Polishing Oxidation ??

[boaterjen]

Hello all.

I have the Mac 26, 2 years old. It's a good boat.

QUESTIONS: The two black stripes on the upper hull are fading, getting a white chalky look to them.

Is that chalkiness Oxidation ITSELF, the black part; or is it oxidation from the white above, that's running down onto the black? (Because it'll affect what method I use to clean it off.)
To clean, do you recommend a buffer, like McGuires, slight grit, then a polishing compound? Or just something like Barkeeper's Friend http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/
Or Windex and Pledge?

I note that the black striping below the rubber line (lower hull) is still perfect. That's why I was wondering if it was run-down from the white above.

I'm worried that if I use a (small grit) cleaning compound, even freom a good company like McGuires, that it'll scratch it. But then I wonder if it's a good idea to use NU FINISH to make it pretty again.

Thank you'

[yukonbob]

Pretty sure its the black oxidizing. The black stripes below the rub rail are decals. I really like Nu Finish but I didn't enjoy trying to get it out of the checkering. Different products have been discussed many times and this IMO is just a regular maintenance issue; that is unless you decide to paint them. I try and give them a good power buffing with a good marine wax every other year to bring them back to life; I suppose you could pledge them for a really shiny very temporary easy solution though. I just try and keep them wet

[boaterjen]

You do the power buffing with the marine wax ... without removing the oxidation first? Or after?

[paul I]

Pretty sure its the black oxidizing. The black stripes below the rub rail are decals.

Im pretty sure on my those stripes are black gelcoat. Did they change this after 2000?

[boaterjen]

Yes, they're all black gelcoat. The only decal on there is the boat name that I put on.

But I'm asking about a way to restore the black lines on deck to their original beauty?

If I use a cut n polish, it doesn't seem to actually polish to a bright sheen.

Ideas?

[Azzarac]

Maine Sail posted an awesome "how to" manual on sailnet that covers everything you will ever want to know on wax and polish. You can find it here:
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-main ... h-wax.html

I've used his method for the last couple years and the finish just keeps getting better.
Once you have the stripe cleaned up you can keep it looking good for the rest of the year by applying NewGlass2 per manufacturer instructions. I love the finish it gives.

[Tomfoolery]

Maine Sail posted an awesome "how to" manual on sailnet that covers everything you will ever want to know on wax and polish. You can find it here:
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-main ... h-wax.html

I've used his method for the last couple years and the finish just keeps getting better.
Once you have the stripe cleaned up you can keep it looking good for the rest of the year by applying NewGlass2 per manufacturer instructions. I love the finish it gives.

Fixt link.

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-main ... h-wax.html

[yukonbob]

You do the power buffing with the marine wax ... without removing the oxidation first? Or after?

3M makes a three stage oxidation remover that I tried once. Lasted about as long as a regular wax and good buffing. The oxidation removers are basically liquid sandpaper and chemicals. You have to watch as the black will 'bleed' into the white, it's not permanent but a real PITA to get the grey haze out of the white after. I assume the remover is stripping pieces of black gel coat and re-embeding them into the white. This would also make me weary about doing an oxidation remover every year as it is rumoured the gel coats on our boats can be a little on the thin side. Like i mentioned I did the 3M three stage one year an by the end of the season it looked a little better than normal, but no where near new and shiny, so now just some good quality marine wax at the beginning and sometimes a touch up in the slip if it's nice and I feel like doing it. You could check out sealers like Vertglass or paint it (I believe the thread was on topside paint)

Pretty sure its the black oxidizing. The black stripes below the rub rail are decals.

Im pretty sure on my those stripes are black gelcoat. Did they change this after 2000?

I'd have to go out and check. I have three stripes below the rub rail two for sure are decals as they are a tell tale for BWY outfitted boats.

[Azzarac]

Thanks Tom,
I didn't notice the link abbreviated when I pasted it.

[NiceAft]

You can follow any of the recommendations above and temporarily solve the problem. After eight seasons of waxing, polishing, & compounding, I just painted the d@mn things It has been two years, and I have not done anything to them. I am happy I'm sure that at some time I will have to do something, but for now, two years and counting.

Ray

[yukonbob]

You can follow any of the recommendations above and temporarily solve the problem. After eight seasons of waxing, polishing, & compounding, I just painted the d@mn things It has been two years, and I have not done anything to them. I am happy I'm sure that at some time I will have to do something, but for now, two years and counting.

Ray

Did you spray or roll? How did it turn out? I've been throwing that around as well. The Vertglass scares me in that if it started to deteriorate; how hard would it be to remove and re-do. Paint seems like the way to go.

[NiceAft]

I brushed.

Because I used a high gloss paint, I did not paint the walkway area between the windows. You can see a difference in the shade of black. The paint is a much deeper black.

Because I used a brush, and due to the high gloss, up close you can see brush stroke. The paint came out so black and shiny, I do not care. You have to be up close to see it. If anyone makes a disparaging word about it; I just have to tell them that they are too anal, don't come aboard.

Ray

[yukonbob]

Did you try the checkering at all or at least a small test patch? I think I'd thin it out a bit and do a bunch of coats and go right over the checkering until it looked good or started filling them in too much. What brand paint did you use? It's not a this season project but maybe next year.

[NiceAft]

I knew you were going to ask the which paint question. I can let you know later because I don't remember.

As to the painting the checkered area, I just don't think painting the area is worth it. The slight difference in color is not a problem.

Ray

[NiceAft]

OK Bob,

Here is the information on the paint I used.

Black, Benjamin Moore Impervex latex high gloss enamel.

In anticipation of you wanting a photograph of the two year old painted windows, I hope to remove the winter tarp soon. Another snow storm tomorrow. I'm sure that a spring snow is nothing new for the Yukon, but for here, it's just not common. It happens, but..................

Ray