Depends on the condition of your gel coat. I tried the rubbing compounds, cleaners, polishes, waxes, etc., etc., and found they did more to build muscle than they did to shine the boat. If you just have mild oxidation, use something like Softscrub cleaner with a green pad sponge to scrub off all the loose stuff, grit, and wax. ( use the abrasive side only on the stubborn spots) Then apply the Penatrol with a rag, allow a minute for it to penetrate the surface, and then wipe it off with a clean dry rag before it gets sticky. That's a key point. I know some people hate the stuff and I suspect they didn't get it wiped off soon enough, and then you've got a sticky mess. The can says five minutes. Don't believe it if it's warm out at all. The penetrol seems to work into old dry gel coat and gives it a soft satin sheen. People who've seen my boat don't believe it's 27 years old, and it was oxidized pretty bad before I started. I don't apply wax afterwards. I don't think it would stick very well. Reapplying the penetrol once or twice a year depending on the amount of time it sits in the sun seems to maintain the finish nicely without having to deoxidize it again.

On Tue, 18 Feb 2003 20:16:54 -0500 "Honshells" <chonshell@ia4u.net> writes:
>
> Greg Moore mentioned this product to me last week: First I'd heard
> of it. You can use Penetrol to brighten
> the gelcoat without first using rubbing compound or super-fine-grit
> sandpaper? Is the result comparable to
> rubbing compound? Do you apply wax after the Penetrol has done its
> work, to preserve the shine?
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Larry Yake
> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com
> Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 11:31 PM
> Subject: Aluminum Toe-Rail
>
> I used Marine Penetrol to restore the gel coat on Tullamore, and
> found it did a very nice job of brightening
> the toe-rail also. I reapply the penetrol about once a year and it
> keeps the boat looking good. It is
> available from West Marine.
> Larry Y.
>
> On Mon, 17 Feb 2003 21:29:02 -0500 "Honshells" <chonshell@ia4u.net>
> writes:
>
> Any way to "brighten up" the aluminum toe-rail on older Ms without
> repainting or applying a chemical that
> might damage the anodizing? Painting is the last thing I'd want to
> do, since I'd rather have a dull toe-rail
> than the maintenance of paint.
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
>
>