Blue stripe on 288 Vista faded

maa1522 · **Joined:** Sun Jul 03, 2011 7:25 pm **Posts:** 4

I have a blue stripe on my 288 vista that has faded something fierce from sun and exposure. I o not believe it is part of the gel coat. Does anyone know a product to us in order to bring it back?

LouC · **Posted:** Sun Feb 24, 2013 7:53 pm

Is it tape or gel coat? If its tape you probably need to remove it and have a new tape stripe made up. If gel it can be buffed out but my experience with colored gels is once they oxidize it becomes a constant maintenance head ache. I'd paint on a new stripe if its gelcoat. You could have a body shop spray it for you or even do it with a roller if you don't mind doing the prep and have the time and good weather to work.

Thalasso · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 8:45 pm **Posts:** 333

Well mine is an 07/288 and it has the blue just above and below the rub rail. It is in the Gel Coat with tape on the border. Mine is also fading badly. Getting it painted (Imron or Awlgrip) with urethane the end of next month. No more Gel Coat fading

ric · **Posted:** Sun Feb 24, 2013 10:18 pm

The yellow gelcoat stripe on my boat is fading bad on my 2009 and buffing it a loosing battle. I'm wrapping it with 7 year rated outdoor vinyl. $100 in supplies and I can totally change the look of my boat with any color I desire.

230 Mike · **Posted:** Sun Feb 24, 2013 11:43 pm

Get it buffed out by a good fiberglass shop and then keep it fastidiously waxed with a good quality UV-blocking wax that does not contain carnauba.

jfair · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:35 am

I have been buffing and polishing the blue stripe on my 2006 Vista 278 for over three years. I have consulted professionals and used all kinds of products. A couple of weeks ago I had the blue area painted - three coats of two pack blue and two clear coats. I can't believe I waited so long and spent so much time trying to fix the problem.

rpengr · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:03 am

230 Mike wrote:

Get it buffed out by a good fiberglass shop and then keep it fastidiously waxed with a good quality UV-blocking wax that does not contain carnauba.

What's wrong with carnauba? I thought that was the best wax?

LouC · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:30 pm

That looks great, I fought the red hull I have for years and finally got it done in red Imron last year. Best thing I ever did. I'd never get a colored gel boat again.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:30 pm

rpengr wrote:

230 Mike wrote:

Get it buffed out by a good fiberglass shop and then keep it fastidiously waxed with a good quality UV-blocking wax that does not contain carnauba.

What's wrong with carnauba? I thought that was the best wax?

Nothing on newer boats. Back in the 90s some gelcoats suck in carnuba

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:58 pm

I've always heard that you shouldn't use Carnauba on boats because:

• Heat from the sun releases natural dyes which cause yellowing and staining.
• Heat from the sun softens the wax, making it greasy which in turn holds dirt and pollutants against the surface.
• They are difficult to apply and require aggressive friction buffing to get a good shine.
• Limited life; they break down rapidly limiting protection to your boat and should be stripped and re-applied every 2 to 3 months.

Some of these could just be old admirals tales, but I have seen yellowing from carnauba, especially on white...

230 Mike · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:55 pm

NiagaraChillin wrote:

• Heat from the sun releases natural dyes which cause yellowing and staining.

This. Carnauba yellows gel coat, and it has nothing to do with how old the boat is.

Gel colors can look a bit "cloudy" even straight from the factory (I have a small fist-sized patch like that, that's small enough that nobody but me knows it's there). This is simply from the folks at the factory not getting it completely polished out, which is why I said have a fiberglass shop do it; it may require more than just a buffer and fine compound to get it all the way to where it should be.

Vinyl & paint are other solutions but personally I'd rather fix the gel if possible (and I can see how it might not always be possible). All of them will eventually become maintenance items, like everything else on a boat.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:12 pm

The thing about vinyl is, it can look GOOD for a minimum of 5 years in sun. No fading, discoloration, or chalkiness. The best part is, it protects the gelcoat under it leaving it like brand new if you remove the vinyl AND is protecting the gelcoat from water intrusion and blisters. Also the cheapest fix.

Paint? Costs a crap ton and lasts about 5 years in the sun but is the best looking solution and provides good protection. Some last longer but $$$$.

Polish/buff/wax Gelcoat? About 3 months in sunlight til you gotta do it all over again and zero protection. Took a solid 10 hours to buff out my 2009 boat using all professional level equipment, compounds, and UV blocking coatings. Been out in the sun for 2 weeks, the high gloss shine is almost gone.

That's why all the new wakeboard boats are all vinyl wrapped. They know they're in the sun all day and vinyl is providing a "layer of skin" protecting the gel/glass under it while retaining the gloss of the vinyl. It also gives you the ability to print on the vinyl for cool effects.

230 Mike · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:59 pm

I've waxed my gel coat once a year for going on 8 years. It looks new. All depends on where you are and how you take care of your boat. If I'd wanted a wake boat, I would have bought a wake boat.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2013 4:18 pm

230 Mike wrote:

I've waxed my gel coat once a year for going on 8 years. It looks new. All depends on where you are and how you take care of your boat. If I'd wanted a wake boat, I would have bought a wake boat.

If it's covered or garaged all the time, yeah 8 years is nothing. 8 months in the sun/on the water with reflection = toast.

LouC · **Posted:** Mon Feb 25, 2013 5:28 pm

That point is the key element, if you can keep your boat out of the sun, the gel coat can look good for a long time. And some gels are better than others. However, here I have seen even very expensive boats that have colored gels chalk up in about 7 years or so. So if you want color, its Imron or Awlgrip. A good paint job will look good at least 10 years with minimal maintenance. BTW, on Formula boats, the graphics are painted on in Imron on their newer boats. I found a GREAT fiberglass/paint shop on the South Shore of Long Island to do my boat. Yes its expensive, but I figure I've saved more than what I spent on the paint job, by doing all my own work, hauling the boat myself, painting the drive myself, etc etc.

www.iFourWinns.com

Blue stripe on 288 Vista faded

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