[alberg30] polishing the hull

[Jack Vanderloo]

Joe,
Let me add a little to what Lee has said in terms of making the polishing process
a tittle easier.
Can't recall where I read it but there's a neat rig you can set up to take the
weight off the polisher.  Works as follows:
Need two blocks that one can lash to any place along the rigged lifelines and
that can thus be moved fore and aft at will.  Reeve a line up from the polisher
to the first block to the second block and then attach an appropriately padded
counterweight equal (roughly) to the weight of the polisher.  Evidently, it takes
all the strain off the process of holding and moving the polisher over a fairly
large area of the topsides.  Move and retie the blocks fore or aft when moving to
the next section of the topsides.
FWIW.
Jack
KC 641

finnus505 at aol.com wrote:

> 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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