Start of the season! Now it's not just theBoat technically, but also to make the outer skin look smart again. The biggest enemy of surfaces is UV radiation, which is responsible for the chalking of gelcoat and the weathering of paint layers. This causes small particles of paint or gelcoat to emerge; the paintwork becomes matt and rough, making it easier for dirt particles to adhere to it.
To give such unsightly surfaces a new shine, they need to be treated. There are two types of polishing agents for this:
-Polisheswhich onlylittle from the surface, but fill the holes with components such as wax and form a glossy layer. These products are quick and easy to apply. The disadvantage, however, is that the sealant usually does not last the entire season and the polishing process has to be repeated.
-Professional polisheswhich remove the unevenness with different sized abrasive grains in the liquid or paste. This removes theSurfaces really smooth and shiny again. However, this work requires considerably more time and a final sealant,for example with aWaxis also required. Big advantage: stability throughout the season.
How to do this workright We use polishing products from Sea Line to show you how to do this; we are assisted by machines from Rupes.
As a general rule, the more weathered or rough a surface is, the coarser the polishing must be.Abrasives of the polish.
Between theGrain sizes and the achievable gloss level are directly related (see the table on page 82). In order to achieve the highest possible gloss level, we must therefore gradually switch from a coarse polishing agent to a finer one.
In the case of very heavy weathering, professionals use coarse agents to remove part of the old coating as a first step. The Do-it-yourself polisher should be careful with these pastes, however, so that he does not remove too much of the gelcoat or paint layer - and then, in the worst case, come across laminate or primer!
You can find the full report on "Polishing without streaks" in the current issue of BOOTE, which will be available in stores from 22 March 2017.
