Need Help Polishing out Jet Skis

[manateemark]

We just recently got a pair of used 2008 Sea Doo RXT-X Wave Runners. The beasts have 255 horse power and will take you for a real ride. I decided though that the exterior needed to match the performance. My problem is that I cannot seem to get a good shine off of the gel coat. The boats have definitely never been polished, and probably spent most of their time in the sun.

I picked up some Marine 31 Gel Coat Heavy Cut Oxidation Cleaner, as well as their All in One Gel Coat Polish and Wax. I tried doing test spots and could not get anything to look good. The pad kept on getting clogged up, and I couldn't figure as a cause/solution to the problem. It was nasty looking grad junk that was just annihilating my pads. I preformed different test spots, all while using my Rupes 75 on speed 4-5.

I tried to take lots of photos, but it is very difficult to accurately display the gloss while using a flash on a camera, as well as the gray metallic gel coat.

You can see here that at the top, where the front latch closes and is protected from the sun, that it has a nice, clear finish. That is my goal for the rest of the wave runner.


This was a brand new Rupes pad before doing the test spot on this 12in by 5in area.


These results were after using the oxidation cleaner on a blue Rupes pad


These results were after using the polish and wax on a Yellow Rupes pad


These results were after using oxidation cleaner and then the polish (Blue and Yellow Pads)


These results looked much more promising, but still not quite there. This was wet sanded using 1500grit, then I used the oxidation cleaner, topped with using the polish. I still feel like there is more left to be desired, and my polishing pad was also getting gunked up still. I don't know if I need to go with something more aggressive than 1500.


I am hoping that someone out there can give me some suggestions on what I am doing wrong. I do not have a rotary buffer, and only have Rupes pads. I do have an LHR21, but that is too big for this project. I heard someone talking about using a Blue Rupes for polishing so maybe someone can fill me in about that.

[chriskraft3]

I'm surprised the Marine 31 Gel Coat Heavy Cut Oxidation Cleaner didn't cut into your gel coat further. I have used an entire bottle on different SeaDoos from the nineties. I am talking completely baked gel coat and that Marine 31 Gel Coat Heavy Cut Oxidation Cleaner still pull back to a shine.

I do power wash those skis first. Then I use a wash shampoo from Pinnacle, since I have so much in stock. Then I power wash again. I use a 7424 with the CCS pads. Using the orange cut pads I use one pad for the nose, one for the front sides where your tag numbers are, another bad for the side under the seat, another for the back below the seat and three or so for the sides and bottom under the rub rail.

Basically what I'm saying, I learned a while back to exchange pad often.

Wish I could help you more, I just haven't ever used the Rupes or the pads you are talking about.

[suke]

Gel coat is super tough. I've done my fair share of skis and even restored one myself. I've found it takes a ton of heat and pressure. I've known guys to start out with 800 grit going up to 2000 grit then polishing from there.

I've always used meguiars heavy cut, which is likely similar to what you have, followed by finesse it II. The biggest helper I've ever found for this was a rotary. Even my Flex hated skis.

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[suke]

I've done a similar color doo. Some before and after for an exanple.

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