Regal 42 Fly-Grande Coupe Owner'S Manual Download

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Cosmetic Care & Maintenance

FIBERGLASS & GELCOAT

Routine  maintenance
is  the  only  practical
way to keep the surface
of  your  boat  looking
shiny  and  new.  Most
objects  left  outdoors
will  gradually  dete-
riorate  from  expo-
sure to the sun, water,
dust  and  pollution.
Such  outdoor  expo-
sure  can  cause  your
boat’s  gelcoated  sur-
face to change or fade.
Darker  colors  tend  to
fade more rapidly than

lighter colors because they absorb more of the sun’s rays
(ultraviolet and infrared).
Basic maintenance includes monthly washing of the
boat’s surface to remove normal accumulation of soil and
stain. Use a mild detergent such as dishwasher powder or
liquid. Do not use automatic dishwasher detergent. Avoid
any kind of alkaline cleaners such as tri-sodium phos-
phate (TSP), abrasives, bleaches and ammonia. For best

results use cleaners that are recommended for fi berglass.

When the washing and waxing as recommended does
not restore the shine it may be necessary to use a fi ne
rubbing compound. Do not apply rubbing compound
in dir

ect sunlight. A power buff er at lower speeds does

an excellent job to remove impurities from the gel coat
that cause dulling. Use light pressure and keep the buff er

moving. Re-wax aft er compounding to buff the surface.
“Hairline cracks” or “spider webbing” could develop in
the gelcoat surface of a hull or deck. Th

is can be caused

by impact or other factors. Small air pockets or gouges
may also occur through normal wear. Th

ese do not aff ect

the strength of the hull or deck and can be repaired by
yourself, a marine professional or a Regal dealer.
Th

e aff ected area should be chipped or sanded away and

a thin layer of color matched gelcoat applied. Th

is layer

is then sanded smooth and buff ed to its original luster.
Most minor scratches, nicks, and dents can be removed
by compounding the surface. Marine type compounds
can be found at most auto body supply stores.
Specify a number 25 which is a coarser compound up to a
number 55 being less coarse. Various glazes and polishes
are available as needed. Ask your marine professional or
Regal dealer for more information. Fiberglass hulls are
strong but they can be damaged. A fi berglass hull has
virtually no internal stresses. Th

us when a part is bro-

ken or punctured, the rest of the hull retains its original
shape. A severe blow will either be absorbed or result in
a defi nite localized break. A break of this nature should
be checked and repaired by a marine professional or a
Regal dealer.

MINOR REPAIRS

You will need the following materials for minor repairs:

Gelcoat

Clear Liquid Catalyst

Putty Knife

Razor Blade

Fine Sandpaper (400,600,1000)

Wax Paper (to cover repair area)

It is recommended that you wax the gelcoat surface
twice yearly to prevent loss of gloss and to protect the
fi nish. Use only waxes for fi berglass and follow the label
instructions. Apply a 3’ x 3’ section at a time using clean
applicator cloths or a buffi

ng bonnet. When a haze devel-

ops, use a power buff er at low speeds (1200-2000 rpm) to
remove the haze. Keep the buff er moving to avoid heat
build-up. Never wax gelcoat in direct sun.

Regal 42 Fly-Grande Coupe, Owner'S Manual

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