How-To

Keeping your bass boat alive, part 5

Mark Hicks shares the steps for renewing the gel coat on a bass boat.

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<em>All photos and captions by Mark Hicks</em> <br>If your boat doesn't have scratches, you're likely not fishing where bass live in springtime. But you can renew the gelcoat as long as it hasn't deteriorated past the point of no return. Scratches that go through the clear gel and into the color or flake can't be completely removed. Also, if UV rays have eaten all of the clear gel away, you'll need to apply a new finish to bring back the shine. <p>If you still have clear gel left, you can renew the sparkle, even if the outer skin is rough to the touch. All it takes is wet or dry sandpaper, buffing compound and a willingness to rub on, rub off until your arms ache. Here's how I brought back the luster to my 24-year-old bass boat. <p>The gelcoat on my old bass boat was dull and faded, but I was able to rejuvenate it.
All photos and captions by Mark Hicks
If your boat doesn’t have scratches, you’re likely not fishing where bass live in springtime. But you can renew the gelcoat as long as it hasn’t deteriorated past the point of no return. Scratches that go through the clear gel and into the color or flake can’t be completely removed. Also, if UV rays have eaten all of the clear gel away, you’ll need to apply a new finish to bring back the shine.
If you still have clear gel left, you can renew the sparkle, even if the outer skin is rough to the touch. All it takes is wet or dry sandpaper, buffing compound and a willingness to rub on, rub off until your arms ache. Here’s how I brought back the luster to my 24-year-old bass boat.
The gelcoat on my old bass boat was dull and faded, but I was able to rejuvenate it.
I first removed all the hardware so I could do a thorough job on the gelcoat and avoid smashing my knuckles.
I first removed all the hardware so I could do a thorough job on the gelcoat and avoid smashing my knuckles.
Heat from a hair dryer makes peeling off old licenses and boat numbers an easy chore.
Heat from a hair dryer makes peeling off old licenses and boat numbers an easy chore.
I eliminated surface grime from the deck and hull with a cleaning solution in a bucket of water. (I also removed the carpeting.)
I eliminated surface grime from the deck and hull with a cleaning solution in a bucket of water. (I also removed the carpeting.)
Since my hull was UV weathered and rough to the touch, I first sanded it with 600-grit wet or dry sandpaper. I followed up with 1,000-grit.
Since my hull was UV weathered and rough to the touch, I first sanded it with 600-grit wet or dry sandpaper. I followed up with 1,000-grit.
After wet sanding, I brought back the gloss with rubbing compound. If you use an electric buffer, run it between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm.
After wet sanding, I brought back the gloss with rubbing compound. If you use an electric buffer, run it between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm.
The gelcoat on the deck had faded. The gold flake under the cleats is gone forever, but wet sanding brought back the shiny silver.
The gelcoat on the deck had faded. The gold flake under the cleats is gone forever, but wet sanding brought back the shiny silver.
Here's a test strip I did before tackling the deck of the boat. See how wet sanding and rubbing compound brought back the finish in the center.
Here’s a test strip I did before tackling the deck of the boat. See how wet sanding and rubbing compound brought back the finish in the center.
After sanding and buffing with rubbing compound, I buffed the deck and hull with a very fine liquid buffing compound.
After sanding and buffing with rubbing compound, I buffed the deck and hull with a very fine liquid buffing compound.
I applied a thin coat of the compound to the deck and hull. It contains a synthetic polymer that bonds to the gelcoat and cures into a tough surface.
I applied a thin coat of the compound to the deck and hull. It contains a synthetic polymer that bonds to the gelcoat and cures into a tough surface.
Let the initial application of compound set for 24 hours so it thoroughly bonds to the gel.
Let the initial application of compound set for 24 hours so it thoroughly bonds to the gel.
This compound wipes off easily. I gave the hull two coats and still had plenty left in the 16-ounce bottle. Unlike a wax, this coating lasts for months.
This compound wipes off easily. I gave the hull two coats and still had plenty left in the 16-ounce bottle. Unlike a wax, this coating lasts for months.
A gelcoat repair around the drain in the transom left an uneven surface in the running pad. It looks innocuous, but it will disrupt performance.
A gelcoat repair around the drain in the transom left an uneven surface in the running pad. It looks innocuous, but it will disrupt performance.
There were also gelcoat repairs elsewhere on the running pad. The repairs prevented further damage to the hull, but they needed to be sanded.
There were also gelcoat repairs elsewhere on the running pad. The repairs prevented further damage to the hull, but they needed to be sanded.
Since I wasn't concerned about a shiny surface on the running pad, I made short work of the blemishes with 600- and 1,000-grit sandpaper.
Since I wasn’t concerned about a shiny surface on the running pad, I made short work of the blemishes with 600- and 1,000-grit sandpaper.
Here's the running pad after sanding. The surface is flat, and the edges are sharp. The scuffs won't impede performance.
Here’s the running pad after sanding. The surface is flat, and the edges are sharp. The scuffs won’t impede performance.

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