I need some guidance. I have a Nitro 882 bought new in 2005. As expected, it started showing signs of oxidation that got bad enough that I decided to try to do something about it. I watched several videos and got the confidence to start the project. I bought a "kit" containing oxidation remover, polish, and wax. I also found a product from Jamestown Distributors that is called a de-waxer/de-greaser which cost about $25. It's actually generically called "toulene" that you can get at the hardware store for $10. After thoroughly wiping the boat down (use rubber gloves as toulene is very caustic) I wet sanded the entire top of the boat with 3 different grades of sandpaper, 600/1000/1500 grit followed by the application of oxidation remover, polish, and wax. A lot of work but turned out looking great. But wait---2/3 days later a dullness appeared similar, but not exactly like the oxidation I was trying to remove. It's hard to describe but imagine the boat hull was a glass bottle and you blew smoke into it and took a still photo. In any event, the bright shiny surface I was trying to restore was gone again. Now, if I wax it or wipe it down with BTS or a similar hull protectant the "smoke" disappears but only for a day or two then it's back.

Where I need guidance is did I permanently damage the gelcoat by being too aggressive with the wet sanding etc. or, because I was fearful of doing just that, was I not aggressive enough and, therefore, didn't actually remove all the initial oxidation?

I'm happy to go through the process again if needed but I don't want make matters worse if that is not the right thing to do.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

The toluene may have etched the gel coat.  Most of those stronger solvents will do that, though some take longer than others.  You've got to time it right so that it doesn't stay on too long.  It may also be sanding marks from the sandpaper.  1500 grit isn't high enough for a mirror shine.  Since the cloudiness goes away when wet, I'm assuming it's not more oxidation.  It's hard to say without seeing it in person.

 

Either way, I'd probably keep sanding, this time wet sand it with 3000 grit and then 6000 grit, followed by a polish with a polishing compound and a buffer wheel.  That ought to get the shine back.  

 

i dont know the details, but my brother made his very old boat look almost new with a product from Chemical Brothers.  

Darker color gel coats may need to be polished to achieve the luster you are looking for. 

3M has several marine gel coat polish grades available that require buffing.

Not sure if the base color coat wasn’t damaged by the toluene chemical treatment. Polishing should bring back the luster.

Tom

I agree with others, putting strong chemicals on gel coat is not a very good thing to do.

Once word of caution, be careful on how much you sand if it has metal flake.  The clear gel coat over metal flake is fairly thin and if you sand through it, every little flake you hit is going to take the color off and will be a silver.

Also, once you go through the clear, the finish deteriorates in a hurry, starts getting a roughness to it and will never stay smooth and shinney.  

With caution in mind you didn’t get all of the oxidation off.  That’s why the haze returned.  You are threading a fine line to get all the oxidation off and not all of the clear coat.  Start again with a system like offered from Pro Tec.