much black paint.

Wait, paint? It's colored gelcoat, is it not? It's important to call it by
the right name if you want advice on fixing it the right way.


OK, OK so I don't know all the proper terminology yet, I'm learning.
Heck a month ago the words trim, bilge, and transom were new to me.

So where do I go from here? I assume I need to get that 3M wax off. My
search showed alot of praise for Zaino and that I should wash the boat
down with Dawn to remove old wax first. Some prefer traditional wax. I
don't mind doing the entire boat since like I said it's been outside
for a year.

Where are you getting these ideas? Dawn dish soap? JUST STOP. I'm sure
there's any number of wives tale solutions out there. But you'd really do
well to use products intended for the job.


I got that idea from this very group. I was searching for cleaning and
waxing techniques. And then there is this from the Zaino website:

"I would definitely recommend you remove the wax buildup on your paint.
Just use Liquid Dawn (hand dishwashing liquid) as a car wash. It has a
high alkaline content which cuts right thru carnauba wax, paraffin,
silicone oils, etc. This will get your paint finish squeeky clean and
wax free. I don't advise making a habit of washing your car with Dawn.
But for this scenario it's fine. High alkaline products like Dawn are
tough on polishes. It will never harm the paint finish though. A car
wash is made specifically to clean without removing durable polishes.
ALSO, Make sure you remove any water spots, before you apply my
products. Because Zaino has no abrasives or harsh solvents it will not
remove water spots or stains."

Poliglow works wonders on rejuvenating a tired finish. If not that then
Collinite makes a fiberglas cleaner and wax.

But given the adventures thus far, it really does seem like you ought to
have someone that KNOWS fiberglas come take a look at what you've done.
Don't keep making it worse by doing the wrong things. Especially not to a
brand new boat!


My first mistake was getting advice from the clerk at West Marine
(young enough to be my kid). Now I'm trying here because it does seem
there are many knowledgable folks on the subject. First-hand experience
is usually some of the best. Believe me I won't do anything more until
I fully understand the process.

"supsand" wrote in message
oups.com...

OK, OK so I don't know all the proper terminology yet, I'm learning.
Heck a month ago the words trim, bilge, and transom were new to me.

Bilge: Your mouth, after fishing and eating nothing but potato chips all
day.

Knot: A tangle with a name.

you might get some advice from a local auto ody shop, especially ones
that have beknownst to repair/rebuild Corvettes.



supsand wrote:
Bill Kearney wrote:
I'm hoping this is correct. I didn't scrub down very far because I
stopped when I kept getting so much black paint.

Wait, paint? It's colored gelcoat, is it not? It's important to call it by
the right name if you want advice on fixing it the right way.


OK, OK so I don't know all the proper terminology yet, I'm learning.
Heck a month ago the words trim, bilge, and transom were new to me.

So where do I go from here? I assume I need to get that 3M wax off. My
search showed alot of praise for Zaino and that I should wash the boat
down with Dawn to remove old wax first. Some prefer traditional wax. I
don't mind doing the entire boat since like I said it's been outside
for a year.

Where are you getting these ideas? Dawn dish soap? JUST STOP. I'm sure
there's any number of wives tale solutions out there. But you'd really do
well to use products intended for the job.


I got that idea from this very group. I was searching for cleaning and
waxing techniques. And then there is this from the Zaino website:

"I would definitely recommend you remove the wax buildup on your paint.
Just use Liquid Dawn (hand dishwashing liquid) as a car wash. It has a
high alkaline content which cuts right thru carnauba wax, paraffin,
silicone oils, etc. This will get your paint finish squeeky clean and
wax free. I don't advise making a habit of washing your car with Dawn.
But for this scenario it's fine. High alkaline products like Dawn are
tough on polishes. It will never harm the paint finish though. A car
wash is made specifically to clean without removing durable polishes.
ALSO, Make sure you remove any water spots, before you apply my
products. Because Zaino has no abrasives or harsh solvents it will not
remove water spots or stains."

Poliglow works wonders on rejuvenating a tired finish. If not that then
Collinite makes a fiberglas cleaner and wax.

But given the adventures thus far, it really does seem like you ought to
have someone that KNOWS fiberglas come take a look at what you've done.
Don't keep making it worse by doing the wrong things. Especially not to a
brand new boat!


My first mistake was getting advice from the clerk at West Marine
(young enough to be my kid). Now I'm trying here because it does seem
there are many knowledgable folks on the subject. First-hand experience
is usually some of the best. Believe me I won't do anything more until
I fully understand the process.