started wetsanding today....need help

[04Gravity]

First problem...My boat is yellow..lol

Anyways I removed the stripes and started wetsanding with 3M 800 grit wet paper. After a whole lot of elbow grease I can still clearly see where the stripes were. Do I need to go to a coarser grit? The 800 just doesnt seem to do much of anything to it.

[JONBLARC7]

It will get lighter as you finish the process. If it were me I would try a small area where the strip is and use all the steps on that area to see it goes away. If not try going to 600 but I still would be alittle hesitent.

[Okie Boarder]

I agree. Pick a 2' square area and do all the other polishing steps and see if you can get rid of it. I'd do one more pass of the 800 if it doesn't before I'd go to 600. 600 will take of a fair amount of material and then you'll still want to do another pass with 800 or 1000 to smooth it for the first compound step.

[04Gravity]

Just completed a small area with all steps. Its still fairly noticeable. I am a bit hesitant about using the 600, maybe ill just use it on the edges of the old stripe lines to try and feather it out so its not so eye catching

[87SunSportMikeyD]

I would give skiers choice a call they could maybe advise you. I was told gelcoats are pretty thick and if you use too fine of grit you will just waste time and your arm.

[ngavchris]

Call Donny with Bennett Boat Repair. Open Mon. - Thurs.

[87SunSportMikeyD]

Search wakeworld, wetsanding is totally easy DIY and common.

[04Gravity]

Thanks but I think it would be very unnecessary to drive 14 hours to TN to have it rubbed out.



Donny's number is 865-982-9589. He brought mine back to life.

The other day when I was up there, Mastercraft brought him one that was only two years old. The boat was red originally and had turned pink over time. Mastercraft couldn't find somebody local to fix it, so they shipped it from Texas to Donny to repair. It was also metal flake. He is a miracle worker!

[ngavchris]

I wasn't telling you to take it to him. You were asking questions and he has the answers. Pick up the old telephone and call him. If it is so easy why would Mastercraft ship a boat halfway across the country for repair? Because the local dealer tried to repair it and screwed it all up. When he is done with it it will be perfect. Why would your 04 need to be rubbed out? Seems a little early for that new of a boat. Good luck.

[04Gravity]

My boat is a 92 Comp. 04 Gravity is just a dream. lol

[Salty87]

i wouldn't worry about a shadow too much. it will fade like the rest of the gel has eventually.

i've never tried to buff yellow gel, my blue buffed out pretty good. different colors can wear differently.

[ngavchris]

04 Gravity
That makes sense.

[04Gravity]

I bought some 3m Super duty rubbing compound and used that this morning. still had absolutely no effect. It shines really nice but its still very noticeable where the stripes were. grrr. Thinking about having the center section repainted. Do you guys have a ballpark of how much that might cost? Or maybe Ill just get new stripes for it in black (The original ones were PURPLE) It looked terrible

[sybrmike]

Last year my buddy got an estimate to re-gelcoat the wide color band below and thin molded stripe above the rubrail on his old Sunsport. I think it was around $2k. Included wet sanding to get to the true color for matching, repair minor dings & chips, spray the gelcoat, wet sand, and polish the entire hull. More area than your comp, but not cheap by any means. Painting is easier & therefore cheaper. From my experience back in the old jet boat days, a good automotive style paint job can look a lot better than gelcoat out of the booth, but doesn't hold up to the abuse of boating as well as gel coat.

He ended up just wet sanding, DIY repairs, & polish. Looked pretty good, especially once it was on the water. Spent the paint money on a tower - much better investment.

[04Gravity]

This is after wetsanding with 600, then 1000, then 3M superduty compound, then 3M finesse it. Old stripe lines are still incredibly noticeable. Ugh

[04Gravity]

This is the boat. Pretty sweet deal for $6500. Only 440 hours.

[04Gravity]

Another Pic

[beast 496]

why would you waste your time wet sanding in the first place? I always start out dry sanding with at least 600 or sometimes even 400 5" DA. sand one layer at a time gradually ending up with 800 dry. If the Gel is to oxidized you will have to sand and respray and then work out. Yellow is very difficult to work with. Are you going to replace the graphics? Wet sanding is very messy and difficult to see where you have sanded. Between differant coarses I use a marking compound or powder to see where you have sanded and how deep. these can be bought at any 3M supplier. Al

[87SunSportMikeyD]

Nice looking boat.

Your issue is you are spending too much time w/ rubbing compound and fine sand. Before you do that you need to start with rougher sand until the shadows are gone, and then do 1000 and buff again.

I would also look at beasts advise it looks good for more stubborn spots like you have.

[04Gravity]

Nice looking boat.

Your issue is you are spending too much time w/ rubbing compound and fine sand. Before you do that you need to start with rougher sand until the shadows are gone, and then do 1000 and buff again.

I would also look at beasts advise it looks good for more stubborn spots like you have.

Rougher than 600???

[87SunSportMikeyD]

Well personally I have not had to go lower than 800. But it took forever, so I probably should have gone a lil rougher.

Maybe spend more time with the 600 just in the shadowed spot. The shadowed spot is how it all should look.

[04Gravity]

Im to the point now where I am burning through the gelcoat. Just started noticing some dark spots in the areas that Ive sanded a lot.

Think Im going to have it painted.

[c43amg]

I do this for a living, I start dry with 220 on a 5" da then 400 still dry on the da then right to 2000 wet with a da. then I use presta compound, its much better and alot cheaper than 3m.
But remember I do this for a living and know what Im going to get away with, from what I remember on my supra (sold it) the gel was kinda crappy and paper thin so you might be better off putting the stickers back on or just leaving it alone.