Thank you for the great review Andrew. The reason for Optimum Power Clean isn’t as a degreaser. It’s real purpose in this job is to remove any loose oxidized Gelcoat. Next time you get a really chalky surface, scrub one portion with Optimum Power Clean, another with the degreaser of your choice, rinse and dry, you will see a difference between the 2 sides. Optimum Power Clean is used by many Gelcoat related industries to prep it for either restoration or polishing.
Thank you for clarifying! I greatly appreciate you introducing this product to me and all of the great things you have done for the detailing industry. I look forward to doing some more comparison tests with some of your products to clarify.
@@LacroixCruiser I bought all of the optimum products used in this video and attempted to restore the gel coat on one of the locker doors of my 2014 winnebago vista today. I must be doing something wrong because after 4 coats of the gel restorer it is pretty blotchy with dull and shiny patches. Are there any clearer instructions for applying the gelcoat restorer? I am using pearl weave cloths and spraying them lightly, then applying the restorer lightly to the gelcoat. I'm going to have another attempt tomorrow perhaps rubbing each coat in for longer?
Nice video! I’ve been a professional detailer for over 15 years specializing in gelcoat restoration ,I think after applying all of those coats and then waiting and reapplying it it would be better off to just buff it, Nice video though just my opinion if you have any other products that are easily to remove oxidation let me know! And keep up the good work!!
My experience with Optimum Gel coat restorer was not good. Buyer beware. Andrew Steele made it look easy and could have used other examples of oxidation conditions. The camper he worked on appeared to have minimal oxidation. Good Luck!
I am not a regular subscriber to this particular channel so I am not biased towards his content. But after finding this particular video almost a year ago I was hired to restore the gelcoat on an RV. It had been obviously neglected for years and after following this guy's directions to a "t" so to speak I was able to wow my client after the 4th application. My client loved the end result so much that he referred me to someone else and I am presently using this product. Optimums gel coat restoration used in this particular video to provide the same results for this particular client.
This product did not work on my toy hauler. This product is no different from ZEP floor polish which can be purchased at Home depot for $27. The company even stated that you could wash and reuse their microfiber towels. When the towels were washed they were still rock hard once dry. I prepped and performed a test spot on my toy hauler and it didn't work as the company rep stated. I still have a full unused bottle left.
Gel coat is the coating sprayed up against a highly polished mold at the beginning of the fiberglass layup process. This process results in the smooth, mirror-like finish typical of new RVs. With the passage of time, unprotected gel coat will oxidize and eventually take on a chalky appearance.
Andrew I’ve used it on motorhomes and boats I actually am an opti coat installer I thought a lot like you did you didn’t need there cleaner but after doing several of these I found that there power clean is the only way to go. There Ceramic coats are great for vehicles but I still agree with you I own a tiffin motorhome as well and I would not Ceramic Coat it simply do to cost and maintaining it for the average person would be difficult but on vehicles and motorcycles it is the only way to go I will never go with out it on any of my vehicles great videos
Total shocker, a Keystone product with a jacked gelcoat. Have a 2015 Keystone Bullet Premiere with a wrecked front cap. Was glossy brown, now grey. 3K+ to fix. Well done Keystone!
@@RVingwithAndrewSteele Thanks Andrew...I may have to try this voodoo magic. Sadly, I honestly think its beyond repair. Known issues with the tinted gelcoat on '14 and above brown front caps from Keystone. Seems they are using a more appropriate paint and gelcoat on 18's and above. Great vid's brother.
@@xdcsdiverx Thank you! It's definitely worth giving it a shot. This brown 2015 keystone had turned white and completely came back. Let me know if you give it a try. Thanks for watching!
This seems to be same as Zep wet look floor wax. If you wrap the microfiber towel onto a swifter type mop and apply in strokes from the top down it will take 1/2 hour per coat. Do 4 coats with the zep and boom.........shiny like new rv.
This product does not work!! I used it on an oxidized boat almost 6 coats later it looks terrible! Leaves a streaky mess! Old fashion buff and wax works best on gelcoat.
We lived in New Orleans for 3 years and it destroyed out brand new top SHINE coat..is that oxidation? Can you tell me what to do please with these if these are the ones that can GIVE ME BACK THE SINE to our rv? Do I need to use a electric polisher over the entire 45ft rv =( or is there an easier way? Thanks great video
Hello there! I have 2004 Gulf Stream Crescendo 8356 with revolutionary fiberglass dye and high-end automotive paint, and deluxe exterior paint graphics. How should I go about restoring the finish from oxidation?
Great question, I don't believe this product is designed for vinyl decal so I stayed away from them. I will check with this company to see if they know of any products that may help restore the decals.
@@LacroixCruiser What about the black metal frames around the windows/ramp or the metal black skirting around the bottom? To see what I'm talking about, here's my rig: rv-therapy.com/ourrigs/2016-keystone-outback-324cg/ . Should those be avoided and taped off?
Similar ammount of time but much better results and you don't have to buy all of the buffing equipment. It also takes a much higher skill level to run a high speed buffer.
@@tdawg719 yes. I would put it in a spray bottle and mist the Pro weave towel with the product. I over saturated the towel and could have used much less product. Also, I'd cut you towel in to four pieces and use a fresh towel on every pannel. Immediately soak in water to clean the towels before they dry or they will harden.
I prepped with the Opt cleaner. Went over 2x to make sure all oxidation was gone (not bad oxidation on my motor home). I then did very light 1st and 2nd coats using pearl cloth. 2 ft square areas on one of my slides. 3rd coat began to see some shiny spots, but mostly dull spots and lots of swirls like when applying wax. So applied a 4th coat. Just a little more shiny spots but still a lot of dull spots and still lots of swirls. I called Ron at Optimum and he tells me to apply polish then 5th coat and if that does not work apply paint thinner or mineral spirits to my gelcoat to remove/level restorer and then apply another coat. I am thinking it is not a good idea to apply paint thinner to my gelcoat...and what about the swirls on my decals? Do you have any suggestions Andrew? I asked Ron at Optimum why they do not have any detailed demonstration videos and/or more detailed instructions and he said they do not have the staff to make videos or write detailed instructions. I was not expecting that response. It is obvious (by this thread alone), many folks are having issues with the application of the Optimum Gel Coat Restorer. Doesn’t Optimum care enough to address the issues their customers are having? My entire slide looks worse now than before and I have no idea how to cure it.
No reply from Andrew and the folks at Opt replied with an "Oh well" more or less and told me to try sing paint thinner again to get rid if the dull swirls. Tried it in a very small section of maroon decals and they bled immediately so Paint thinner is B.S.!
@@dhope58 I noticed he replied to others though not to your comments. Also I don't see any follow up videos so I'm guessing this stuff is a scam. Thank you for adding your comments. I"m going to call this a SCAM until someone proves me wrong, ,which is what I hope happens.
I have a 43' 5th wheel. How much power clean and gelcoat restorer and microfiber towels would I need to do my whole coach? Can you do large sections for each coat or should I stick to small say 2x2 sections which would seem very time consuming if I'd have to let each section dry for 20-30 mins between coats.
Dawn also gets rid of stubborn odors in your water & holding tanks. We had tried all the commercial products and even bleach but our fresh water still had a stinky smell. Dawn cleaned it right up.
Dawn works great but sometimes it doesn’t remove the sealants. Depends on the strength of the sealant. Here’s why you may think it’s removed but it’s not using Dawn. Dawn has a rinse aid in it that prevents water spotting. It leaves a temporary film on the surface that it was used on. That film will show water behavior that mimics an unprotected surface. Just thought I’d throw that out there
I tried this it's expensive and crap but you can make your own, toilet bowl cleaner, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and soft soap mix equal parts except ammonia that should be 6 cap fulls 5 lts will cost £10 GP, work on with brush or spray leave for ten minutes only then wash off only do 2 meters at a time you must at all times ware a mask
@@RVingwithAndrewSteele its a 2017 Outlaw Class C camper. The top cap is severely oxidized and the rear door as well. The owners purchased the permaplate "protective" coating, which clearly did nothing... Hoping this will give them a bit more protection down the road. Ill keep you posted! Great videos, keep it up. I wouldn't have considered this route had I not come across your video.
GovG33k hey....I can’t say that I would. I did not get the results I was looking for. I used the product exactly as directed and I wasn’t overly impressed. The only thing I can think of, is I used it in cooler conditions 40-45f. I honestly think the old fashioned way of cutting with a rotary and then polishing is less work. Just my .02. I know some people have had amazing results with it though.
I bought a valuable 1970s sofa at auction in France. It has a white fiberglass shell that forms the back and sides. The front is upholstered in tufted leather. I sent the piece to a high end restorer in Paris. They stripped off the upholstery and sent the shell to a marine restorer to repaint with Gelcoat. It came back looking new but the workshop said the painters had to repaint the piece over again three times to get it to look perfect. So anything that would restore an existing finish would be welcome.
With practice, those lines will no longer exist. Like anything it takes some practice to get right. Those fine lines can be easily eliminated with a quick pass with a polisher.
@@LacroixCruiserThis may be a dumb question... Should I just use the polish pad not the electric buffer to go over those fines? I am finished with the 3rd coat on my RV and going to start the 4th and have been using the product as "less is more" but seeing lots of swirling so far. I am just doing the back cap today to see how this process goes. Thanks!
Carl Rhineberger give it another coat, but apply just a little more. Make sure you are using a pearl weave towel, and for your final pass, go in straight lines.
I was about to buff out the 5th wheel and stumbled upon your video. Does this product absorb into the gel coat or is it a just a coating layer? Can it be compounded and polished after application? Also looks like you did not apply over the decals. Can I be applied over decals? You should put up a link and get a little kick back because, if this stuff works as advertised, it’s the only way to go. Thanks buddy!
I tried a similar product Poli OX and it works but it is labor intensive. Took me a whole day to do 1 side of my toyhauler... At least 5-6 coats, but it works and clears scratches!
Have u tried this on a black gel coat? Just did one myself and had a lot of trouble trying to finish it with minimal streaking, just wondering if it’s possible
Decals are temporary surface so there's not very much you can do about that other than taking them off and replacing them. I wish there was a better solution for decals but unfortunately they only have a five to 10-year shelf life. I will definitely make future videos on anyting I learn to solve this problem.
Awesome Job!!!!! Thumbs up! 100+! In case no one asked, how much should I expect to pay for this job to be done? From a perspective of not getting ripped off. There's always a critic, just look at what CNN has done to our country? Hypocrites much?
I keep hearing the term "professional" thrown around alot. If you make money doing this work, I can see why you're saying this but to not be able to master gelcoat after being around it for as long as you claim makes you afraid of it and that's not professional. Optimum should have found someone who knew what they were doing before applying their product. What detailer doesn't have a scuff pad?
I used the RedMax Pro method. Predecessor to the Zep from what I read. The process was exactly the same. Here is my experience with a class b. Worked great, after 5 years, its still protecting the steel painted panels. The fiberglass panels, lasted about 2 years then a lot flaked off leaving some glossy spots. This is an old rig, an 85. I am in the process of trying to get the rest off to prep to redo, its on there pretty good. I am thinking one of 2 things. My prep was not good enough, or the RMP did not like the expansion and contraction of the fiberglass. Not sure if I will RMP the fiberglass again or not. I have dont it twice over a period of 10 years.
What makes this a breakthrough product? Folks try a product and if it DOESN'T perform as advertised or as shown by a professional on YT then the product is no good. There are many factors why the end result is less than desired. Having to put 5 or more coats is not a breakthrough for me. For most RV owners, keep it clean, and covered at least or out of direct sun when not in use. For the lazy types, let it go till ready to sell, pay someone to do it once. You can tell I'm getting old 😁🇺🇸
I hear there is a new product called ‘Turtle wax’ that is the bomb. Shine rated to last for 20 years. As a bonus it decreases wind resistance and increases fuel economy 🙄
You love the sound of your own voice too much. Never discussed removing after application? Are you just going over each without removing prior application?
I used this on my boat and it sucks. It streaks and yes I prepped it right. It looks blotchy and streaky and I am having a heck of a time getting it off. Gonna try floor stripper because this is all this is is floor wax. I did use their special towel too.
a good, honest assessment of a product. thats why your successful, honesty, integrity, quality of service. stay safe, scratch sadie for me. another great vid and channel is getting bigger still. awesome.
Honey_the_Golden Bubbies there are different weaves of towels. For Optimum Gelcoat Restorer a Pearl weave towel is the best. Some MF towels are quite fluffy, and with Optimum Gelcoat Restorer they would apply too much product at a time.
Andrew, quick question. Buying a new Newmar coach. They are wanting to sell me a Teflon coating after market at delivery. What are your feelings on this please.
@@RVingwithAndrewSteele thank you so much. Another question. When I take delivery in December. It will be close to you. What do you recommend for a new coach finish? Costing, wax, etc.. You and your staff will be my official detailers. I love your channel. Each day I look forward to your new video. Thank you due your time to do these..
This was a terrible application video. You really didn't show any techniques on how to apply it. Maybe get a ladder so you can reach the top without jumping. You say you're a perfectionist, but this video tells me otherwise.
Actually, I tried it with a few different types of towels and there's something about that specific towel they give you. As I mentioned in the video, I didn't see anything special about the degreaser but I definitely noticed a difference in the microfiber towel.
RVing with Andrew Steele I just bought some and will try it on my boat this summer and report back. If the microfiber towel was so important they should include it with the product IMO. Seems like an up sell to me but that’s how some people do business. I do understand that prep is very important. Do you know if the product is also good for maintenance & prevention on new gelcoat?
@@Tothefloor I don't see it as an upsell. If you're buying this product often, do you really need all those towels with each order? I look at it another way, the product is cheaper because they're not including additional materials you likely already have when you make another purchase.
@@GovG33k You don't get it. They say you should us THEIR towel. Only theirs will work with the product. Any other generic microfiber towel "that you already have" won't work well. UP SELL!
@@Tothefloor That's a bit presumptuous, I get it AND I don't agree with you. :) My point assumes that you've ALREADY purchased their towel and wax as recommended, so there isn't a need to purchase both their towel and wax again in a kit, you would just purchase the wax without the towel, at a lower cost. Many people have attested that their towel is different and make a difference. They're designed to work together, I don't believe this is some nefarious scheme to steal your $4 as an upsell. But you do you, nobody is taking anyone to jail if they don't follow the tested and proven instructions.
Eric Powell , Hey Eric I used Meguiars 4901 for ox removal with wool rotary. Meguiars M2164 mirror glaze synthetic sealant to finish. Seems to work ok for a novice like me.
This was my first time using the product so I was learning as I go. The art is in not letting the towel get to saturated with the product. I will play with the product more and try to get some better tips. It was very user-friendly, I am just always trying to achieve perfection results.
That is a great question. I believe it would react the same way but I recommend checking with Opti coat directly. I'm pretty sure I recall seeing a video of them applying this to a boat.
@@RVingwithAndrewSteele thx. Another question. I ran into someone w a 95 RV. Looked new. I hav 94 that looks like 94. He told me he cleaned then used mop-n-glow to keep its luster. Opinion on this?
@@anthonypeterson5618 I did something similar because I got tired of trying all those Gel Coat formulas that didn't work, so I cleaned my Casita really good then put Floor Wax on it, now it doesn't last for more than a year. I'm getting ready to strip with Zep Wax stripper and then re-apply the wax coat. It worked NICE the first time so I'll do it again. I wonder why he didn't answer you back, maybe he thought you were joking but I learned about this Wax thing after watching tons of videos and working hard trying to get my Casita to look nice again, thought my arms were going to fall of from all that wax on wax off motions and buffing so much with the "Gel Coats and other promising products that didn't work. Try the Floor Wax it works just like floor Wax does looks really nice too plus it lower cost I was happy with it.
I had oxidation on one side of my fifth wheel, two coats of this made it look a lot better, but 6 months later it looks awful. I hired an RV detailer to buff it out and ceramic coat it. He couldn't get the buff to come out right, he said it is this product and it is almost impossible to remove! I am looking at weeks of work and many thousands of dollars to get this stuff off so my RV can be properly buffed and coated.
Absolute garbage. I warn anyone who is about to try this on an oxidized boat not to waste your money. There is no easy way out other than buffing, wetsanding, then a wax.
I messed up and used bleach on my rooftop and it ran down the side of my fiberglass siding on my trailer, now it has streaks that go down the one side, do you know if there is a way to polish those back out of the gelcoat?
Hello Andrew, great videos. We are lured to your honesty and hard work. My question: We have a Tiffin Allegro Breeze and hit some tree branches. We now have some scratches on the side from these. I use electric buffer but my wax is not removing them. What product do you use to buff out the scratches without damaging the clear coat? Thx for your help and keep up the great videos!
Try a correction compound with a microfiber cutting disk, a few years ago I made a video with David Bott called scratch removal the easy way. In that video, I show some of my tricks
"We are lured to your honesty and hard work" so you should maybe think about being "lured" a little closer to where Andrew is and have him and big Tony do your coach.
@@RVingwithAndrewSteele, there are 355 videos for david bott so difficult to locate that one. we have been following him for years. that is how we found you when washing his bus in AZ. then we subscribed to your vids when you started. thx
