Thanks to all who have responded.  I really appreciate the advice. I think I’ll try measures other than Penetrol for now and see what I can do with a pressure washer followed by some compound (if needed) and wax.  

This list is a great resource.

Frank

S/V “Mary Bess”
(1985 Rhodes, refurbished 2001)
Lake Keowee, SC

> On Sep 29, 2020, at 9:08 AM, ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Frank,
> 
> Restoration depends on how faded your gel coat is.  The first step is get the hull really clean.  I like to use a pressure washer with a wide angle spray. Even so, be careful not to “erase” things like the waterline stripe, boat name, W/C registration numbers, home port, etc.  After the hull is clean, try using a polish wax product and see if you can rub out the faded gel coat in some small area.  If that doesn’t work, you will have to go to rubbing compound.  Start with the finest grit and go to coarser grits as necessary.  When you finally find a suitable abrasive, you can go at the entire hull with a lot of elbow grease.  You can expect to go thru an entire can of rubbing compound and the job will take many hours of hard labor.  To save my shoulders, I like to use an orbital buffer. However, when using an orbital buffer, you must be much more careful not to grind all the way thru the gel coat.  If you do grind down all the way thru the gel coat, you will be looking at a topsides paint job.  So be careful and use a light touch! After the hull is buffed out, again clean it thoroughly, and then wax it.
> 
> Roger Pihlaja
> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Sep 29, 2020, at 12:26 AM, Michael Weisner <mweisner at ebsmed.com> wrote:
>> 
>> ?Frank,I posted my results using elbow grease and some compounding. Check out Restoring gelcoathttp://rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/2020-July/085213.htmlMike
>> 
>> s/v Wind Lass ('91)
>> Nissequogue River, NY
>> -------- Original message --------From: Frank Goldsmith <goldsmith.cf at gmail.com> Date: 9/28/20  9:27 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Cleaning the hull Listmates, do you have any tips on how to restore the shine to a faded  hull?  My once-beautiful blue hull with the red trim around the waterline is now pretty dull, and I want to have it again look as a Rhodes should look.  A fellow at our sailing club suggested that I apply Penetrol, which apparently is a paint additive — has anyone tried that?  Thanks,FrankFrank GoldsmithS/V “Mary Bess”Lake Keowee, SC