Gelcoat Finish - Chris-Craft 2015 21 Carina Owner's Manual

Storage And Commissioning
Figure 4-2.
Maintaining You Boat's Gelcoat Finish
How-To DVD
Pride of ownership
Owner apathy and the state of a boat's gelcoat go hand in hand. Many owners will accept the chalky
drab exterior of their boats as a fact of life. After all, bright and shiny gelcoat doesn't make a boat sail
any better or catch more fish, so why bother with maintenance? But keep in mind that a great looking
boat will help you "catch" more customers when the time comes to sell your boat. And, like a clean car, a
clean boat just seems to "run better." So now is the time to breath new life in to your boat's gelcoat! But
keep in mind that a great looking boat will help you "catch" more customers when the time comes to sell
your boat. And, like a clean car, a clean boat just seems to "run better." So now is the time to breathe
new life in to your boat's gelcoat!
Gelcoat is the coating sprayed up against a highly polished mold at the beginning of the fiberglass
lay-up process. On new boats, this surface is very smooth, mirror-like and pleasing to the eye. As
gelcoat ages, it becomes porous. The more porous it becomes, the more easily it stains, the worse
it looks and the harder it is to clean. The good news is that almost all Gelcoat can be restored, providing
it is not completely worn through.
Removing gelcoat stains
There are a wide variety of gelcoat stain removers, each of which is formulated to remove a specific
type of stain. When removing a stain, the objective is to eliminate the stain without damaging the
Gelcoat itself. Avoid using strong solvents, such as MEK or acetone, and abrasives such as heavy
rubbing compound or, worse, sandpaper. The best way to minimize Gelcoat staining is to seal and
protect it with a good quality wax or polish, then follow up with regular wash downs, using a gentle boat
soap, that will leave this protection intact.
Mineral and organic stains
Selection of a stain remover should be based on the type of stain you wish to remove. There are two
types of gelcoat stains: mineral and organic. Organic stains include the discoloration that remains after
removal of bird droppings, plant matter, and spilled food and drink, such as coffee and wine. Mineral
stains include rust stains, which frequently occur around stanchion bases, chain plate covers and
exhaust ports. Other common stains include waterline stains and "black streaks" (which are not always
black) caused by minerals leaching out of dirt as it runs out of scuppers and flows down the hull. Gelcoat
stains may be localized or cover the entire topsides and hull. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts,
gelcoat stains will eventually occur. There are a wide variety of Gelcoat stain removers, each of which is
formulated to remove a specific type of stain. When removing a stain, the objective is to eliminate the
stain without damaging the gelcoat itself. Avoid using strong solvents, such as MEK or acetone, and
abrasives such as heavy rubbing compound or, worse, sandpaper.
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