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Shining it up with Vaseline?
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=42073
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Author:  ronholm [ Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:37 am ]
Post subject:  Shining it up with Vaseline?

Has anybody around here tried using Vaseline to bring back a finish?

I am working on my 18, trying to make it look decent for the summer and stumbled across some guys doing this..

I plan on going about this the hard way with rubbing compounds and wax.. I have noticed a couple chips and dings I may get around to fixing this summer, and I don't want anything on there which may be hard to remove to make any minor repairs stick.. Not to mention this is the longest lasting
(by far) and best method anyway....


So while I have no plans on running out and trying this right away on this project... I figure it was worth talking about.. As sometimes an old boat is better, looking halfway decent in the water, and isn't worth the time and effort to do the job properly... Not to mention I have a crusty old very soft 18 which may become part of the kids swingset/play area... and well.. I dang sure ain't going to spend hours buffing it out...

How much worse could it be compared to any other commercial petroleum based "shine in a bottle" like Nu finish or the rest of them?


Heck it can't be any worse than using Auto tranny fluid, baby oil.. Or....... What... maybe Mop and Glow..

:mrgreen:


What say you? Any favorite ghetto shines?

Author:  srm [ Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

Sounds like it would be the ultimate slippery, sticky, messy, dirt-attracting product you could use on a boat. No, I would not do this.

sm

Author:  reelknotty [ Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

i agree with srm it would be a giant dust magnet.

Author:  Lone Palm [ Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

You would be very easy to find with that petroleum slick trailing behind you.... :shock: :lol:

Just kidding, never heard of this. We use 3M compounds after wetsanding with 1500. Its amazing how fast you can shine up a boat by wetsanding alone, add the compounding makes it really shine, and I am talking about a 1978 H-18.....

If you do try it, make sure and let us know how it works out!

Author:  ronholm [ Wed Apr 11, 2012 1:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

I have no disillusions of any kind that this is a proper replacement for good old fashioned elbow grease..

But I have plenty of things around here which are "Nu finish-able"


and if you are going to go cheap smearing a petroleam product into Gel.. Why not right?

I will try the kids boat project (a soft 18 planned to be mounted on springs with a possible "trampoline tramp conversion" :) )


Here...

Don't ask how I stumbled on this.. :lol:


http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=333913

Author:  ChrisD [ Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

I have a friend who cleans his boat,( a large monohull) with commercial wax remover and then simply puts commercial floor wax on it with a soaked sponge. He gets it from a friend who works in a hospital in maintenance I would guess. I have to say the boat shines great all summer. The stuff wears like iron and absolutely does protect the gelcoat from any chalking or bleaching. A few ounces would do a Hobie.

Author:  Bacho [ Sun Apr 15, 2012 6:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

I have a air compressor I will try a small spot on just for laughs. Vaseline does not sound like a good idea at all in my mind but it could just be the best thing since sliced bread.

Author:  ronholm [ Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

Ok.. I did this about a week ago.. Nothing was done to the boat prior to wiping on Vaseline.. no Barkeepers friend.. (oxalic acid which works great BTW) No washing of any kind.. Just smeared on some vaseline and away I went...

the boat has been in the rain.. Rinsed a couple times to see how well it repels water and rinse the dirt splash and lawn clippings off.. It has not been in a lake as this boat is not seaworthy at all...

It doesn't seem to be attracting dirt.. Quite the opposite actually

It clearly isn't a shiny as a proper job.. but still has a sheen which is presentable...

The surface isn't any slicker than polished/waxed gel coat.. it doesn't feel greasy to the touch...


and it SMELLS great..

Image


:lol: :lol:

Author:  Bacho [ Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

So now the other question, how difficult will be be to remove it for a repair?

Author:  ronholm [ Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

Bacho wrote:
So now the other question, how difficult will be be to remove it for a repair?




I can't imagine it would be any worse than stuff like "Nu finish" or even some of the oils in Carnauba waxes...

Author:  Q18 [ Tue Apr 24, 2012 9:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

As far as cleaning up the black aluminum I found Penetrol in another part of the forum.I believe that is exactly what your looking for.I've been fixing up an 83 H18 and it made the mast look a lot better.The other thread said it was good for about a season.Bartenders helper is good too if you you try to put a cheap shine on it it will come out better if it's clean.

Author:  sxrracer [ Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

I have used mayonnaise to bring back the finish on the plastics on old dirtbikes. You could try that. That the only good thing I ever found a use for mayo!!! Yuk

Author:  gary eudy [ Sun Apr 29, 2012 6:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

I tried KY jelly and even KY liquid both allowed me and the boat to glide thru some rough water
KY is a great product when used as directed and so is vasoline
Really though try Poli Glow it even comes with a hull cleaner which would remove the Vasoline
The penetrol works good on a black mast for a sailing season
I am going to try sharkhide on my mast and will post of results
Former Hobie Admiral Gary :lol: :lol:

Author:  dregsfan [ Sun Apr 29, 2012 7:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shining it up with Vaseline?

There's lot's on info on using Vaseline for gelcoat on fiberglass boat restoration sites and forms. Try google. The important thing is to let it sit in the sun to left the goo seep into the pores, before wiping off.

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