In this publication7 photos · 3 videos
Straight after sanding I turned to the topsides. They need protection from both the marine environment and UV. Three steps:
— prepare the surface with cleaner
— polish
— apply wax, optionally
Arriving early, I diluted Hempel Pre-Clean 1:20 with water: three batches of 100ml in two litres. It behaved rather like Fairy: foamed, dried quickly, cleaned and degreased well. Photos 1–3.
Then polishing. Not knowing which pads would work best, I’d bought five each of foam, felt and wool for the sander. All proved useful: foam to apply Hempel Custom Marine Polish, felt to work it in, wool to finish. The gelcoat gained a mirror shine; ingrained streaks vanished. About half a bottle of polish and three pads of each kind. Photos 4–6.
Yachtcare Boat Wax left me puzzled. I tried applying it with a foam pad. It used so little that the tin might last ten years. I got an opaque white layer with circular marks, then worked it with wool pads. Either I rubbed the wax in or took it off and polished the yacht some more. I’m not sure I’ll bother next year. Photos 7–10.
There were mishaps. After a day with the sander, your arms buzz. While waxing, my forearm cramped a couple of times. The finale was the stepladder slipping from under me. I caught the gunwale with my right hand, still holding the running machine in my left, then dropped onto my knees and fell sideways. That was 8 March. It’s now 1 April, and my right shoulder still hurts. After a hard day’s work, slow down and take care.
#maintenance
— prepare the surface with cleaner
— polish
— apply wax, optionally
Arriving early, I diluted Hempel Pre-Clean 1:20 with water: three batches of 100ml in two litres. It behaved rather like Fairy: foamed, dried quickly, cleaned and degreased well. Photos 1–3.
Then polishing. Not knowing which pads would work best, I’d bought five each of foam, felt and wool for the sander. All proved useful: foam to apply Hempel Custom Marine Polish, felt to work it in, wool to finish. The gelcoat gained a mirror shine; ingrained streaks vanished. About half a bottle of polish and three pads of each kind. Photos 4–6.
Yachtcare Boat Wax left me puzzled. I tried applying it with a foam pad. It used so little that the tin might last ten years. I got an opaque white layer with circular marks, then worked it with wool pads. Either I rubbed the wax in or took it off and polished the yacht some more. I’m not sure I’ll bother next year. Photos 7–10.
There were mishaps. After a day with the sander, your arms buzz. While waxing, my forearm cramped a couple of times. The finale was the stepladder slipping from under me. I caught the gunwale with my right hand, still holding the running machine in my left, then dropped onto my knees and fell sideways. That was 8 March. It’s now 1 April, and my right shoulder still hurts. After a hard day’s work, slow down and take care.
#maintenance
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