Removing Scratches from Hull

[mdownesx]

I just bought a used 2012 Yamaha Ar 240 that has a decent amount of dock scratches on it. The hull is red and the scratches are all showing up white. They are not very deep - when I get a chance I will take a picture and post it. Anyway, I was wondering how to remove them. I watched a video that said to use 1500 grit sandpaper and sand it. Then they use a 3M Marine High Gloss gelcoat followed by a 3M Marine Finesse-It II Glaze. The problem is that gelcoat comes in 1 gallon containers. Are there alternatives to using this gelcoat like maybe a maguire's wax or are they two separate products? Any other ideas on fixing this?

Here is a link to a the pictures:
https://1drv.ms/f/s!ArwSJ6-XE4-f1Vs75u8ugzXMZ_CT

 

[McMark]

I would just try buffing it first. You'll find most of it comes out just with a buff.

 

[mdownesx]

I tried buffing with a Maguire's compound and I also tried a clay bar. It just left the surrounding areas shiny.

 

[Joe Hellaby]

I had good luck with this product with a wool pad and machine applied https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00029CYRG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Then I followed up with a polish/wax

The heavier compounds, like the one linked above act like a fine wet sand when applied

 

[GTBRMC]

I just went through this exercise as I prepped my boat for sale. My boat had a number of scratches in the blue gelcoat - some from normal bumps, most from a rough buoy shackle and an unforcasted small craft advisory overnight a couple years ago.

As @McMark mentioned, most of it buffed out. I first tried hand buffing with normal rubbing compound - did no good at all. So, I got serious and bought the following:

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWP84...qid=1502482042&sr=1-1&keywords=DEWALT+DWP849X
https://www.amazon.com/3M-05711-Compounding-Single-Sided/dp/B000KSTFHQ
https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW498...=DEWALT+DW4985CL+Wool+Buffing+Pad+and+Backing
https://www.amazon.com/3M-MARINE-RU...r=8-1-spons&keywords=3m+marine+compound&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/3M-MARINE-FI...&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=3M+35928+Finesse-it+II

Used the 3M Marine Rubbing Compound with the power polisher and heavy wool pad per instructions and with insight gained from JBN and YouTube. Followed up with 3M Finesse-it II Marine Glaze and polishing pad using power polisher, using similarly learned techniques.

Then I hit it with a quick blast of Hot Sauce, intending to do full wax job when I returned from vacation. Boat is pending sale as of today - deal struck while on vacation, so never got to the full wax stage.

Very, very pleased with the results. Most marks came right out.

A couple scratches did not, so I wet-sanded, then compounded, then polished those.

It WAS a good workout, but was not difficult.

Note: Edited to clean up links.

 

[mdownesx]

@GTBRMC thanks for the detailed post. So I was able to put a link to the pictures. Your description I think fits my situation. So I cheaped out by buying a medium angle polisher like the DeWalt one you mentioned along with buffing and wool pads. Yes, I got them from Harbor Freight. However, I tried using Meguir's Ultra-Cut Compound and then the Dual Action Cleaner/Polisher. Needless to say, this did not work. I am wondering if your 3M product is what will make the difference.

However, I wanted to ask you when you wet sanded it, then compound and polish would that be sufficient? The one video I watched the person applied 3M High Gloss gelcoat so I did not know if that has something in it that is better than regular compound? Also, what grit sand paper did you use?

 

[GTBRMC]

@GTBRMC thanks for the detailed post. So I was able to put a link to the pictures. Your description I think fits my situation. So I cheaped out by buying a medium angle polisher like the DeWalt one you mentioned along with buffing and wool pads. Yes, I got them from Harbor Freight. However, I tried using Meguir's Ultra-Cut Compound and then the Dual Action Cleaner/Polisher. Needless to say, this did not work. I am wondering if your 3M product is what will make the difference.

However, I wanted to ask you when you wet sanded it, then compound and polish would that be sufficient? The one video I watched the person applied 3M High Gloss gelcoat so I did not know if that has something in it that is better than regular compound? Also, what grit sand paper did you use?

I started with 600-something grit then moved to 1500 grit. Then compounded. I found this worked well for my purposes.

I did buy some Spectrum paste color-matched gelcoat in case I needed it, but ended up not needing it.

Only if your scratches are all the way through your gelcoat do you need to add more gelcoat before sanding down, then compounding, then polishing. Unless you are absolutely sure you have scratched all the way through your gelcoat, I suggest you try buffing it out first. If that does not work, you can always add gelcoat as a next step. As you will need compounding and polishing tools & supplies with or without gelcoat paste, you may as well try buffing out first to see if it satisfactorily solves your issue.

Good luck and let us know what path you choose and how it works out.

 

[BlackandTan]

I just repaired a small scrape/gash, and wet sanded the spectra color paste. My final step was using Meguire's marine cleaner wax, which has a very mild compound. I probably did about 10 coats of this and it came out perfect. Might be a good last step for you. Good luck!

 

[mdownesx]

@BlackandTan when you say spectra color paste what do you mean? I did contact 3M to ask about their different compound because I wanted to know how they may be different than say Meguire's. They said that marine compounds are just more aggressive than auto type compounds. I know Meguire's make auto and marine compounds so I think the compounds I first tried using were not aggressive enough. So as most have said I am going to buy the marine compounds and as a last resort use wet sanding to get the job done.

In case anyone was wondering, 3M gave me the below lost of compounds that they make:
Starting from Most Aggressive to least

3M™ Premium Mold and Tooling Compound (PN 06027)

3M™ Super Duty Rubbing Compound (PN 09004, 09954 or 05955)

3M™ Marine High Gloss Gelcoat Compound (PN 06024 or 06025)

3M™ Marine Fiberglass Restorer and Wax (PN 09005, 09006, 09007 or 09012)

3M Perfect-It Heavy Cutting Compound

3M™ Imperial™/Marine Compound and Finishing Material (PN 06044 or 06045)

3M Perfect-it Medium Cutting Compound

3M™ Marine Fiberglass Cleaner and Wax (PN 09009, 09010, 09011).


I think you can also find comparable marine products in other brands but I just thought I would share that since I am doing all this research.

 

[Bill D]

Spectrum Color Match Paste is a gel coat filler product, not a compound or polish.

http://www.iboats.com/Yamaha-Gel-Coat/dm/cart_id.608256483--session_id.518809855--view_id.823623