Blue Tarp runied my finish!

[rnsi]

Hello All:<br /><br />Last winter I made the mistake of using a cheap tarp to cover my boat. One of those blue and silver ones you get at walmart. I have a glass bass boat with the metal flake finish. I secured the tarp with bungees to make it tight. Well, here in the northeast it got covered with snow and ice, and in the spring when I uncovered it, the finish was destroyed. Everywhere the tarp was making contact with the boat, it seems the gelcoat was rubbed right off! The finish is dull and rough. I can feel what seems like the metal flake. Wet, it doesn't look *too* bad, but now I've got to fix it.<br /><br />Someone at the marina told me to sand it and bring it to a body shop and have them spray a few new layers of gel/clear coat on it.<br /><br />Anyone else ever have this happen? How did you fix it? Yes, I've since bought a *real* fitted cover, but the damage is already done.<br /><br />Boater's World sold me a 3 step McGuires(sp) kit that I haven't used yet. Is it safe to wax to top of the boat? Won't this make a slippery unsafe condition?<br /><br />Thanks for any help.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Blue Tarp runied my finish!

rnsi <br /><br />That's the first I've heard of that happening. What did you cover it with before? Could be because of the metalflake reacting to the plastic in the cover. I cover my runabout with one of those cheap tarps and have never had a problem, although it is not Metalflake. I replace the tarp every year. Huuumm. Wonder if a compound would help, before you get too far into it.. I'm sure others will have more ideas..

 

[rnsi]

Re: Blue Tarp runied my finish!

Rick-<br />I bought the boat a couple of years ago, and it was sitting is the guy's yard under a tree - uncovered. The finish looked fine. Dirty and full of leaves, but still smooth and shiney. I guess just the rubbing of the tarp, and the extra weight of the ice on top was just too much.<br />Tried to save a couple of bucks on a cover and now I'm paying.<br />I've been putting off doing anything with the finish because I didn't want to compound the problem.

 

[Dman]

Re: Blue Tarp runied my finish!

I had this happen also. Probably not as severe as you are stating but I understand what is happening. I now use a canvas boat cover then apply the tarp over the top to make the snow, water and ice easier to remove in the winter. I see this on my snowmobiles also when using the tarp. A good coat of wax should hide most of the marks and a good coat of wax helps prevent this before you put it away for the winter. This happened to my cowling on the motor and the wax would not restore it to the way it was before I put it away. Now I place a beach towel over the cowling before cowling before covering for winter. <br />DMan

 

[BillP]

Re: Blue Tarp runied my finish!

This happens with almost any cover that flogs in the wind. It is abrasive and takes the finish off. Now you know what can happen when trailering your boat with a cover on...but it happens in a few hours. Work in a canvas shop a few years and you see it over and over.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Blue Tarp runied my finish!

Hit it with compound and a machine. It will do wonders for the finish if done properly.<br /><br />Bob

 

[rnsi]

Re: Blue Tarp runied my finish!

I just don't feel comfortable using a buffer. I still remember my old Dodge and the swirls I put in the paint. I'm sure it would work great if "done properly", but I'm not the guy to call for "done properly" with a buffer! Think I'll try hand sanding and follow with the wax. Do you think 600 grit is fine enough or should I be looking for something finer?

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Blue Tarp runied my finish!

You're willing to sand your boat but not buff it? <br /><br />Buff it, you've got nothing to loose right now and you're still going to have to buff it after you sand it anyway, might as well learn how now.<br /><br />Thom

 

[Richok]

Re: Blue Tarp runied my finish!

I wouldn't be to quick to judge the tarp. I have a boat with metalflake in it and used and expensive tarp especially fitted to the boat. Guess what it felt the same way yours did. I wet sanded mine with 600 to 1000 grit and then hit it with the buffer. It took the roughness out but you won't get the shine back with gel/clear coat of somekind. A body man told me the sun draws the metalflake to the surface. I don't know if that is true or not.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Blue Tarp runied my finish!

Originally posted by RichardinOK:<br /> A body man told me the sun draws the metalflake to the surface. I don't know if that is true or not.

Boy, thats a good one. Like the flake can wiggle out of the gel coat. NOT! The sun deteriorates the clear and the flake appears to come to the surface.<br /><br />I use a cheap tarps all year long and never had that problem, I would say that there must have been some kind of temporary fix done sometime and it is finally failing. I feel that gel coat is too tough for any tarp setting in the drivway to damage it. I do however agree with the trailering points though, I would NEVER trailer a boat with the cover on. Take it off, trailer it, put it back on.<br /><br />If you sand, you will HAVE to buff. Never use coarser than 1000, and 1500-2000 is better. Use 3M Heavy duty compound and a wool pad. You will not see the swirls in the gel coat you saw on your vehicle. The gel coat is so much harder.

 

[rnsi]

Re: Blue Tarp runied my finish!

Thanks all for your input...<br /><br />The temporary fix theory sounds good, but the only place where the finish is runied is where the tarp was making contact. The finish is still good under the rails, for example, where it would still be exposed to the sun. The gelcoat appears to be completely worn off where the tarp made contact.<br /><br />Once I get the finish smooth, is there a aerosol gelcoat I can apply, like spray paint? Or would I have to have a shop shoot it? Brand names?<br /><br />Thanks.