I've just been looking at the 303 Products technical data pages and found that their "Aerospace Protectant Spray" is recommended for the treatment of gel coat finishes.

Apparently, all you have to do is spray it onto a non-waxed surface (leave roof exposed to elements for a few weeks for the effectiveness of any existing wax to be reduced), and rub off with a soft rag while still wet.

Has anyone used it? It sounds to be the ideal treatment for Eriba roofs. Have a look here

Quote: Aaron Calder wrote in post #1

---

Has anyone used it?

---

I've ordered some gel coat protector and will report back when I've had chance to splodge in on the roof.

Quote: Pepé Le Pew wrote in post #3

---

Speaking of things with numbers in the name, I tried some ACF-50 on the underside of the jalopy. Now that stuff is highly recommended, and not just by me.

---

I made a start on treating the roof yesterday first by washing with car shampoo to remove the remnants of the Saharan dust, bird poo etc and then set to with gunge and elbow grease once it had dried.

In the past I have waxed the bits of the roof that I can access, the last time being in mid 2013 so it should have worn off long ago. However, the surface was a bit streaky and covered in places with a pale grey film. I soon found that rubbing the liquid into this surface was hard work - damned hard work - and I suspect that I probably would have been better off if I'd gone over the whole roof with a mild rubbing compound before using the protectant.

Anyway, I persevered and gradually the grey film disappeared and the gel coat started to gleam. I didn't have time to finish the job so the whole of the lifting part of the roof and a small area at the rear remains to be done when I can work out a safe way of accessing it without damaging self or caravan.

At the moment the rain is absolutely hissing down and the treated areas are beading water just like newly waxed car panels. So, first impressions are that if you are starting off with a less than pristine, wax-free surface, you could be in for a some hard work but it looks as though once the surface has been properly treated the product will do as claimed in the advertising blurb and be relatively easy to reapply to maintain its effectiveness.

I'll report further when I've worked out how to get at the roof, the weather has improved and the job is finished.

Quote: Aaron Calder wrote in post #6

---

I'll report further when I've worked out how to get at the roof...

---

Remind me never to argue with her.

We use one of those step ladders that converts into a small lean to ladder. By popping some lengths of tubular pipe lagging on the aluminium stringers before leaning it against the gutter rail the Eriba roof becomes easily accessible.
Haven't seen our roof gleaming so much since we bought the van.
Randa

Good tip, Roger!

I'll give it a go.

UPDATE

1. Access to the roof

Following Randa's advice, I cut two pieces of pipe insulation to slip over the parts of the ladder that will contact the gutter rail and, as you can see, it's a simple and effective way of preventing damage. I can confirm that access to all parts of the roof is now comparatively easy.

P1000977.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

2. Existing roof condition

In the past I have been lazy and only polished the bits of the roof that I could reach easily. The photos show that a) the untouched parts of the roof are still white whereas the polished areas are grey. b) parts of the roof that have been previously polished are covered in grey swirls which fortunately are not normally visible to the casual observer. The task is now to return the lustre to the gel coat without causing damage to my arms and back.

P1000976.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte) P1000974.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

3. A possible way forward?

As I don't want to have to compound the roof unless I have no other option, I shall try the following method suggested in the manufacturer's data sheet:

"Older Surfaces:
Even after a few years without care, it may be unnecessary to compound before using 303®. Use 303® to find out for sure:

First apply 303® normally. If this does not restore the like new color and gloss typical with 303®, try this: In the shade (or just before dark), spray a basketball-sized spot with 303®. Rub it in and spray again to make sure the spot is thoroughly wet with 303®. Let set for a few hours or overnight. Spray the spot again with 303® and wipe dry. This is often all it takes to make gelcoat look like new again without compounding."

Fingers crossed.

Quote: Aaron Calder wrote in post #12

---

In the shade (or just before dark), spray a basketball-sized spot with 303®.

---

Quote: Pepé Le Pew wrote in post #13

---

]I hope you've got a basketball, otherwise you're in trouble.

---

ALL DONE

Once all the old wax had been removed, application of the protectant was an absolute doddle and unlike waxing, no hard work was required - so no aching arms and shoulders.

The finish is excellent and I now have a uniform white roof that is absolutely gleaming as can be seen in the before and after pictures below.

P1000976.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Treated roof.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Conclusions and recommendations:

1. This product is much easier to apply than wax polish, provided the roof surface has been adequately prepared prior to the first application.

2. The final finish adds a deep lustre to the fibreglass similar to that of a newly wax polished finish but with much less effort and in a fraction of the time.

3. Using a padded stepladder allows easy access to the roof but take care that it cannot slip while you are working as serious damage to self and/or caravan may result.

4. Wash the roof thoroughly and dry it off before starting work. It is important to remove dirt, bird droppings, tree sap etc. that could scratch the surface or prevent the protectant from working. Don't forget to wash the areas hidden when the pop-top is in its lowered position.

5. If your roof has been waxed in the past I would suggest that despite the manufacturer's claim that it is unnecessary you give it a mild once-over with T-Cut rubbing compound to ensure a clean surface for the protectant to work on.

6. Set the nozzle on the bottle to 'fine spray' and thoroughly wet an area of the roof that you can reach comfortably without over-stretching - I found about four square feet to be about right.

7. Have lots of clean, soft cloths handy as you have to wipe the product off the surface while it is still wet and you will need to change cloths frequently as they become damp.

8 Although the manufacturers make no reference to it in their instructions and data sheet, I found that buffing the surface over with a dry cloth a few minutes after the whole roof had been treated improved its lustre.

Only time will tell how effective the product is at protecting the gel coat but so far, after the initial blip with the remnants of the old wax finish, I am very impressed. Re-applying the protectant should be very easy now that the initial surface preparation has been carried out and the first coat of the product has been successfully applied.

I'll report back on how the protectant stands up to the elements in a few months' time.