How to buff a boat by hand (without a buffer)
After last week's episode on Youtube in which I wax the boat, I got quite a few questions/messages about Frida's magic trick to buff the gelcoat of a boat with rubbing compound without using a buffer machine (or a buffing machine... or polishing machine... I don't really know how you call them).I could not explain why it works. If you do, feel free to enlight us in the comment section :) I also don't pretend it is THE only way to do it, or that it can apply any boat or any type of gelcoat (I have no idea about that!). It is just an alternative that worked for us and made the work a lot easier.Our sailboat was standing a few meters up the ground, and even with the sort of "scaffolding ladder" I had on hand, I couldn't access the top part of the hull from below. That trick saved me a lot of time and sweat, as I could skip working with the buffing machine from the deck. I could simply lay on the deck, and stretch my arm to rub the top part of the hull with the cloth.With no further due, I give you:
The magic trick to buffing a boat without a buffing machine!
For this, you will need:
- 1dl of White Spirit (using deodorized white spirit makes the work nicer...)
- 4dl of water
- A spray bottle
- Rubbing compound
- 2 microfiber type cloth: one for the rubbing compound, one clean to remove the traces of compound.
Mix the 1dl of White Spirit and the 4dl of water in the spray bottle. Shake it to properly blend the solution.
- Spray some of the white spirit/water solution on the gelcoat surface you want to treat.
- Immediately after, apply some rubbing compound on a cloth, and rub the gelcoat in a circular motion until the surface is shiny.
- Immediately remove all traces of compound with the clean microfiber cloth to avoid excessive/uneven abrasion of the gelcoat.
Et voila! Your boat is ready to be waxed :) 