[A/S] how long does it last?

["Terry Tyler" <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jim Greene,

Speaking only from my own experience, our 1977 31' was commercially polished and plasticoated about
15 years ago. Two months ago, the plasticoat on both end caps began flaking off (like chunks of
dandruff), so I asked Oasis RV to strip, repolish and replasticoat both end caps. Other surfaces 
still looked great. 

The job took almost a day for each end cap. Repolishing a surface previously repolished and
replasticoated can be done faster than a surface never done before. The low humidity, warm
temperature and lack of even the slightest breeze in Tucson, AZ during that week made it possible
for the job to go quickly and the clearcoat to dry almost immediately. The recaulking job was done
better than I have ever done it and is barely discernable. 

For me, it was money well spent. Although the bill wasn't precisely broken down by each aspect of
each job done (I had several different types of jobs done while we were there), my estimate is each
end cap cost me about three hundred dollars for stripping, repolishing and replasticoating. The
convenience value to us of being able to go sight seeing while the work was being done, being able
to collect and send email in the Oasis customer service waiting room, having hookups while using our
Airstream each evening and being treated cordially and respectfully by employees is a cost I haven't
tried to estimate. 

The Airstream now looks soooo gooooood, I haven't put our numbers back on the end caps. I have the
numbers in an envelope. The match between the end caps and the rest of the Airstream is too close
for me to notice a difference. Personally, I like the look of a subdued satin finish. Plus, the fact
of only needing to wash the Airstream to have it look elegant again and not have to do any aluminum
polishing with a cyclone polisher doesn't get me bent out of shape.

Each of us is different. What works for me may not be what you should do. Knowing a few of the
details about our experience may help you make a better choice when it's your turn.

Terry
mailto:tylerbears@airstream.net
1963 22' Flying Cloud
1967 22' Safari
1977 31' Excella 500
1986 32' Excella