bring back the shine to you're sailboat deck??

[chris2998]

I have gone aboard a few sailboats in looking to buy and the decks looks so oxidied sorry(sp) so what can you do to bring the shine back would some kinda buffing compound work? or would it have to be repainted and how much would that end up costing on say a around a 28ft boat??

Thanks
Chris

[AdriftAtSea]

Chris—

It really depends on a lot of factors.  If the gelcoat is basically in good shape but oxidized, it can often be brought back via compounding, buffing and waxing.  If the gelcoat is shot, then painting is really your only alternative.  As to the cost of painting, it varies a lot.  If you're going to go and have a boatyard strip and paint the deck using a two-part LPU, like Awlcraft 2000, then you're looking at a big check to write... if you're doing it yourself, then its a lot more work, but a lot less expensive.

[CharlieJ]

Been working on a Vanguard 32 for a customer- he had painters in to Awlgrip the topsides and decks- ran around $8k, including the materials.

He felt that was a fairly reasonable price. So did I, considering what it looked like before and after.

[nmwarren]

Just got done with this on my 1989 Compac 23.  Decks and hull looked absolutely horrible.  I had to wetsand, then compound, polish, wax.  Anyways, the end result is amazing!  Looks like nice shiny, close to new gelcoat.  As long as there is gelcoat left (i.e. you can't see bare fiberglass), you should be able to buff it out to a nice shine.

There are some great threads on Sailnet about all this.  Don't be worried if you have no experience, I had never touched a buffer, but it went easily.  I picked up the buffing package kit on Jamestown Distributors which was $199, and got a few additional items to go with it.  Anyways, if you have enough gelcoat left this is much cheaper and easier than painting.

BTW, you can't really buff out the non-skid...either just leave it flat, which I did and it looks fine, or you'll need to paint.

[chris2998]

WOW 8 gran, lot's of coins. I have seen boats with I thinks it like a tan color nonslip kinda like a big sticker they lay down so you don't slip when walking and am wondering is this pretty easy to do yourself??

Do yall have a before and after picture of a oxidized deck and then a gel coat or buffed deck??