Question about fiberglass...

When my boat gets wet it gets darker. What i did for these pictures is when the boat was completely dry i sprayed lightly toward the boat, then took pictures. The water was sitting on the boat for ~one minute. Water seems to absorb into the gel coat and it doesn't seem right. Look at the pictures and let me know what i should do. It does it less on the sides of the hulls under the tramp where the gel coat didn't see much UV degradation and they are shiny. So first, what is this ? Just dried out gel coat that needs some TLC ?
Next, how do i fix it ? Also, how do i handle the deck non-skid areas when buffing ? Should i start out with wool buffing wheel ? What products are best - i've heard of 'finnesse-it' is this good stuff ?

Thanks

Yep... needs some TLC. It's oxidized.

A simple application of wax will do the job. May not require buffing off the oxidized gel coat, but that would be better.

You can wax over the non-skid areas... you just can't buff it out. No problem. I would wax it then use a bristle brush to remove excess wax in the nonskid. That would leave the wax there for protection of the gel coat.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thanks again Matt !

I will try waxing and report back with results.

Okay, one more question. (i feel like i'm being a PITA?!)

Rudders. Do i need to fix this ? It's bad on the same side of each rudder so I'm guessing that the bad sides faced south or west where the boat sat most of it's life. Is this normal ? Should i fix it ? The glass cloth is exposed and seems vulnerable. Thanks in advance.

Yes, the coating is oxidized or worn off the blades. I would sand down and recoat with something, but not sure the best solution on an old EPO blade. I'm sure others have done this though. I'll do a quick search on the forums...

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Here ya go! Just what the doctor ordered: http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12535

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

My rudders looked like that at one time. I sanded them down then sprayed the with gelcoat/durtec 3 coats. They are 5 yrs old now and still look great. I do keep them covered now. Some will say you can not spray gelcoat over the EPO's but I have had great success as have some of my local buddies who did after my recomendation.

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ADDICTION
1989 HOBIE 18 SE/sx wings
HOBIE ALTER SIGNATURE MODEL

So...i kind of feel like a dumb-ass. I had put a coat of wax on the boat but it was so in need of wax that it soaked it up and still would absorb water and get darker. Only when i applied 2 more THICK coats of wax did the wax begin to work. Here's the results:




Can see i did not get more wax here on the inside of one hull. Next weekend..



On another note - went to sail with a friend last weekend. He had just rigged a spinnaker on his sweet Supercat 17. I will post pics when i get them downloaded - he was jammin downwind and boy did it look good doing it ! We had another friend there with a powerboat taking pictures and video.

Here he is going upwind. Sweet boat. Seems like the spinnaker adds way too much complication - especially if you're going to trailer to a location, rig, sail, de-rig and trailer home. He says it doesn't really add too much time ?!
I know this is the Hobie 18 forum but this is a pretty picture of a sweet beach cat.

My name is Jim. Is that a picture of Steve on his 17? I sail with him down in Dunedin Florida.

_________________
ADDICTION
1989 HOBIE 18 SE/sx wings
HOBIE ALTER SIGNATURE MODEL