Fiberglass Repairs - Four winns SL Series Owner's Manual

1. Avoid working in direct sunlight. This dries out the
wax or compound, and can stain the surface.
2. Use clean pads or cloths to apply a thin coat ing
of wax or rubbing com pound to a small area such
as three feet by three feet. Re move any ex cess,
and then rub the area with a buffing pad, or
power buffer. Apply pres sure only as necessary
to restore the surface finish. Applying too much
pressure or buffing in one place too long can
per manently dam age the surface.
3. After applying compound, always follow with
waxing.
NOTICE
If using a power buffer, use a low RPM buffer
with light pressure. Keep the pad wet and
the buffer moving at all times to prevent heat
build up.
NOTICE
When sanding, DO NOT use a power or belt
sander to prevent gouges, uneven areas, or
other damage. For best re sults, block sand the
gel coat.
C. Stains
Stains can appear anywhere on the exterior of the
boat and may be a result of contact with tar, plant sap,
leaves, rust from metal fittings, and other materials.
Surface stains may be removed with hand dishwash-
ing soap, mild cleansers, or some house hold deter-
gents. DO NOT use chlorine or ammo nia products.
These products can affect the color of gel coat.
Commercial car washes use strong cleaners and
should be avoided.
To remove stains, refer to the procedures below.
1. Wash area with hand dishwashing soap.
2. Begin with a small area such as three feet by three
feet and apply a mild cleanser.
3. Rinse with clean water.
4. Follow with compound and waxing as out lined in
procedure above.
If the stain is not removed by the hand dishwash ing
soap or mild cleanser, then the next proce dure is to
Fiberglass and Hull - Section P
use either denatured or rubbing alco hol. If this does
not work, consult your Four Winns dealer for profes-
sional assistance.
NOTICE
DO NOT use acetone, ketone, or other
solvents to remove stains. These chemi cals
are flammable and may damage the gel coat.
P - 5

FIBERGLASS REPAIRS

Fiberglass is one of the most durable, strong, and
forgiving construction materials afloat. It is resil ient
and normal repairs can be made without affecting
the strength or structural integrity of the boat.
Stri king docks, oth er boats, or sub me rged
ob jects could cre ate a very haz ard ous situ-
ation or se vere ly dam age the fiber glass. In the
event an ob ject is struck be low or near the
wat erl ine, pro ceed directly and cautiously to
the near est service facility and remove the
boat from the water. Closely inspect the hull
for dam age. If the outer fiberglass lami nate
was penetrated, repairs must be made prior
to relaunch.
Occasionally, blisters, crazing, scratches, or dam age
to the fiberglass can occur. Repairs may be necessary
to correct the problem.
A. Scratches
Scratches occur during normal use. Below is a step
by step procedure to repair scratches.
1. Clean area with soap and water.
2. Apply a fine rubbing compound and buff.
3. Wax. If this does not work, clean the area and
sand lightly with 400 to 600 wet or dry sandpaper
and follow with rubbing compound and wax.
B. Gouges & Cracks
Stress cracks and crazing are the appearance of
hairline cracks in the gel coat surface. When present,
these problems usually occur in the gel coat finish or
the outer "skin coat" fiberglass laminate. The appear-
ance of these cracks does not pose a threat to the
Owner's Manual Page 118