This past weekend, it seemed everywhere I went all I saw was boats, boats and more boats! Either on the water or in driveways, owners scrubbed and buffed their boats to a gleam.

You can get your boat gelcoat to shine, too. Even if the exterior of your boat is dull, or even chalky, maintaining and restoring the gelcoat to a beautiful shine is possible.

A boat's gelcoat is the outer skin of the fiberglass hull. A layer of pigmented resin, the gelcoat protects the surface of the boat. When it is exposed to the elements month after month, year after year the gelcoat can lose its glossy finish. This is called oxidation . Depending upon the degree of oxidation , the gelcoat could appear dull, and in extreme cases, chalky. Fortunately, restoring gelcoat is possible with a few simple steps and products.

Whether your boat's gelcoat is in need of restoration or not, maintaining the gelcoat is important. The gelcoat protects the hull and produces that glossy shine, so to keep it in the best shape possible, follow a gelcoat maintenance plan .

Here are resources to get or keep your boat's gelcoat in the best condition:

• Boat Gelcoat Basics
• Gelcoat Oxidation
• Gelcoat Maintenance Plan
• Boat Gelcoat Restoration