Few things irk this boater more than dirty, chalky and stained gelcoat. Like an engine that is corroded—or lines that are chafed—worn gelcoat is a sure sign of neglect. Fortunately however, there are multiple ways to restore aged, stained, dirty and faded gelcoat. With a bit of care and a lot of elbow grease, the methods below are guaranteed to drastically improve the appearance of one’s craft. If perfection is sought, the reader may instead seek a professional two-part polyu

Over the course of boat ownership, I have found few mechanisms that cause such aggravation as the zipper. Used to fasten canvas,...