Looking for a quick way to protect the fiberglass

[Astontibs]

I just finished prepping the RV for the season which included powerwashing the exterior. It looks much better and the power washer got off 90% of the grime and spots on the fiberglass. Upon close inspection, I can see micro cracking on the gel coat and the surface does not feel as smooth as I would like. I now I should spend several days polishing and waxing to protect the surface, but I still work full time and do not have the time to do it right. What products are out there that are spray on that will give me some protection until I can do it right?

[miniedmo]

Expensive but works really well.

https://www.amazon.com/303-Touchless.../dp/B07NJXYQBW

[Jkwilson1989]

A building. Nothing you wipe or rub on is even close.

[Triangle Drifter]

No such thing as easy when it comes to gelcoat. If you have chalking or other damage from neglect of some sort a gee wiz product is not going to fix it. It might make matters worse by being more difficult to remove when the proper job is attempted.

A gelcoated RV is something like a boat, a bit easier, it requires regular proper maintenance to keep it looking good & holding value.

[astrnmrtom]

Originally Posted by miniedmo

Expensive but works really well.

https://www.amazon.com/303-Touchless.../dp/B07NJXYQBW

I've used the Maguiar's version and I like it. It will provide some protection and water beading. Unfortunately, gelcoat takes work to keep in shape.

[Dutch Star Don]

NuFinish, available at Walmart, is a liquid that is easy to use and lasts as long as the high-end wax products.....I know this because I have a closet full of different wax products.

One of the issues people have with older coaches is that the gelcoat gets dry and applying wax becomes difficult. My Class C after 12 years of being parked outside, even though it was waxed three times a year, the gelcoat got dry and it was difficult to apply wax.

Here's a secret I found that will save some work until you're ready to really go crazy on it. Get a can of Pledge furniture polish and spray it on an area before you wax and then apply whatever wax you want. The Pledge makes for a slick surface and keeps the wax from gumming up.

Another tip, remove the screw on lid to the NuFinish, remove the inner cap liner and drill an 1/8th hole in the center of the cap. Reinstall the cap and use the bottle as a squirt bottle. When done, reinstall the inner cap liner.

[Winemaker2]

"Another tip, remove the screw on lid to the NuFinish, remove the inner cap liner and drill an 1/8th hole in the center of the cap. Reinstall the cap and use the bottle as a squirt bottle. When done, reinstall the inner cap liner."

DSD
Good tip.

If you just remove the cap I will guarantee you will have a spill of some sort. I used a lot of NuFinish and always saved bottle tops with squirt tops... those upside down ketchup bottles work well - just poor it in and mark the bottle after rinsing out the remaining ketchup.

If all you want to do is protect from further UV damage until you can do a proper job 303 Aerospace Protectant is a UV block. The finish probably won't look any better but it will protect from UV.

I started using the fairly new 303 Gralhene Nano finish. It is EZ on/off. I spray it onto a small foam allicator and work small (2'x2') areas. Thecresults are dependant on the surface finish it is applied to (as are all waxes & polishes) the new Graphese has a very smooth and hydrophobic property so water beads like crazy and bird dropping, dirt etc washes off amazingly EZ.

Don't think about how big a job it is to do the whole MH properly. Get set up and do a section at a time and just work your way around as time permits. A dual action buffer, foam pads and the some swirl remover, compound, etc will be reqd. Once surface is preped & shiney use your favorite finish to protect it... NuFinish used to be my go to until I used the 303 Graphene Nano.

[Astontibs]

Thank you for the tips so far. I know I need to jump on this, but exterior maintenance is not my thing. I am always on top of the mechanical and electrical maintenance, but the washing/waxing stuff I always let go.

[PoliGlow]

Originally Posted by Astontibs

I just finished prepping the RV for the season which included powerwashing the exterior. It looks much better and the power washer got off 90% of the grime and spots on the fiberglass. Upon close inspection, I can see micro cracking on the gel coat and the surface does not feel as smooth as I would like. I now I should spend several days polishing and waxing to protect the surface, but I still work full time and do not have the time to do it right. What products are out there that are spray on that will give me some protection until I can do it right?

The most difficult part of protecting the fiberglass is making sure the fiberglass is free of any oxidation, that white chalky layer. Darker colored fiberglass tends to oxidize more severely than lighter colors. If the oxidation is not completely removed then whatever product you apply will sit on top of the oxidized surface and that product will break down rather quickly. There really is no way around the hard work of removing that oxidized layer. We typically recommend an oxalic acid-based powder cleanser along with a 3M ultra-fine sanding pad to really get the gelcoat down to a dull but uniform surface where your protective product can then be applied. You also want to make sure the product that you are applying has ample UV protectants to protect your hard work of removing the oxidized layer. Fiberglass is very porous and becomes more porous as it ages and dirt and grime can embed into those pores. There are many choices out there on what to put on the gelcoat, waxes typically sit on the surface and do not embed and seal those pores; they break down with each washing.

[TXiceman]

A good polish buff with something like NuFinish, then complete with Poly-Glo. It is work and time consuming but will look great.

Ken

[Dutch Star Don]

Originally Posted by Astontibs

Thank you for the tips so far. I know I need to jump on this, but exterior maintenance is not my thing. I am always on top of the mechanical and electrical maintenance, but the washing/waxing stuff I always let go.

Often if you try to find someone to wash/wax your coach at home it can be pricey. However, we often see detailing crews at campgrounds. they usually have 2-3 guys and do a good job at a reasonable price. On your next trip, see it the campground recommends a detail crew.

The older I get the tougher cleaning a 12' high, 40' coach gets. As I'm typing this, I'm resting my 66 year old back and rebuilt knees after washing the coach this morning.