Weathered Awlgrip hull paint

[David Hibbard]

The topsides of our fibreglass sailboat was rolled and tipped with Awlgrip 10 years ago. The paint is now quite weathered.
Has anyone tried polishing Awlgrip once it becomes weathered?

[deltaten]

Coating has reached end of life. Scuff/sand and repaint

[sandy stone]

Before I repainted, I would at least try a product called Awlcare. Not especially cheap, but not especially difficult, either. Depends on how perfect you want it to look, and from how far away.

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by sandy stone

Before I repainted, I would at least try a product called Awlcare. Not especially cheap, but not especially difficult, either. Depends on how perfect you want it to look, and from how far away.

I’m assuming you are referring to the Awlgrip wax (“sealer”) they market. If so, it is not a polish but just a wax intended to protect a polished finish.

As Awlgrip can’t be polished as you can do with other paints, a wax on top of a dull finish won’t help.

[sandy stone]

I'm not sure how you differentiate sealer, polish, or wax, but I've used Awlcare on my boat with good results. I wouldn't expect miracles, but it's a lot better than it was. Also a lot easier (and cheaper) than repainting.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by David Hibbard

The topsides of our fibreglass sailboat was rolled and tipped with Awlgrip 10 years ago. The paint is now quite weathered.
Has anyone tried polishing Awlgrip once it becomes weathered?

Awlgrip sells several different topcoats, some of which, like AwlCraft 2000 can be polished.

The wax/sealer Awlcare can also lift up the appearance of the paint.

If you have the original polyurethane topcoat then a new coat would be the best as you simply reset the clock without any further maintenance needed.

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by sandy stone

I'm not sure how you differentiate sealer, polish, or wax, ….

You are not alone in that respect. Lots of people don’t understand the differences.

Wax, sometimes referred to as a “sealer”, serves only to protect the underlying finish. It does nothing to enhance it. That is what polishing can do if the paint is amenable to polishing. Awlgrip is not. At least not by the untrained as it requires a very specific technique to ensure efficacy.

If as in the case here with a badly weathered Awlgrip finish, polishing is futile and simply waxing a failed finish is rearranging the deck chairs work.

There is no middle of the road approach to achieving a good looking finish.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

You are not alone in that respect. Lots of people don’t understand the differences.

Wax, sometimes referred to as a “sealer”, serves only to protect the underlying finish. It does nothing to enhance it. That is what polishing can do if the paint is amenable to polishing. Awlgrip is not. At least not by the untrained as it requires a very specific technique to ensure efficacy.

If as in the case here with a badly weathered Awlgrip finish, polishing is futile and simply waxing a failed finish is rearranging the deck chairs work.

There is no middle of the road approach to achieving a good looking finish.

This isn’t true. Any oxidized surface that looks better when you throw some water on it, will look better with a wax or in this case Awlcare product. Of course when that wears off you’re back to oxidized surface, but it can make a big difference in the mean time.

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

This isn’t true. Any oxidized surface that looks better when you throw some water on it, will look better with a wax or in this case Awlcare product. Of course when that wears off you’re back to oxidized surface, but it can make a big difference in the mean time.

Might be true depending on your threshold for “better” even when temporary.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

Might be true depending on your threshold for “better” even when temporary.

It’s like putting silicone spray on vinyl bumpers or tires… just cosmetic camouflage.

[neilpride]

Once it oxidizes or starts to flake off the only cure is to repaint, the top resin rich layer with all the pigments if it wears or breaks it starts to decay very fast, the sealer made by awlgrip is used if the surface film is still in good condition, otherwise it is a waste of time and money, and the same with wax or polish, they only speed up the day to repaint, awlgrip only needs soft water and a neutral soap, if the water has no mineral deposits , much better. .

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by neilpride

Once it oxidizes or starts to flake off the only cure is to repaint, the top resin rich layer with all the pigments if it wears or breaks it starts to decay very fast, the sealer made by awlgrip is used if the surface film is still in good condition, otherwise it is a waste of time and money, and the same with wax or polish, they only speed up the day to repaint, awlgrip only needs soft water and a neutral soap, if the water has no mineral deposits , much better. .

Awlgrip claims that all their top coatings benefit from the added protection of Awlcare, so while water may be all it needs, it will last longer with Awlcare… or so Awlgrip says. May be you should report your findings to them so they can take their product off the market hahaha

[neilpride]

The polymer washes off in 3 or 4 washes, tested, do not use a machine, apply it by hand, it repels water better and the salt deposits in the waterline for a while, after that nothing, the best maintenance is water, a neutral soap and dry it with chamois.


Once the finish is dull and porous,only a repaint will solve the problem.

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Awlgrip claims that all their top coatings benefit from the added protection of Awlcare, so while water may be all it needs, it will last longer with Awlcare… or so Awlgrip says. May be you should report your findings to them so they can take their product off the market hahaha

Isn’t advertising great!

A high quality finish benefits from protective wax. We all know that but that’s not what we are discussing here. Read the OP.

This is about a worn out, failed finish and no wax or sealer can ever change the fundamental problem of bad paint condition. Or make it look good. The manufacturer will be the first to tell you that.

This isn’t debatable regardless of how much you want.

[sandy stone]

Well, there's a whole range of worn-out when it comes to paint finishes. If it's not just plain flaking off, Awlcare will at least improve the looks - not like new paint, and not permanently. But like I said, I've used it and it woks.