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WHAT IS FIBERGLASS?
Fiberglass is a common term for fiber-reinforced plastic, or FRP, which is a plastic material strengthened using a fiber cloth.
Most boats these days are made from fiberglass, along with pickup truck caps, motorhomes and even bathtubs! To give the
fiberglass a smooth, shiny surface, a material called gelcoat is applied to the outer surface. For the most part, when you’re
looking at a fiberglass boat, you’re really seeing the gelcoat surface on top of the fiberglass itself. However, most people
refer to gelcoat as fiberglass, so we use the terms fiberglass and gelcoat interchangeably.
Gelcoat is available in many colors and is fairly durable, but it can become dull or faded as it weathers. Sunlight and air
combine to oxidize the gelcoat surface, fading it and making the surface cloudy. The oxidation process for gelcoat is similar
to how metals rust or corrode. So how do you keep your gelcoat looking good? Simple: you coat the surface with either
wax or a sealer.
FADED AND DULL FIBERGLASS
For boats that have been oxidized and have some fading or dullness, waxes and polishes may restore the shine, but often
don’t maintain it for more than a month or so. This is because the gelcoat surface has microscopic pits and crevices in it
from the oxidation, even after you have rubbed off the oxidized layer. When you apply wax over the surface, the wax is
too thick to penetrate into the pits and crevices. This is why oxidized boats usually never shine like they did when new,
and more importantly, why wax doesn’t last long. Because air is trapped in the holes and crevices under the wax, the
gelcoat can oxidize underneath the wax! Fiberglass sealers like Vertglas avoid this problem by filling in all the holes, pits
and crevices in the gelcoat surface.
FIBERGLASS SEALERS
Unlike wax, a fiberglass sealer penetrates into the gelcoat surface, filling in the microscopic holes and crevices to prevent
future oxidation. The sealer provides a barrier between the environment and the gelcoat, cutting off the chemical reaction
which creates oxidation. Because it fills in the surface so well, a sealer can provide a brighter shine than wax. Sealers also
provide a much harder surface than wax, so they last much longer and don’t require maintenance as frequently.
FIBERGLASS WAX
Historically, boats have been maintained using either wax or polish. Waxes cover the surface and provide a barrier
between the elements and the gelcoat surface. Waxes work well for boats in good condition, but not so well for older
boats which have weathered a bit. After a while, the wax wears off and the elements oxidize the surface of the gelcoat
(similar to how rust occurs on steel or iron), resulting in a faded or dull appearance. You can remove the oxidation and
reapply wax, but the wax simply covers over the pits and holes in the gelcoat surface, trapping air under the wax and
starting the oxidation process again. Typically, using wax on gelcoat which has been oxidized before will only last about
a month before the shine fades again.
FIBERGLASS POLISH
Polish products are similar to waxes, but they also contain a small amount of abrasive which rubs off some of the oxidation
and can restore a shine to the surface. These products work best for boats which are only slightly oxidized. Polishing
compounds are a similar product which have more abrasives and can remove heavier oxidation, but do not provide any
protection afterwards, so you will need to apply some protective coating after cleaning (preferably a sealer so the process
doesn’t begin again.)
FIBERGLASS CARE AND MAINTENANCE
