Fair price

Sand? I am assuming your boat is beyond what can be corrected with Meguiars # 49 or even #91 and a rotary tool with a wool pad.

If that is the case and your fiberglass is so neglected that it needs hand wet sanding then via an internet forum with no photos its anyone’s guess.
 
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If the whole boat is going to be fully wetsanded that is a decent price. Maybe slightly high but not by $1000. Maybe $2500.
 
The boat is not that bad.Just everybody I've talked to said if you don't sand then buff.It will look the same in a few months.They said sanding is the only way to get new finish look.If anybody knows what to use I'll try it myself.I have a lightweight buffer.Question is do you use a foam pad or wool?
 
Gelcoat is fairly forgiving. I had some chips and scrapes in my hull when I got it and post repair you can't see them... and there's no swirls.
The repairs, sanding those areas and a 2 stage polish (swirl remover and wax) took me about 3 afternoons. Those were easy days too with socializing, beers and 'rests'. If you have oxidation all over the hull you will have to wet sand those affected areas. This is a little time consuming but not bad work. Polishing would eventually take it out but it takes too long. Better to just wet sand. Use 2000 grit or finer and use lots of water. Every once in a while stop, dry it off and look at the gelcoat. You'll be able to see where it's good or still oxidized. If your hull is colored, try not to do 'circles'. This will help too.
I use Maguiars but there's other great products out there too.
The results are worth the effort!

Picture1429.jpg


Picture1430.jpg
 
I should add that where I wet sanded I used a medium cut compound to start bringing the shine back. The 2 stage was for where i didn't sand. Work it evenly until it's dry and lessen the pressure as you go.
Good luck... you can do it. :smt001
Cheers.
 
You would get a better answer if you said how many hours it will take to sand and polish your boat. What is the labor rate they quote? Convert that to hours.
 
Do you have any pictures of the boat? Is the gel coat white or a color? I would want someone fairly experienced at that price. Dave Ludwig and Greg that work for Bloch Marine are very good fiberglass and gel coat guys. Those are the only 2 - I have personal experience with.
 
Spending $3,000 to make a 96 270 dancer shiny again would be like getting Margaret Thatcher a boob job.

Before you decide to go forward with separating yourself from this cash make sure the value to you is worth the cost. Don’t assume this to be an investment that you would get back via a higher selling price when you do decide to sell the boat.

I’d find a more economical alternative, hire a unemployed person via craigs list or via referral, buy a rotary buffer from Harbor Freight for $35, go with a Maguire’s two step process and accept what you get.

Make Earl Scheib proud man.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtjdHaMeiiQ[/youtube]
 
80 hours is what a fiberglass shop said.The boat is white gelcoat.Its really not that bad,I'm just the third owner and like my stuff clean.I've sanded and buffed my hotrods in the past.I've never messed with fiberglass,but I will this winter.After talking to other people they told me that shop is very good,but highest shop around.Thanks for input
 
duckmnn said:
80 hours is what a fiberglass shop said.The boat is white gelcoat.Its really not that bad,I'm just the third owner and like my stuff clean.I've sanded and buffed my hotrods in the past.I've never messed with fiberglass,but I will this winter.After talking to other people they told me that shop is very good,but highest shop around.Thanks for input
Click to expand...

That's a lot of hours... I can't see a pro taking that long.
I agree, buy a buffing wheel and go at it. If your automotive finishes detailed up nicely, so will the gelcoat.
 
I think 2900 is fair for that amount of work. That being said; I wouldn't spend 2900 to get a 15 year old boat sanded and buffed out.
If you don't already own one, you might do better to buy yourself a Makita Rotary, some wool pads, and some good polish.
The whole thing will cost you about a tenth as much money, and you'll have the machine for many years and boats to come.
If you've done your Hot Rods, then the boat will be no big deal because the Gel Coat on the boat is much more forgiving than the paint on the cars.
 
80 hours is too many hours for that size of boat. You should be able to sand it in 16 hours from top to bottom and polish and wax it in 10 hours.
 
You could take your car to him every year and let him paint right over the rust and dirt and it was still cheaper than washing and waxing the car every couple of months. Gotta love it...
 
Presentation said:
Spending $3,000 to make a 96 270 dancer shiny again would be like getting Margaret Thatcher a boob job.

Before you decide to go forward with separating yourself from this cash make sure the value to you is worth the cost. Don’t assume this to be an investment that you would get back via a higher selling price when you do decide to sell the boat.

I’d find a more economical alternative, hire a unemployed person via craigs list or via referral, buy a rotary buffer from Harbor Freight for $35, go with a Maguire’s two step process and accept what you get.

Make Earl Scheib proud man.

[youtube]PtjdHaMeiiQ[/youtube]
Click to expand...

:smt043That post was too funny, on the serious side rotory buffer, buffing compond ( you probably dont need to sand, sanding is only for deep scratches ) and wax. It wont take more than a day to buff and a few hours to wax. Good therapy.
 
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