1987 Scamp 16 owner i got it from a guy who stored it outdoors in upper Michigan with no cover. It has a lot of black dirt (mold?) on the top, sides look stained/dirty. I'm in Cleveland, OH so it's cold here but a last week there was a day when it was 55 degrees out so i quickly cleaned her up. I used Gel-Gloss RV Wash and Wax, it has great reviews online in many different places. Link below. Anyways, it cleaned up the trailer nice (i used a soft bristle brush to get the roof and sides) but i'm still noticing some chalkiness and the roof is still "dirty" in places. When spring comes and it's warmer i'm going to try and use the Bar Keeper's Friend since it's slightly abrasive and hope that gives the trailer a better clean before i do a marine wax. I'm just trying to figure out how to know if the gel coat is shot or if it's restorable via cleaning/waxing. i'm worried neglect and bad storage by previous owners has ruined the gel coat and i will have to paint it. any help or advice is appreciated for those that own older Scamps.
I have the cover from Scamp (classic accessories model) that i'm using for the winter to keep the freshly cleaned finish somewhat protected from the elements.
https://www.amazon.com/Gel-Gloss-RV-Wash-Wax-WW-128/dp/B0027M3A1U/ref=sr...
The process of making the shells is the white gel ( acts like very heavy paint product ) coat is sprayed into the mold first then the chopped fiberglass is sprayed and rolled til smooth and distribute the resin. for a strong product shell. If the surface is white and not fuzzy feeling it should be gel-coat. it is not terribly UV resistant so it chalks as the surface breaks down.in the sun if fuzzy feeling then possibly the glass fibers are near the surface. There are Boat restorative products that may do better. And if still intact a marine shop may be able to polish/buff the surface to bring the shine back. it will require reapplying a preservative product to keep the shine and slow the deterioation. My old Motorhome had dark spots from tree sap that turned black that were regularly in need of cleaning. We cover our 13 all year when not using it to slow the chalking of the gel. This also requires replacing the cover after two years as it breaks down instead of the trailer.
2019 Scamp 13 standard
thank you very much! i'm not feeling the fuzzy, it still is white and smooth, good to know it just needs some more elbow grease and a proper marine wax once it's really clean.
1987 Scamp 16
My 13' was starting to show chalkiness at the top corners, and yeah, my rooftop is an ugly mess too! Fiberglass boat owners have the same issues, you can restore it. If it is really bad you may have to buff it out. My husband restored a nasty looking boat to a very nice shine using marine products and a buffer. Knowledgeable peeps at a good marine supply store should be able to help you pick out products. On a different note, did you buy your Scamp just north of Lansing MI? There was a 16' parked outside that I drove by often, and I noticed that sometime this summer it was gone. Tee hee hee, we all notice Scamps in yards, etc! Have fun getting it all spiffy for camping next summer.
Rhonda Riebow
good thoughts rhonda, my town is on lake erie so we have tons of marine shops/supply places, i will try one of those.
I bought it in Muskegon, MI (on lake michigan). My wife was on a facebook group for Scamps and posted that we wanted one. This lady reached out to her and said they weren't ready to sell but would in the spring and sent some pics. when my wife offered cash and we would drive there the next weekend (only a 5 hour drive one way) she accepted. her husband did a decent amount of work to it, so the interior is in great shape, but they kept it outside near a large barn and TONS of trees and stuff. mouse droppings on the inside, it was clear it spent most it's life out there. they said they bought it "down the street" when they saw it in a yard and inquired about it. so it sounded like the original owner kept it outside and wasn't doing a whole lot there either. no bother, i will give her all the love and attention she needs to be cleaned up and ready to use with my family.
it's cleaned up ok, maybe i'm expecting too much for a 33 year old trailer (my pops thinks it looks great for it's age), but i would like to try and see if i can get it nicer looking, i just want that gel gloss look where it reflects in the sun kinda thing.
1987 Scamp 16
Well, someone else apparently scored the other 16' in my neighborhood! The boat my husband shined up was an early 80's model, and I couldn't believe the difference when he got done with it. Part of it was a blue color too, totally chalked and ugly. It was an amazing transformation! My goal next year is to get the rooftop on my Scamp buffed and shined, I didn't quite get ambitious enough this past year. Mine sits outside in the summer, so I keep it waxed up. The white gel coat does "yellow" a bit with age, I noticed that in a side-by-side pic with a friend's almost-new Scamp. Not noticeable until you park it next to a new one! Have fun!
Rhonda Riebow