[alberg30] polishing the hull

[finnus505 at aol.com]

Hey Joe,
I am no expert in polishing gelcoat, which is not to say I haven't always 
polished my own boats!!

A friend of mine is an auto body repairman, and he suggested that Mcguires 
car wax is the best on the market, and reccomended it highly. I have used it 
for at least 5 years on the topisides, and have been happy with the results.

I also used an automotive rubbing compound on the chalky areas of the 
gelcoat, with very satisfactory results.  Remember, rubbing compound removes 
material, namely gel coat, so use it only when necessary.

Once we awlgripped the Alberg 22, we stopped using the Mcguires on the 
topsides, because in the manufacturers instructions, they stated very clearly 
that on awlgrip, you should not use regular wax, but use a silicone type wax.

Pay the 250 or do it yourself?  You already have the right electric buffer- 
if you can set up a sturdy work platform around the boat so that once youre 
ready to go, you just have to hold the buffer in place, ie; you dont have to 
reset up a ladder or something every six feet, the job will go fairly easily. 
 It's not like your scraping paint, but just letting the electric buffer do 
the job. Set up your 'scafolding' so your shoulders are at about mid topside 
height, amidships. Depending on how high off the ground your yard set your 
boat, ie; there is a three inch block under your keel, and the boat is held 
by jackstands, vs. the keel is three feet off the ground,  because the cradle 
is set on cinderblocks, you can use upside down 5 gallon cans supporting wide 
planks, or 50 gallon drums. If your boatyard doesn't have those kind's of 
things lying around, (boatyards are getting so neat these days!) then you 
might have to improvise, or even consider letting the yard do the job.  If it 
will cost 150 bucks to rent a scaffold, hardly worth the difference for you 
to do all that work!!!

Its a miserable job, but its not as bad as doing the bottom!!

Good luck,
Lee
Stargazer #255




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