At 11:27 PM 4/26/02 -0700, you wrote: >Al, I just read your twl comments on letting your gel coat become chalky >without waxing. Certainly this eliminates the wear from rubbing compound >and waxing with a buffer. What is the downside other than the non glossy >look? Doesn't the gel coat become more porous and become more susceptible >to other damage? What is the effective life of each approach before having >to LP the entire surface? I don't mind the non glossy gel coat if this can >be considered proper maintenance. What are your thoughts. Thanks ============================================= I don't know of any downside Leslie, The Gel coat will probably last for ever. The chalk protects the gel from the sun. Yes there is a down side, if you travel the ICW for long distances you will pick up the light brownish bow whisker. Comes off easy enough, the way I keep my hull bright and white, a garden sprayer of oxalic and water and the 2 1/2 gallons does my hull complete. You will see the crisp white change happen right before you eyes. If I do ocean runs, it will be months before I need to treat the hull. If I do a 100 mile ICW run it will be ready for a spray down. I made a rig on a hose so if I want I can do it right off the deck and not bother with a dink or work float. On my last boat the yearly waxed compounded gel coat on side towards the tropical sun started crazing after about 10 years and I had it Awlgripped, that also lasted a little less than 10 years and I sold the boat. My present boat is 20 years old and no signs of distress in the gel coat. Yes you can see the dancing water reflection on the hull, clean and crisp but no high gloss, I can live with that.... Captain Al Pilvinis "M/V Driftwood"--Prairie 47 2630 N.E. 41st Street Lighthouse Point, Fl 33064-8064 Voice 954-941-2556 Fax 954 788-2666 Email yourcaptain@earthlink.net Website http://home.earthlink.net/~yourcaptain