Polishing Gel Coat for Trailers

A trailer with a polished gelcoat finish.

Gelcoat is the hard polyester resin coating applied over fiberglass that creates that smooth glossy surface some boats and trailers are well known for having. Over time though, this glossy coating can begin to dull. Scratches and general everyday handling wears away the polish, leaving the coating looking old and worn. You can restore that glossy appearance quickly, however, with a few coats of wax and polish. The wax seals the scratches causing the dullness, while the layer of polish restores the gloss giving your trailer a reflective shine that's visible in even the dimmest of lights.

Things You'll Need

• Laundry detergent
• Bucket
• Bleach
• Sponge
• Cloth
• Acetone
• Rubber gloves
• Wax
• Foam pad
• Gelcoat polish

Instructions

1. Clean the gelcoat surface with a cleaning mix consisting of one-cup of detergent mixed into one gallon of water in a medium-sized bucket. For gelcoat surfaces containing mildew, add one-cup of bleach to the mix. Use a sponge to clean the gelcoat, working from the top of the trailer down to the base. Rinse the cleaner from the trailer with clean water from a hose and then wait for the surface to dry.

2. Remove any oils or grease from the surface by wiping the gelcoat with a clean cloth soaked in acetone. Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin during the acetone rubdown, as well as a respirator for protection of your lungs from the fumes. Flip and change the cloth as needed to avoid wiping the gelcoat down with a dirtied side as you go along.

3. Apply a layer of wax onto the gelcoat to help restore the gel surface, filling in any scratches. Use a foam pad to apply the wax to the trailer, wiping the wax onto the surface with a small circular motion. Allow the wax to dry to a haze on the trailer and then buff the surface with a soft clean cloth until the haze disappears.

4. Apply the gelcoat polish to the trailer using a soft cloth. Place a small, quarter-sized, pool of polish onto the center of the cloth and then rub the polish into the trailer surface using small circles. Continue rubbing in the polish until you bring the surface to a glossy shine.

5. Apply a second layer of wax as protection over the polished surface following the same procedure used to apply the first coat. After waxing the glossy surface will still appear through the protective layering.

References

• RV Basics: How to Restore Gelcoat -- Gelcoat Buffing
• Boat US: Restoring the Shine to Fiberglass