Make it shine, baby...

[phenom_1819]

I began an impulse project today...wet-sanding the hull of my Epic.  Since the previous owner used it 2x a weekend, and always used it on a trailer, there were long, deep scratches on the hull from the boat sliding along the trailer bunks when loading, and some deeper scratches (likely from beaching the boat?).

So...here's where I'm at.  I wet-sanded, and the hull looks awesome... all the scratches came out, which I was VERY surprised about...  Was very easy.

Now, I'm wondering what the next steps might be? I tried using rubbing compound to bring the gloss back, but I wonder if that is too gritty. Maybe I should be using polishing compound and an orbital buffer or something.  

Any ideas?  

[phenom_1819]

Nevermind. I'm going to answer my own question...after reading up on wakeworld.  Maybe it is helpful to somebody?

1.  Go over with some 600-1000 grit sandpaper, keeping as wet as possible.
2.  Follow up with about 1300-1500 grit, still as wet as possible.
3.  The final sanding step: go over with about 1600-2000 grit sandpaper, wet.
4.  Wash the hull thorougly.
5.  Use an orbital polisher and some marine polishing compound, supposedly should buff out right away, back to original condition.

If anybody has any input on my project, let me know. Otherwise, I'll update the site on how it turns out.  So far, looking pretty damn good...but I'm only at step 1. Taken me about 2 hours so far, to only do from the deepest part of the V forward.

[toyotafreak]

How high up are you going, Cal? Would you do this on the topside of the hull too?

We have accumulated a few scratches over the past year, and one nasty one in particular when I slipped with a screwdriver replacing tower mounting screws. That one was bad because the gelcoat it scratched was only like two weeks old ;-(

And Cal, you're so not posting enough pictures. Put down the sandpaper and break out the camera. Get your priorities straight.


Post some pictures so Cyclone will come out and play with us.

[phenom_1819]

I sanded the underwater part of the hull, up to the bow eye in the front and to the chine on the sides...and have only done the port side of the boat so far. I was going to do one side at a time in order to keep the project from seeming too overwhelming.

You could sand the top-side of the boat no problem. I'm amazed at how easily scratches come out. But with where I'm at now, all I've done is replaced the bigger scratches with LOTS of little ones.  That's where steps 2 and 3 come in.  It's just really time consuming.  From what I've read, the gelcoat comes out looking like new as long as you're patient.  Do a couple searches on the wakeworld chat site for "wet sanding".  There's actually some pretty good detail, and a link to a Malibu site with pics and stuff.

And you're right -- I owe the site a lot of pictures. The batteries in my camera have been dead for a few weeks, and I'm too lazy to charge it.  I'll try and get around to it in a couple days... I owe you pics of the air bags, the TRD blower...and I owe Jordy one of the Toyota engine.  I'll get some pics of the hull when I'm done also.

[toyotafreak]

Cal, I got pissed on Wakeworld last week and ended up putting this pic together after that dude switched to "..it's not even a real marine engine, that's why Toyota failed in the boat business, etc..."

Off topic and pointless, but cool nevertheless:

[davidgree1]

I have a SX, vdrive and my boat's top speed is 39.5 on a gps.  I have a 4 blade Cutter ss.  Is your speedo calibrated?  What prop do you use?

[toyotafreak]

"Actual" speeds are GPS in a lake. This is with OJ stainless 4-blade 13x13. The stock OJ nibral 13x13 3-blade had an identical top end from what I recall. Full tank, too (47-gallon).

Could it be that the SX is heavier?

[phenom_1819]

Okay, so I finished my wet-sanding project. Was actually really easy...just time consuming. And I've narrowed it down to just a few steps to make it easier.

1) First try using a rubbing compound, followed by 3M Finesse It polishing compound (really expensive, like $18/bottle..but worth it).  If this doesn't fix small scratches, go to step 2.
2) Get a rubber sanding block (the one I used was made by 3M and worked well), and first use 1000 grit sandpaper (you may have to start deeper for really deep scratches).  I picked up the high-grit sandpaper at TAP Plastics (the place saves my butt again). Keep the paper really wet.  You should get all the scratches out with this step.
3) Follow over with a 2000-2500 grit sandpaper (wet, of course) to smooth out the scratches from step 2). I used 2500.  Go over the entire surface really well (focus on small patches), so you don't have to repeat sanding after buffing.
4) Use the Finesse It polishing compound with an orbital waxer/buffer, and go over several times...with a lot of pressure.  You won't believe how the gloss comes right back.
5) Wax when done...Finesse It has no wax in it.  Recommend using the orbital, again, and go over several times...since you're down to fresh gel-coat.

To do this from the keel forward on the bottom of the hull took me about 6 hours total. If I knew the steps above, I could have had the whole thing done in under 4.  It really wasn't difficult.  The hardest part is using the orbital...the vibrations make your arms feel like they're about to fall off, especially since they're up over your head the whole time.

Oh, and I recommend also getting one of those little roll-around cart things that mechanics used. Mine was worth its weight in gold...was like $20 at the local auto parts store.   KEEP YOUR HEAD ON THE PAD or you'll pay in neck pain the next day.

So thats it.  Here is a pic below. This is the starboard side, before doing any work on the hull. Note the scratches in front of the pads from bringing the boat onto the trailer too shallow.

[phenom_1819]

And here is another -- from roughly the same angle...after the sanding work.

[phenom_1819]

And one more from a different angle. There used to be several deep scrapes within 4 inches of the center of the hull, on both sides (the port side was worse, though).  All the scrapes came out...

All's I gots' to say is...these boats have some damn thick gel-coat.

[phenom_1819]

And the last pic.  This is the port side, where there used to be long, deep scratches from beaching the boat...

[lakerats247]

You guys really love your toyotas....

I'm mad at mine at the current moment. Just when I love it it starts running rough again...

[cyclone]

Errr.... well, ahh. I beach my boat all the time on aggregate sandbars. Oh well. I should get a keel protector.

[blindside]

Hey, how do you like your 4 blade ss cutter.  I found a awesome deal at http://www.abcwatersports.com/ for $269 for a stainless 4 blade.

How does it handle and is the pull at wakeboard speeds with ballast consistant.

Brent

[phenom_1819]

Hey Brent, I think you may have posted that on the wrong thread. I have 4 blade, but to be honest, I have no idea what kind it is...whatever the previous owner put on the boat.  Anyway, I'm sure that Derek or Pete (or anybody else) will see your post here, but wondered if you meant to ask somebody in particular?