Price to have gel coat restored?

[gride]

I was quoted 2k to wet sand, then 3 different products with the buffer. He said he uses 2000 grit. What's that sound like to y'all?

[ClemsonDave]

You sure it needs wet sanding? The whole boat? Not much 2000 grit can do that rubbing compound and a buffer can't. I can't imagine it taking more than a good day. $2k sounds like a lot. I'd do it for half that and be happy.

[TxJole]

If you ever want to learn about the finish of a boat tackle this yourself. If its bad enough to need a wet sand there is nothing you can do to mess it up. First boat I ever took on wet sanding was a yellow 33 foot Scarab, once I was done I knew I could handle anything a boat finish could throw at me. I wouldnt wet sand, I would use 3M heavy cut on a high speed buffer, then go to meduim then final glaze. Promise if you do it yourself u will watch that finish like fort knox. I think its kinda fun myself to watch it come back to life.

[TxJole]

Oh and 2k is a standard "prime season" quote. $100 a foot.

[Quinner]

I wouldnt wet sand, I would use 3M heavy cut on a high speed buffer, then go to meduim then final glaze. Promise if you do it yourself u will watch that finish like fort knox. I think its kinda fun myself to watch it come back to life.

Really depends how bad it is, I am working on one right now that I had to go down to 320 in some areas, what I thought would buff needed 600. I would look it up but I think Heavy Cut is equal to 1000 grit, cant recall exactly. Last three steps prior to wax would all be high speed buffer with heavy compound then perfect it then finesse it. Use the appropriate pads for each step.

[gride]

It's not badly faded, but there are some small oxidation spots near the transom, and a weird circular stain on one side slightly smaller than a CD. No scratches.

[ffmedic74]

Its a 1 day project . I would say $600.

[east tx skier]

I had some fade on my boat when I got it. Paid a fiberglass repair guy I know $300 to give it the royal treatment with the buffer. It has shined like new ever since then.

[obd666]

ouch, but i don't doubt that is a going rate some places. seems high to me considering you could probably get it in great shape yourself for $50 if you have a buffer

[gride]

I was kinda skeptical because when I mentioned compounds and stuff with a rotary he immediately went to wet sanding and how it takes him so long, and works so well(he knew it was 21'). He's the go to guy in town, but there are others. All this was via cell phone as well. On the bright side I just found out you can split the IPads keyboard by swiping it in opposite directions.

[TRBenj]

Wetsanding and buffing an entire boat is NOT a one day project. I have put ~40 hrs into a deck alone before, though that needed multiple rounds of sanding. With just one round of sanding, it has taken me 2 days to finish a boat... and I had 2 guys helping me for a good part of that. Either way, plan on 30-40 hrs. It a rewarding, but exhausting and time consuming project.

CQ is mostly right- a really aggressive compound like 3M Super Duty can remove scratches as coarse as 1000 grit. Not all compounds are created equal though.

If that guy is recommending wetsanding with 2000 grit prior to compounding and polishing, then I have my doubts that he knows what he's doing.

[xrichard]

It's a big project, but pretty simple. Last time I looked into having a whole boat (21') wetsanded / buffed by an outfit recommended to me, I think it was going to be about $1200...I can't remember if that included above the rubrail. Above the rubrail increases complexity and time.

On my current boat, I had a series of scratches from fenders along one side of the boat...they were fine scratches that caused the gel coat to look dull in two area (tip: do not leave your boat tied to a dirty dock even when using fenders...the dirt/crude from the dock gets on the fenders and will scratch up your boat...my boat was at the dock for a week during a camping trip). I ended up starting with 800 and finished with 1500 then moved to 3M Imperial and Finesse It (using the pads recommended by 3M). It looks good as new now, but I spent a solid long afternoon doing it...probably 4+ hours (...80% of one side of the hull, but it was all simple and flat with no need to pull anything off the boat).

[gride]

So in theory, it should be buffed with a good compound totally and then the "rough" spots should be sanded? I've done a fair bit of reading, but it seems like a complex process yet simple at the same time.

[HS]

So in theory, it should be buffed with a good compound totally and then the "rough" spots should be sanded? I've done a fair bit of reading, but it seems like a complex process yet simple at the same time.

Maybe not, I think there are a few options before wet sanding depending on the severity of the condition. TRBenj can hopefully confirm if this is correct (becasue I leave this part to the professionals) but here is my understanding:

In order from Light to Heavy, I think it goes Wax - Wax with Cleaner - Finesse It - Rubbing Compound - Cutter. Meaning that if a heavy "cutter" won't remove the oxidation, that's the point where you have to get into wet sanding. TRBenj: is this close to being correct?

[gride]

Anyone use the sure hold orbital?