We Restore, Protect, and Maintain your boat. Below you will find some helpful information about the process of restoring, protecting, and maintaining your gelcoat. Polishing Gelcoat Why polish my boat if it's in great condition? How often do I need to detail my boat and what does that entail? Gelcoat is a polyester resin that covers fiberglass and is sprayed on in layers. The quality of gelcoat does vary at the manufacturing level. Oxidation is a chemical reaction caused by exposure to oxygen resulting in the loss of electrons in the gelcoat. UV damage can cause yellowing on the surface and penetrate through to the fiberglass compromising the structural integrity of your boat. A glass like gelcoat surface reflects UV light and a dull finish absorbs UV light. Polishing is different from Compounding (see Compounding and Wet Sanding). It's a practice that has been used since polishing products containing both a cleaner and wax came on the market. We use this as an extra step to lengthen the life of the wax coating we apply after polishing (see Waxing). Polishing should not be done over an oxidized surface. We recommend a Polish and Wax every three months. This maintenance plan will save you from having to remove layers of gelcoat therefore extending the life of your gelcoat. Daisy can put you on the schedule for a maintenance plan price. No need for a contract. Wet Sanding This process requires using 800 - 2000 grit wet sandpaper depending on the level of oxidation. The gelcoat must be thick enough to withstand this aggressive process. We are always careful not to cut through to the fiberglass especially on corners. We also take various measures to preserve the life of your gelcoat during this process. Compounding There is no cutting corners when it comes to compounding. This process requires skill and technique. Mack has 10 years of experience. He also keeps up with the latests practice and products to provide customers with the best level of protection for their gelcoat. Burning your gelcoat is just one of