Good product for getting a deep gloss on gel coat?

[Eagant5]

Just finished restoring a 2002 Rxdi last fall and the body was in pretty rough shape. I started off by wet sanding with 600 and work my way up to 2000. Then I buffed it out with 3m 09005 marine restorer wax. It did an ok job and it looks 100 times better but still does not have a real nice glossy look. Is there another other products anyone recommends I can use to get some more gloss out of the finish? Here is a pic to show what it looks like now.

 

[JeremyD615]

It looks pretty good now! To get to the next level of gloss, you’re going to need to get into a high quality polish. I really like the Starbrite Marine polish with PTFE. I’m sure some others will have some suggestions as well, but I know that one is a tried and true product.

 

[mikidymac]

You need an actual polishing compound and a power buffer with wool or foam pad. You want a medium cut compound after the wet sanding then finally a machine glaze. Even the starbrite polish that is awesome is just a hand wax.

Also for some reason the seadoo silver never comes completely back to the super deep gloss like the solid colors.

 

[AKnarrowback]

The machine looks awesome!

 

[Eagant5]

You need an actual polishing compound and a power buffer with wool or foam pad. You want a medium cut compound after the wet sanding then finally a machine glaze. Even the starbrite polish that is awesome is just a hand wax.

Also for some reason the seadoo silver never comes completely back to the super deep gloss like the solid colors.

Thanks for the info. I’ll look into some products. I have a moderate cut orange pad I use on my pc buffer on auto finishes that works well. I used that with the 3m to get the ski where it’s at now.

The machine looks awesome!

Thanks! I’ve put a ton of work into this thing lol. Was pretty beat when I got it and had a nice hole in the side of the crank case on the motor. It’s pretty much brand new now front to back.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

I bet the blue gets chalky? I've been wanting to try nu-wipe or some sealer/restorer type product on my chalky blue "gel coat", that is if it's really gel coat! Well, it looks like dull, dead chalky gel coat to me but doesn't bother me enough to do anything, apparently. The white is oxidized too, just doesn't stand out near as much.

 

[DougsNewToy2019]

Okay, here is what I have used on my Seadoo 210 Challenger. I've also used their product for automobiles as well. It adds a depth to the finish with every successive coat you apply. I was skeptical at first, given that a 1 oz. bottle for a car is like $89 off Amazon. But if applied as directed, it coated my 2012 Mustang GT including the doors and jamb areas inside. I also applied it to my Sport Trac tonneau cover which is black, after I had buffed it twice to a high gloss shine. When I ran the applicator pad across half of it and buffed off by hand,,,it appeared darker and wetter and it was noticable. This is a Ceramic coating and near the higher end for ceramic coating products. Application is simple. Using the included foam pad, turn the bottle onto the pad gently wetting a couple of spots. Apply to an area about 2ft x 2 ft. . Allow product to remain on approximately 1 minute...then buff off with a clean dry cloth. You should be able to both see and feel the difference in the finish. DO NOT allow finish to dry on boat of PWC as it drys milky and is had to remove. One bottlr on a PWC should last you a long time if used sparingly. The bottle pictured is the Aqua coating designed specifically for boats. It is higher but is a better deal cost wise. It should last you for years.
Dirt and other messes just wash right off. After a 24 hr. curing period, spray it with water and it beads unbeleivably and doesn.t leave behind much water spotting at all.
This is my experience with it.

There are other Ceramic coatings out there, but this one was the 2nd best reccomended by a friend of mine who details for a living. It also is highly ranked online. There is another product called HydroSliex, which comes in a larger quantity and a bit cheaper which gets high remarks, but I chose this one because of the customer feedback and friends reccomendation.

Good luck, and remember the surface must be clean and free of any wax or sealant product. I applied mine after I had buffed it, then washed by hand to remove any residual compound.
Please let me know if you try a Ceramic coating how effective it worked for you!

Doug

 

[caesar benigno]

Truth be told there all about the same and will need to be redone every 10th ride. Don't waist your money on over priced one's.

 

[emspjay]

I used to use a lot of 3M products but I have now switched to Fountain of Youth.

Fountain_of_Youth_Home

 

[Rustynutz]

McGuire’s makes a new wax with ceramic, in it. Spread on with your pwc being wet and spray with the hose again, to even out and then use a buffing cloth(like a microfiber but softer) McMaster Carr..ceramics bond to microscopic holes and evens out, after wiping. Gives a thin layer of protection while the polymers do the rest. It’s all about the Polymers!!! 15 bux and use sparingly, worth a shot, didn’t realize how easy this was to use, once I used it, (May have to apply like regular wax the first go round as instructed), it made the flat white hull bottom, look as if it had a mirror image. Almost a pearl, I’ve only had to reapply once in 10-15 outings...for 15 bux you can lose...nothing sticks to a ceramic based polymer...

 

[Ryooo]

Pledge. Old timers recipe. Only thing he uses on new gel.