Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > Boating > Boat Repairs & Maintenance
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Calendar Register FAQDonate Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-09-2021, 03:37 PM   #1
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default PWC Restoration

Soooo...my wife drove my Sea-Doo the other day and now wants one. 30 minutes after doing so, a friend messaged that he was selling his and now it looks like I'll be buying it Saturday.

The issue is that it's a '12 that has been mechanically maintained perfectly but not so much cosmetically.

Any suggestions for: restoring "black" to the plastics, cleaning up the gauge cluster, cleaning down the hull, etc.?

I currently use SC-1 on my new machine, and it works amazingly well, but I think that's for maintaining what hasn't already been lost.

Thanks!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2021, 03:46 PM   #2
JTA
Senior Member
 
JTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Fort Pierce, Florida
Posts: 233
Thanks: 33
Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts
Default

Have her ride it a few times then she’ll want a new one. If it’s a two stroke shell definitely want a new one. Problem solved. Get your order in now for next year delivery.
JTA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2021, 04:16 PM   #3
FlyingScot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Tuftonboro and Sudbury, MA
Posts: 2,208
Thanks: 1,108
Thanked 934 Times in 576 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JTA View Post
Have her ride it a few times then she’ll want a new one. If it’s a two stroke shell definitely want a new one. Problem solved. Get your order in now for next year delivery.
Think, for a guy who is usually such a good thinker, I'm a bit surprised you do not see where this is headed...

Take JTA's advice--the second best PWC is going to be yours
FlyingScot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2021, 04:25 PM   #4
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyingScot View Post
Think, for a guy who is usually such a good thinker, I'm a bit surprised you do not see where this is headed...

Take JTA's advice--the second best PWC is going to be yours
Hahahaha!

Soooo...dear wife can't open the storage on my ski (it's the direct access with kinda hard pull tabs to open), so she'll be getting the older one.

At the price I'm getting it for, I should be able to use it a year or two and sell it for at least what I'm paying. I'll be just under 100 hours on my ski with a TON of riding last year, so I'm thinking 50 hours a summer at most.

At that point, we'll know if she's actually gonna ride!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2021, 05:37 PM   #5
ITD
Senior Member
 
ITD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Moultonboro, NH
Posts: 2,855
Thanks: 459
Thanked 659 Times in 365 Posts
Default

Bring it to the fiberglass place a little down from Dasylvas, they can make it look new, not sure how much, but I had some minor damage repaired there a while back, they were reasonable and you could not tell where the damage was.
ITD is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 09-09-2021, 05:39 PM   #6
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ITD View Post
Bring it to the fiberglass place a little down from Dasylvas, they can make it look new, not sure how much, but I had some minor damage repaired there a while back, they were reasonable and you could not tell where the damage was.
Unique Restoration?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2021, 05:45 PM   #7
ITD
Senior Member
 
ITD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Moultonboro, NH
Posts: 2,855
Thanks: 459
Thanked 659 Times in 365 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thinkxingu View Post
Unique Restoration?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Yes, thank you.
ITD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2021, 06:14 PM   #8
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ITD View Post
Yes, thank you.
Thanks for the tip. I'll give them a ring to get a sense of pricing.

Anyone have favorite products for what I'm doing? I just read an article on using a heat gun to bring black plastics back, so that may be an option...

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2021, 06:42 PM   #9
8gv
Senior Member
 
8gv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,002
Thanks: 61
Thanked 700 Times in 455 Posts
Default

Pull tabs…
For a small fee I will not inform her on the miracle potion called WD40!
8gv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2021, 06:47 PM   #10
TiltonBB
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Gilford, NH and Florida
Posts: 2,881
Thanks: 637
Thanked 2,146 Times in 893 Posts
Default

Depending upon what the problem is try "Back to Black". It is sold where you buy automotive wax.

I use it when I get wax on black things like mirror trim and it works great. I used it on my Yamaha Waverunner and it really brought the color out on the black trim.
TiltonBB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-10-2021, 08:36 AM   #11
Merrymeeting
Senior Member
 
Merrymeeting's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham
Posts: 2,216
Thanks: 299
Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thinkxingu View Post
Soooo...dear wife can't open the storage on my ski (it's the direct access with kinda hard pull tabs to open), so she'll be getting the older one.
I sympathize. I almost can't open it on ours. Every time I use it I think, "What were the designers thinking, and did they even try it before building?!"
Merrymeeting is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-10-2021, 09:59 AM   #12
Descant
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Merrimack and Welch Island
Posts: 4,003
Thanks: 1,203
Thanked 1,498 Times in 975 Posts
Default Diamondshine

You've seen my posts elsewhere. I think Diamondshine and ceramic coating can do exactly what you want. My 1994 Sea Ray looks brand new. They can give you an estimate on the phone: 293-0378. Not cheap, but very fair pricing for top quality work.
Descant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-10-2021, 10:21 AM   #13
4 for Boating
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 210
Thanks: 1
Thanked 37 Times in 25 Posts
Default Another Path

Another way is to have the ski wrapped - new custom set of decals.

Do a search on eBay - you will find a host of vendors that offer wraps for the exact ski you have.

Of course I'm not sure what state the ski is in but in some cases this gives an appearance of better than new given the custom looks you can get

Good luck and send us some before and after shots independent of your direction
4 for Boating is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to 4 for Boating For This Useful Post:
thinkxingu (09-10-2021)
Old 09-10-2021, 10:40 AM   #14
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

Great ideas, thanks all.

I've got messages in at Diamond Shine and Unique Restoration.

It appears wrap kits start at $200 and go up from there.

Ultimately, what I do will be heavily dependent on price. Though I'm getting the ski/trailer for a very good price, the value will be greatly diminished (without affecting overall enjoyment) if I put too much money into cosmetics.

Back to Black sounds good—anything else people might suggest?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to thinkxingu For This Useful Post:
DotRat (09-10-2021)
Old 09-10-2021, 02:34 PM   #15
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

I'll update with notes: Unique Restoration does not have a "chemical" process to restore—they would simply replace what needed to be replaced and, if necessary, work on fiberglass repair.

The "products" approach, I was told, might get it to 80%, which may be very sufficient.

For a suggestion of whom else to connect with, he offered Getty and Diamond Shine.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-10-2021, 06:34 PM   #16
ITD
Senior Member
 
ITD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Moultonboro, NH
Posts: 2,855
Thanks: 459
Thanked 659 Times in 365 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thinkxingu View Post
I'll update with notes: Unique Restoration does not have a "chemical" process to restore—they would simply replace what needed to be replaced and, if necessary, work on fiberglass repair.

The "products" approach, I was told, might get it to 80%, which may be very sufficient.

For a suggestion of whom else to connect with, he offered Getty and Diamond Shine.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Good people there, thanks for the update.
ITD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2021, 07:43 AM   #17
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

Ok, so I got the ski yesterday. Runs great and, cosmetically, is pretty good. There are three major things I'll need to figure out: scuffs on the fiberglass, restoring the black color of some of the plastics, and figuring out what to do with the deck/feet padding. I'll post photos of what I'm starting with later.

My starting ideas: heat gun and/or SC1 for the blacks, WD-40 for any stickers/remaining glue residue, and Magic Erasers for the scuffs.

Thoughts on any of these? I know I need to be gentle with the Magic Erasers, but it appears if I am that they might solve that problem.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2021, 05:48 AM   #18
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

OK, I got the stickers off and cleaned up using WD-40. Yay!

It appears the black plastics will be fine with a coat or two of SC-1.

I need help with the last two things: scuff marks from ratchet straps (the previous owner threw a strap over the back of the ski to tie down rather than use the tow loops) and some orangish water stains in the footwells.

I've seen some good things about Bar Keepers friend, and it's cheap. The alternative I've found is Starlite Hull Cleaner.

Thoughts on either of these?
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2021, 10:39 AM   #19
codeman671
Senior Member
 
codeman671's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,343
Thanks: 206
Thanked 759 Times in 443 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Merrymeeting View Post
I sympathize. I almost can't open it on ours. Every time I use it I think, "What were the designers thinking, and did they even try it before building?!"
I have an '18 and a '20, mine are both a nightmare to open.
codeman671 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2021, 12:55 PM   #20
fatlazyless
Senior Member
 
fatlazyless's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 8,506
Blog Entries: 1
Thanks: 291
Thanked 950 Times in 692 Posts
Default

For any vinyl trim suggest you go with Turtle Wax trim restorer, $6.97 at Wallyworld, and a small scrubber sponge. It's this thick gooey clear stuff that soaks into the vinyl and works best on a warm day. ..... works on tire side walls too to give those Goodyear Viva-3 black tires a fancy EXOTIC look and make them look like $150-big money tires.
__________________
... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!
fatlazyless is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2021, 09:54 PM   #21
8gv
Senior Member
 
8gv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,002
Thanks: 61
Thanked 700 Times in 455 Posts
Default

While I have no experience with PWC plastics I can tell you what helped my dirt bike plastics look better.

I used Armor All and they looked shiny and new.

For light scuffs on fiberglass try Meguiar's Scratch X available at auto parts stores.

It has worked well on the light dock rash on my boat.
8gv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2021, 05:59 AM   #22
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 8gv View Post
While I have no experience with PWC plastics I can tell you what helped my dirt bike plastics look better.

I used Armor All and they looked shiny and new.

For light scuffs on fiberglass try Meguiar's Scratch X available at auto parts stores.

It has worked well on the light dock rash on my boat.
How long after you used Armor All did you have the machines? I ask because there used to be a lot of talk about how AA would look nice at first but then dry plastics out to the point of cracking over time.

I've used the SC-1 stuff for two summers now and, in addition to giving a nice gloss and slightly darker blacks, it acts like Rain-X, making water bead off and almost no maintenance required. It's pretty awesome stuff...and smells nice, too!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2021, 08:32 AM   #23
8gv
Senior Member
 
8gv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,002
Thanks: 61
Thanked 700 Times in 455 Posts
Default

I have not heard about Armor All having that issue but right after my plastics were tuned up I sold the bike.
8gv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2021, 09:11 AM   #24
brk-lnt
Senior Member
 
brk-lnt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Down Shores
Posts: 1,937
Thanks: 532
Thanked 568 Times in 334 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thinkxingu View Post
I've seen some good things about Bar Keepers friend, and it's cheap. The alternative I've found is Starlite Hull Cleaner.

They both work, they're both mild abrasives. Depending on what the stain is actually from, an acid wash may also be a good option, assuming typical gelcoat in the footwells.
__________________
[insert witty phrase here]
brk-lnt is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to brk-lnt For This Useful Post:
DotRat (09-19-2021)
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:21 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 1.10134 seconds