Quote: So here is the deal. I just tried to RPM/ZEP my fiberglass Gelcoated boat. It does nothing to effect the oxidation/discoloration. Zero, Zip, nada. It never will.
I havent read any posts glorifying it's use on boats. Nor have they been about correcting the degradation of the gelcoat itself. They just rave about how shiny it is afterwards, and it is. Because it puts a clear coat on top, and since pretty much all rv's are light colored it works very well. As far as I can tell, you are mixing apples and oranges.
You mentioned the boat was dark blue. I've restored many a boat, and dark blue and red are the worst gelcoats to try and bring back. What you want is Color Back. You can get it at boat stores. It tries to allow oils to seep back into the gelcoat and bring the color back out. If it doesnt work, then you are stuck with re-gelcoating, painting or buffing till your arms fall off. Buffing with color back works as well.
Well, I put the Red Max on a black "painted" section and it completely transformed it . Because of my improper prep the first time I removed it (quite easily) and redid it. It came out beautiful !!!
Dave & Brenda
Shadow (Sheltie), and Zoe (Shih Tzu)Faithful Companions
2008 Itasca Sunrise 35L
I havent read any posts glorifying it's use on boats. Nor have they been about correcting the degradation of the gelcoat itself. They just rave about how shiny it is afterwards, and it is. Because it puts a clear coat on top, and since pretty much all rv's are light colored it works very well. As far as I can tell, you are mixing apples and oranges.
Is there a difference between gelcoat on boats as opposed to the gelcoat on RVs? I assumed its pretty much the same thing, which is why I dare bring it up on an RV sight.
Dave
The Flying Fortress
FMCA F298817
'83 Revcon Prince 31' FWD
502 w/Howell/GM 16197427 ECM/Edelbrock MPFI,Thorley's & Magnaflows,
4L85E 4 speed, KoniFSD,
6% grade = wanna drag? MISC photos Revconeers Forum
Every set of instructions I've read regarding the use of RMP, ZEP, Poliglow, or any other similar acrylic surface finish, stresses the importance of removing any and all discoloration or staining prior to application. Various methods are usually given for removing the stains or discoloration, but the bottom line is that they must be removed by what ever method works. Acrylic finishes will not restore color, nor are they promoted as doing so. Don't blame a shiny clear finish for letting whatever is under it show through, that's what it's supposed to do.
There must be something unique in your situation, maybe the amount of oxidation or the color difference. I used the RMP on my front/rear caps of the rv, and also on my boat. I used the same prep with bar keepers friend. The boat was dull white just like the RV caps. Got good results on the RV and the Boat. The boat still shines 1 year later with use in salt water.
The bar keepers friend did remove a lot of chaulk type material, and the fiberglass was smooth and dull when I finished with the bar keeper's friend.
Fred
Fred & Vicki
Richmond Hill, Ga
2000 Holiday Rambler Endeavor/Freightliner/330 Cat
2000 Honda Odyssey toad w SMI Silent Partner braking system
Tire Sentry monitoring system
My rig was 15 years old and had been sitting in the sun most of the time when I got it. After trying, without success, all kinds of oxidation cleaners, I buffed the whole rig using orange hand cleaner with a 10" Milwaukie angle buffer. Took off all the oxidation.
Last year (rig 19 years old), in preparation for Red Max Pro, I did another power buffing. The buffing was much easier and 4 coats of Red Max Pro, with stripper, was applied following the directions. As I said in an earlier post, the rig looks like it jut came off the showroom floor.
Sorry there Daveinet, but I don't by your story one bit. I'm guessing that your boat was way past the point of "No Return" on its "Terriblely Faded", "Oxidation Condition" in the first place/
As mentioned, its all in the "Prep Work" And I sure don't by your explantions about "Dark Colors" either.
Our Motorhome is 13 years old, and until we bought it, hhas alwasy been stored outside in the weather. Our Motorhome is White/Med Blue. The Blue Colors came out jjust as good as the White Did, and maaybe even a bit shinner, and even more Debth to it.
I have seen first hand some boats, that I doubt that anything would work on them, except for a Brand New Paint Job. Anything that is left to go into that bad of condition, is probably well past any help at all, except for a new Paint Job.
There have been an awlful lot of Pictures Posted here, with before and after pictures. There has only been one real complaint beside yours, that I remember of hand. And that person even admitted that he didn't do a very good "Prep Jon" on his RV. He also re-did his, and he said it came out Fantastic Lookiing after he did the Prep Work Correctly.
Way to many of us have seen the same "Fantastic Results" from using RMP #3, and using the correct "Prep Work".
I believe your Boat was just pass the point of no return. You can only rub out any paint job just so much, until there isn't anything left to work with.
I doubt that you will find to many RMP #3 User that are going to agree with your statements. So "Yours, is "Not" the Final Word.
We are "Extreamly Pleased", with the results that we got from usiing RMP #3. We would do it again in a Heart Beat
I might be just guessing, but I have seen boats made before, & that Gelcoat your talking about, is the first step in building a fiberglass boat.
By reading your post, that gelcoat is ruined & nothing you put on it will make it come back.
You would probably have to remove the gelcoat down to the paint colors of the boat & then use a clear coat of some kind to bring the deep paint colors back.
Now far as the RMP or ZEP repairing that ruined gelcoat, probably the best you would get is that shine you were saying you were getting.
All of us that have used the RMP, all we were after was to return the shine back to our faded out clear coat or paint jobs.
I'm not clear on the top finish, but I think theres a difference in that boat gelcoat & the clear coat paint on our m/hs, I could stand corrected though.
Sounds like you were doing everything right, just something the RMP or ZEP cant fix.
Neil
* This post was
edited 04/25/12 08:34am by C-Leigh Racing *
C-Leigh Racing wrote: I'm not clear on the top finish, but I think theres a difference in that boat gelcoat & the clear coat paint on out m/hs, I could stand corrected though.
Fiberglass, no matter whether on a boat or RV, had a final "Gelcoat" coating. Even the Corvette came with Gelcoat. Full body paint with clear coat in the RV industry is only a recent offering as far a I know.
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