The Boatress Got Her A Boat
Outstanding in its field.. right next door. DUH She wanted a smaller boat so she could go fishing and simple stuff. DID NOT like the Outrage Banana boat at all.
Well thats over. The more I dive into plastic, I just dont get it. Why do people think its so much less work. It’s not. Once the gel coat is kinda flat and chalky it’s like old varnish. AND yes I have tried the Poli Glow Ceramic coating, and yes when its fresh its insane perfect. BUT, and there is always a but when it comes to fiberglass. Once the sun wears it out, 6-8 months, you get these areas that look like clear coat peeling off.
In the shop, chalky, all the decalls are faded torn and or just gone, last registerd in 2024
And of course you can clean it with a special cleaner, but you are scrubbing away again. SO, this time I am going old school and buffing and polishing. Yes I will need to keep feeding it, but it wont be such a strange look. And thats just the gel coat. The interior, everything is just as bad, only with a newer boat, there are a zillion Snake Oil sales out there. Try this, this is the best. WHAT THE HELL. Its all targeting to the quick fix. Anyway, rant over.
The Engine cowel was a mess.
1st coat, second coat to do, and graphic decals.
We got the Boatress a 2003 Whaler 16 Dauntless, with a 90 4 Stroke Mercury, 215 hrs on the engine. All under $10K so. It’s older than 20 years…making it a classic! Buffing and engine tune up not included. But a trailer was. So thats good. And one check off my to do list.
Stripped of the decals, polished and waxed.
Not new looking like the Poli glow, but still has some life
I have tried it all to clean the grey mold in the seats. Top.. Seat bottom, white vinyl paint. Works like magic.
Clean
Now the fun part, Name, detail and rebadge. Make it ours. Hers. With a lil WoodyBoater flair.
The bilge had never been cleaned. IS NOW!
Reminder image of BEFORE, Note the reg number is busy with the Harpoon and Dauntless badge is kinda cheesy
Simplified harpoon, points to the number, No cheesy Duntless logo and a little change to the logo.
Lil sumth’n, and yes
MR B is board
Now to the engine. Wait. Is that the Milk Man I hear?
Stay tuned. HEY, I am on the road to New Orleans, it’s not hot enough here in Virginia. Anyway, tomorrows story is in the can so you don’t get road hotel breakfast food pictures. I will be in New Orleans for 10 days house sitting, WW2 museum, and working remote. Oh and eating. And heating…
Great looking boat, safe travels!
I totally agree with you about plastic being as much work as mahogany. A light sanding every year or 3, then brush on another layer of varnish. Much better that applying wax every couple of months, even worse if you get behind and it starts to chalk.
You now have the cleanest 2003 Whaler on the planet!
Drive careful and enjoy the Big Easy.
I think I kept my mouth shut the first go round with the poly gloss
You were so excited about it didntvwant to burst your bubbles went down that path once
I also have a center console that spends part of the year in fla
Try this stuff on the moldy seats it will amaze you
Thanks woodyboater
I think I kept my mouth shut the first go round with the poly gloss
You were so excited about it didntvwant to burst your bubbles went down that path once
I also have a center console that spends part of the year in fla
Try this stuff on the moldy seats it will amaze you
Thanks woodyboater
Forgot photo
starbrite mold and mildew cleaner – Google Search
I would be interested in hearing more about both of your troubles with Poly Glow.
I had the problem that Matt describes one year, but it was not the fault of the product, it was because I only applied 3 coats not the 6 plus coats that are recommended.
Where Poly Glow really shines is on boats cruising the AICW (Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway). It prevents the brown mustache.
It’s ok to beat up our classic glass and we still love your wood. There wouldn’t be much boating today without glass boats. Yes, they are a lot of work but let me know something that is of value that isn’t. I would bet that 99% of the woodies are covered, in covered slips or put in storage after usage. If you do that with your glass boat your maintenance is minimal. Paint it with Alexseal or Awlgrip and there is even less to do. I use Awlcare on the SS and just started using it on the 47. They are both painted and look like new after 57 and 50 years respectively. Awlcare is slick, shines and easy to put on with no build up like the Polyglo. Be nice to us and enjoy boating. P.S. Clorox bottles are still ugly but true classic glass can be beautiful.
humm? glass in the railway shop??? I see B in the background , behind the tupperware…thinking: WTF is that thing….great ride for Suzy though! John in Va
You could start a sister website “Plastic Boater “ then you could write Two stories every morning. Buy an old Toxic Waste property and turn it into Plastic Boater Headquarters!
When it comes to the graphics I have complete confidence in you. “Suzy’s Whaler” is perfect.
Like Suzy, I wasn’t fascinated by the “banana” Whaler. This is a MUCH more attractive boat! Your graphics redesign is most excellent! Sounds like the mold & chalking issues are due to neglect and Sun exposure – NOT to being made of fiberglass. My now 27 1/2 year old Malibu has been professionally polished & had vinyl graphics replaced once. Stripes are gelcoat. It gets washed & waxed before launching in the spring. Kept on a lift under roof, dried off & covered after use. Washed (including bilge) & dried before winter storage, on the trailer in the garage. Still looks good, no chalking & no mold. Aristocraft is also lift kept under roof, wiped down & covered after use, washed & winters indoors on trailer. It’s now 24 years old. We’ve refinished the bottom once & had the varnished surfaces professionally refinished once & refreshed once. 21′ fiberglass has required significantly less to maintain than 12′ wood, but I love them both.
I love that little Aristocraft.
Have great admiration for that Whaler after the performance of that hull design watching the young Blue Top Legend Girls operating in the challenging seas at Haulover Inlet.
It appears the 90 HP Merc 4-stroke is what we used to call a “Merc-aha”, with the engine being purchased from Yamaha and finished in Mercury dress.
Yamaha made early models with carbs, and they were troublesome, needing frequent cleaning and adjustment. They solved the problems in later versions with EFI, a huge improvement, and now used universally. If your engine is a 2003 like the boat, you could have the carbed version.
Yes it is a carb version, going through all the engine stuff now.
Suzy has good taste in boats.