www.iFourWinns.com

Ill warn everyone now...I have a lot of photos...


Well to start, when I bought my 1989 180 Horizon last October and it was mildly oxidized. However 2 weeks in the sun on the water finished it off, plus no wax/buff etc all summer, to say the least it was pretty rough. I decided before putting it away for the winter I would get it cleaned up. Also since I am moving to Baltimore and leaving the boat stored in Cincy all winter, I wanted it to be turn key when I come to get it in the spring.

I spent all last Thursday getting it cleaned up. I used a Porter Cable buffer with a fairly abrasive pad.

I started by cleaning the boat with Dawn dish soap to take off anything greasy/oily/or remaining wax. The I moved on to 3M Restorer & Wax.


This stuff is amazing. No final polish required, and nothing to wipe off. You simply work in 2x2 areas and continually rub the product in until it there is no material left on the surface. Worked at 4500 rpms with heavy pressure, to 2500 medium pressure, and 1000 light pressure, and finished by rubbing in with a clean terry cloth.

It is a fairly tedious process, but it was well worth the work. The pics below speak for themselves:

Oxidation condition to start:




Prepped by taping rub rail and other bright work on the boat.


More Oxidation:




I took a 3" piece of painters tape and did a once over to the right of the tape to see what one pass with the 3M would do. I was amazing by the results.



After two applications of the 3M product in heavily oxidized areas. The final result:









Heading to storage for the winter




It was an all day ordeal, but was worth every minute. I can not get over the transformation. It shows what good product combos will do. It even removed most of the visible scratches in the side of the boat from the previous owner.

Hopefully this can provide an example for people who have similar oxidation problems. I can not recommend this stuff enough, it is amazing!

Thanks for looking, happy winter!


-Rob

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

Excellent! Nice job.

Any details on the pad(s) you used?

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I must say... Very Impressed!

My Bro-in-law's boat looks similar to the "before". He has the same 3M product and is hoping to make it look more like the "after" with a few applications next summer.

Good Work!

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

Nicely done. That boat looks great!

_________________
One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I know what I am doing in spring! I have a few small spots I would like to clean up and nothing else I have tried worked.

_________________
1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

Try some Buff Magic on the bad spots, then wax over that. Try it without drinking, you may be suprised at the results.

_________________
One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

sadly no details on the pads.

What I do know is the main pad I used was a light orange, and was firm with the porosity of a nice sponge.


I still have some work to do on the swim deck. I was out of energy to tackle that part of the job.

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

Beautiful job Rob!!!

Good Luck on the move.

_________________
2010 H190 4.3VP
Tow Vehicle:
2007 F150
Previous boats:
2009 H180 3.0VP
1996 Horizon QX 3.0VP

Great job! Really shines now!

Having only bought my boat in July, I used the Mequiars Firberglass Restoration package to restore the hull which was not bad at all.

http://www.meguiars.com/estore/product_ ... nID=511101

I have to say the #49 Oxidation remover turned the hull nice and white (especially around the stern where it was almost orange).

How did you get around the trailer wheel humps? I have not figured that one out without putting the boat in the water and then its just impossible to do it right.

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4

Funny you should say that as I read this I am having a beer! LOL!!

_________________
1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

amazingly the trailer humps were not really an issue, there was enough gap for the pad to clear the fenders. Also since the stripe is 3" wide, and was not affected by any material build up, so it really put most of the area in need above the fenders...

def made it a lot ezr!

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com