The never-ending project to fill my hole in the ocean while bailing it out

Preparing for Sailing Season '08
Back to Polish and Wax Instead

Description

Ah, much better!  I spent most of today hand-polishing and waxing Chip Ahoy's hull.  The new polish brought back the finish shine to the bow area.  The port side still needs to be waxed, but I was running out of time and shoulder-power by early evening.  (May 11, 2008)

Compare to Poli Glow finish

It began with just trying to remove the dull Poli Glow.  But when I had the bow down to just paint again, the comparison with the cleaned but untreated paint on the rest of the hull was noticeable, the bow looked better.  I decided the entire hull needed to be polished, then waxed.  I used a new bottle of West Marine Premium Boat Polish with/PTEF, hand-applied to both sides and the transom.

For Closeup Detail See:
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I began in the morning with the starboard side, the shaded side  until midday.  After polishing, I waxed the hull with Meguiar's Flagship Premium Marine Wax.  I've had good results for years using its One-Step Cleaner Wax, so thought I'd try its top-of-the-line wax and picked up a pint bottle.  The results are great!  I'll apply a coat to the transom and port side before I'm done.  The port side is shaded from mid-afternoon on; I ran out of time and energy today.

For Closeup Detail See:
[Large JPG file]

The Poli Glow worked well on the cabin bulkhead around the companionway, where the treatment was applied over dull oxidized gelcoat.  (See "before treatment" photo above for a comparison.)

A view from the starboard side.  Still, I'll likely use the reliable polish-and-wax method for the remainder of the cockpit and coaming, cabin trunk, and toe rail.  Time has run out for experimentation; at this point I just want to get Chip Ahoy done and in the water!  (May 11, 2008)

The first thing this morning, under gray sky and temperature in the mid-40s, I finished waxing Chip Ahoy's starboard hull and transom.  When the sun tried to break through the cloud cover this afternoon I took these photos.  (May 12, 2008)

For Closeup Detail See:
[Large JPG file]

I noticed as I moved along with the wax that it made a subtle improvement over the polished hull, visible under close scrutiny:  The wax not only made the finish shinier but the color a bit brighter.

The hull is done and I'm satisfied with the outcome.

The oxidized cabin trunk and cockpit gelcoat still need polishing and wax.  Then I can move on with other little jobs to prepare Chip Ahoy for launch.  (May 12, 2008)

For Closeup Detail See:
[Large JPG file]

Today I began polishing and waxing the dull cockpit.  (May 14, 2008)

I completed from the seats to the coaming top all around.  Below the seats to the cockpit sole can wait until Chip Ahoy is on its mooring.  The result is a good improvement, but the Poli Glow finish on the cabin bulkhead is superior.  Next year I'll  use the Poli Glow treatment all around.  I'll move on next to the outside forward to the front of the cabin trunk.

Yesterday I began trying to shine up the gelcoat around the deck, but it was pretty flat and dead-looking; very oxidized.  (May 18, 2008)

Using the same combination as on the hull -- first hand-polishing with West Marine Premium Boat Polish, then applying a coat of Meguiar's Flagship Premium Marine Wax by hand -- it came back to life a bit.  Working around the hardware and windows was intricate and slow-going.  The black from dried-out window gaskets kept coming off whenever touched and smearing into the gelcoat, requiring cautious and detailed application of polish and wax to avoid touching.  Though the windows have never appeared to leak, replacing those gaskets will be at the top of next year's To-Do list!

The cabin's forward trunk was more of the same:  Oxidized, flat, and near dead.  I didn't give much hope to getting any shine from it.

Even the polish didn't help a whole lot, but a coat of wax brought it back from the grave.  It's not where I'd prefer it to be, but will do -- I have to keep reminding myself that it is after all a 34-year old boat.  This gelcoat is a definite candidate for Poli Glow, next season.

Chip Ahoy, polished, waxed, and in one area Poli Glowed.  This time-intensive job is done at last.  Overall, I'm very satisfied with the outcome.  The cabin still needs to be cleaned before I can load equipment and amenities, batteries and Porta Potti aboard, but I've moved on to inspecting and readying the mast next.  (May 18, 2008)

For Closeup Detail See:
[Large JPG file]