How Long Should it Take?

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fizerocks

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Now that I know how to properly run my HF buffer with Buff Magic, how long can I expect it to take me to do a 29' boat. Above and below the rub rail.

Thanks - James
 
I do one hour a day for topsides, every spring. If I do more, I get tired of doing it.
When the boat is up on land, our 28 ft'er takes about 4 hours, for the hull, with me and my wife working on it.
 
With two people 4hrs should be easy. Get a system going...for BM have one person applying and the other buffing. You can do both sides in less than an hour. The top deck maybe another hour or less. Do the same for the Pro Polish and you'll be done in 4 hrs or less then go crack open a cold beer and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
 
When they say to apply a thin translucent layer working in a 2x2 area, does this mean over the entire area? Or do you apply a thin layer over a smaller area and then work it into a 2x2 area?
 
Apply a thin layer over a 2x2 or 2x3 area and work it into that area. Then repeat.
 
How long should it take? I don't think anyone can possibly know that answer without knowing what condition your gel coat is in and what condition you're in. I've seen people get the job done twice as fast as I do but not do an adequate job.
 
It all depends, as previously mentioned. Depends on how what the condition the gelcoat is to start with and what you expect from the results. I would estimate 2 to 4 days for a 29' boat. No sense running a buffer just to say you buffed it. Not every area can be done with the buffer; those area have to be done by hand and slows things down.
 
It takes me (alone) all day ( 10+ hours) to do my 22 ft. Some gelcoat is in great shape, some takes some extra polishing. My boat is on a trailer right now, so I do get under it and do every inch I can. I use the buffer for most of it, but some areas are good old elbow grease.
 
It takes me about 5 or 6 hours, working alone, with a rotary buffer to do my 30' boat below the rubrails when it is out of the water.
That's just for one step. I usually go back another day for the next step, and then apply the finish wax by hand. That takes about 2 to 3 hours.
I've all but given up using the rotary on the topsides because there are just too many areas that you have to do by hand anyway.
Having an assistant could possibly cut that time in half. Switching from spreading, to the machine, and back to buffing off the residue by hand takes a lot of time and involves a lot more up and down on the ladder.
Having an assistant who can use a rotary buffer would be even better because you could switch off every once in a while.
 
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