Get your SHINE on

[Starscream]

Now that spring is here for almost all of us in N.A. I thought it would be interesting to have a thread posting different polishing and waxing techniques. Anyone have some current techniques and results to share?

I have a NewGlass kit that i haven't used yet. This spring I used


to lightly buff out all the stains and dirt from storage. It's pretty good at removing almost any stain or scrape, and I use it on my cars too. Takes about a bottle to do the whole boat, and a fair amount of elbow grease. This year I did it all by hand, at it took about four hours. It's a very pasty consistency: goes on easy but takes some work to remove the cloudy haze afterwards.

I followed the cleaner/wax by a coat of
https://newcontent.westmarine.com/conte ... 828536.jpg

which was very easy to apply and very easy to buff out by hand.

End results:


and

[Doug W]

Wow! I've used the 3M marine cleaner and wax but didn't have results that good!

[NiceAft]

I simply use Turtle Wax. The easy on and off stuff. It works for me. It lasts. It's not expensive or complicated. More time for other things.

First a minorly abrasive compounding, then the Turtle Wax.

Ray

[Nauti Nell]

What do you use if your boat is blue?

[NiceAft]

You are waxing the gel coat, so the color is not a factor in what to use. The blue hull's should even produce a much better reflection no matter what you use.

Part of what I did for a living was furniture repair and refinishing. If I polished a white lacquer cabinet to a high luster, and also an ebony black lacquer cabinet to a high luster, they both will look wet, but the ebony colored one would have the more noticeable shine.

Look at Starscream's photos. The black and white reflective surfaces both look great. No different product for the white hull or black stripe.

Again, I don't think it makes difference what you use. They all make the boat shiny. I will continue with the cheapo Turtle wax.
Ray

P.S. WHATEVER YOU USE, DON''T WAX THE DECK

[Starscream]

The 3M stuff does a good job with the dark color. It has a very light rubbing compound (grit) that removes the chalky buildup and leaves an OK shine. A coat of pure wax, the Scotchgard, after the 3M really gives the shine some depth.

I've seen some blue hulls that look terrible; there's one in my marina (hope the owner isn't on the forum). If I had a blue one I'd try the 3M first. I don't think I'd go straight to a wax.

[romden35]

I like using the Collinite Fleetwax Paste. Durable and provides a good shine.

[Baha]

Light rubbing compound, then carnuba wax. I like the results a little better than the liquid wax. I use some "Back to Black" on the raccoon stripes.

[Tomfoolery]

I like using the Collinite Fleetwax Paste. Durable and provides a good shine.

I use the Collinite Fleetwax liquid 870. I think. Seems to last a couple of years. Really. But I don't live in Florida, so there's that.

I keep meaning to try Newglass above the rub rail, but haven't given it a go yet. Awfully chalky up there. Makes for milky water running down the driveway when I power wash it just before launching.

[Orkia]

So what do you you do on the decks? I know not to do anything on the no-skid, but what can you do to bring the color back on the rest of the deck beside paint?

[NiceAft]

I don't care what anyone post's to the contrary, leave the deck alone . You do not want any increased slipperiness there.

If a good washing does not help any, so be it.

Ray

[Cougar]

The anti skid parts have to be maintained just as well as the rest of the boat. After all it's all gelcoat and thus in need of protection. It's a common mistake not to wax anti skid, beacuse it will increase ageing of the material. Plus cleaning will be much more difficult. Because of the surface structure, anti skid will retain it's functionality, also with a new wax coat. I can testify for that. Our entire deck gets a new coat every year.

But I figure NiceAft won't care about my opinion.

[NiceAft]

The anti skid parts have to be maintained just as well as the rest of the boat. After all it's all gelcoat and thus in need of protection. It's a common mistake not to wax anti skid, beacuse it will increase ageing of the material. Plus cleaning will be much more difficult. Because of the surface structure, anti skid will retain it's functionality, also with a new wax coat. I can testify for that. Our entire deck gets a new coat every year.

But I figure NiceAft won't care about my opinion.

OK, my words were a little harsh.

I do care to hear opinions. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, just not entitled to misstate the facts.

In this case, the facts are, that you and I disagree. I still believe that washing the deck is not just sufficient, but safer. In the twelve years I have owned my , I have never waxed any deck surface, and to this day, I do not see any reason to. I have, repainted the raccoon stripes. As to saying that not waxing the non-skid area is a common mistake, I disagree with classifying the lack of waxing that area is a mistake.

If I ever get into your neck of the woods, or you mine, let's meet for coffee (or tea) and talk about it.

Ray

[Highlander]

I always rinse my non skid decks & scrub and wash them with a stiff bristle brush & a boat wash & shine then rinse works for me doe,s not make the deck,s any more slippery that usual
But maybe this yr I,ll try the Turtle wax , but on the water it must b bio - degradable to comply !

J
PS but the Black stripes on the front r starting to show their age so they r gonna need some compound paste to bring them back to new