boat polish and wax

[Marine Reflections]

There is some excellent advice on this thread, but let's get one thing clear....there are no imperfections on Julia Roberts.


Fairline has always stipulated in their owner's manual a 'monthly wax' was required.

Odd that I should be having this very conversation today...

I used the analogy today when dealing with gel coat and its recovery once dull, to liken it to a battery and its various states of charge.

Once a gel coat has reached a stage of dullness and chalkiness that requires intervention, it's similar to a battery that has been allowed to drop.
If it's a new battery, then it can be recharged, and the event will be 'forgiven'.

But do this time and time again (allowing the battery to get too low) will affect its long-term life.
I've found the same to be correct with gel coat.

Regardless of condition, provided there is enough thickness, all gel-coat can be returned to a suitable reflection. Depending on how many times the gel-coat has been allowed to dull (and to what degree) will determine the 'stand-alone' (i.e., no protection) durability.

This time window can be improved or reduced by a suitable protection application or a bad one, but the battery analogy would be more critical to its long-term results of each.
Equally important is to what stage of clarity was achieved before protection. Following a compound with finer and finer grits to achieve an awesome finish not only looks good but also has better 'reflective' qualities.

Stern quarters are always going to suffer because they are more sun facing than the rest of the hull.

It would only take 5 minutes to apply wax to these sections once a month. That's what it takes to use the wax as a pawn.

Work it easy and it becomes hard, work it hard and it becomes easy.

 

[Marine Reflections]

Thanks, I think a light machine polish of the blue is the way to go. I don't want to overdo it. I shall instruct my man accordingly!

How practical is it to do the are above the rubbing strake by hand with a combined polish and wax?

The same applies Pete, get it to the best condition you can and then keep it that way with regular attention.

It seems like the more laborious route, but in fact it is less.

Instruct Jeeves to get the condition up to speed, then a regular application of wax by hand is not only an option, but it is all that is required.

 

[petem]

The same applies Pete, get it to the best condition you can and then keep it that way with regular attention.

It seems like the more laborious route, but in fact it is less.

Instruct Jeeves to get the condition up to speed, then a regular application of wax by hand is not only an option, but it is all that is required.

Thanks. I actually find it quite therapeutic going around the boat with a spray and a cloth. I've never bothered with the stern but there's no reason why I couldn't give that some attention too.

We've probably had this conversation before but what would you suggest for a spray that I can use to give a light polish and wax / UV protect the boat when I've got a spare hour?

 

[Marine Reflections]

Thanks. I actually find it quite therapeutic going around the boat with a spray and a cloth. I've never bothered with the stern but there's no reason why I couldn't give that some attention too.

We've probably had this conversation before but what would you suggest for a spray that I can use to give a light polish and wax / UV protect the boat when I've got a spare hour?

There are many, but pushed for a name..
Gtechniq C1.5 Silo Seal

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

MARINE REFLECTIONS ... what would you recommend for a brand new boat, please? I have a white boat on order and a pack of A-Glaze sitting in the cupboard left over from my last boat and never used ... or can you recommend some other wax for new glassfibre? Any help appreciated! ... :encouragement:

 

[BruceK]

This year I changed from 3M to this new synthetic nano tech sealer. Feldten Marine Gelcoat Sealer. I have a very old 1992 PC and it's had a hard life. The gelcoat was chalky, porous and oxidised. My motivation was the wax I was putting on couldn't hold up to the sea foam / froth being created in the estuary and was staining the sides, acting as an abrasive when drying on the fenders and the wax couldn't cope with the frequent scrub downs required to keep the hull passably clean. This synthetic nano stuff sheds water, oil and grime like Rain-X off a wind-shield, was easier to apply and gave a superior shine. So far I am sold, if it lasts the season I will be a convert. Not dissing 3M. It's been my staple to date, just looking for something that bonds better and is more durable.

Not like new, but if you'd seen her before you'd really appreciate the difference. You can see the remnants of the foam abrasive on the fender which I have still to do.

 

[scubaman]

I've been a long time advocate of 3M products and have used their finesse-it and ultra performance paste wax products.

Last year I decided to try something new, so used 3M for prepping but then tried Gtechniq nano sealers for surface protection. The shine easily outlasted the paste wax, but at the end of the season I still had nasty black streaks all over the boat which were impossible to get rid of without a cleaning wax.

This spring I again used 3M finess-it for cleaning the surface and bringing the shine back, but went for a spray-on nano sealer to save effort. I used a domestic brand called Korrek and a nano product from their consumer line up.

It was very easy to spray on, but It will be interesting to see how long it lasts.

Here's how it looks now.

I think that under the layer of grime there was still some protection left from previous years Gtechniq, but I'm not sure.

 

[Firefly625]

Not Silveryak James?

I think 3M Ultra is better... but Silveryak still very good, in fact I have not had any for a bit. I might reorder.

 

[rafiki_]

I think 3M Ultra is better... but Silveryak still very good, in fact I have not had any for a bit. I might reorder.

I happily use the Silveryak. Easy to apply and buffs up nicely

 

[Marine Reflections]

MARINE REFLECTIONS ... what would you recommend for a brand new boat, please? I have a white boat on order, and a pack of A-Glaze sitting in the cupboard left over from my last boat and never used ... or can you recommend some other wax for new glass fibre? Any help appreciated! ... :encouragement:

Short but sweet...... buy an overall cover.

That is the Royce Gracie of protection.

Open to the elements? The answer would depend on your availability to fettle.

Do you add a pawn and expect it to do its thing for 12 months? Or replenish on a monthly/bi-monthly basis.

The boat I've been working on today (cleaning prep) was protected about a year ago with all singing all dancing protection apps.
The surface had seen some seasons of neglect and as a result it needed bringing back thoroughly last year before the protection.

A year on and I'm struggling (sort of) with the aviation/diesel runs that everyone has, so getting the surface A1 and protecting with the very best available isn't a guarantee that you'll be able to apply and forget it. The surface is under constant attack.

I'm not speaking for the Med, but the humble Thames.
Even in our climate and exposure, a decent surface condition a current protection app will struggle if left alone for a year.

The areas where the runs are proving a problem indicate to me where I could have enhanced the clarity of the gel coat that little bit further as the majority is defending very well.

This (rather long-windedly) brings me to the adage, that condition is more important than a product.
Perhaps we are closer, but the magic application that is applied and can be forgotten is still not with us.
Common sense is still very much the go-to and perfect clarity, and regular attention is always the desired method.


It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of 3M products and Gtechniq, but even on a new boat; spend the time to get the surfaces at a 100% clarity before application. This will serve you better than the difference between top performing protection apps.

Some good pictures of reflections on this post, good work Bruce and K both look awesome!

K, your surfaces are really starting to look close to 100% clarity, I would use the strip lights as a guide, when the reflections sharpen the strip lights, you'll know you've hit the bell. But great work, well done!

 

[scubaman]

Thanks! I think I know what you mean though, there is still some hazyness left.

 

[Marine Reflections]

You are closer than last season and next season you'll be closer still.

Good clarity though, really. It's not often light and reality plays a part when revealing what one has achieved with surface reflection.

As you were able to recover from a season's fallout, it says alot about the surface's ability to defend.

There's not that many contractors that can achieve that level of clarity, so you've done really well. I say this in full knowledge of where you've taken the surface condition, where it was and what you've acheived.

 

[Marine Reflections]

Just to add a small list of impressive protection applications:

Gtechniq C1 & Exo combination, easier to apply than their serum. (Pricey, yet cost effective)

3M Scotchguard marine liquid wax (Cheap but good results)

3M Ultra Perferformance wax (easy application for regular attention, can build up layers)

There has always been a whiff of promise from various labs experimenting with 'Superhydrophobic applications' these are over 150º of contact angle and where water droplets bounce on the surface.
However, the applications/demands for these products are still predominantly military and have yet to be released for us mere mortals.

 

[Dino]

I did a big job on a 40 year old Broom last year. I used Nanotech Speed Cut to restore the gelcoat followed by Cut & Polish. I used a Silverline polisher with a 3M wool head for compounding and a foam pad for polish.
I tried machine waxing but wasn’t really getting good results. So I hand waxed using 3M Performance Paste Wax.
Overall it worked really well and I found the guys at Nanotech very helpful.
http://www.nanotechsst.co.uk/

 

[Marine Reflections]

I did a big job on a 40 year old Broom last year. I used Nanotech Speed Cut to restore the gelcoat followed by Cut & Polish. I used a Silverline polisher with a 3M wool head for compounding and a foam pad for polish.
I tried machine waxing but wasn’t really getting good results. So I hand waxed using 3M Performance Paste Wax.
Overall it worked really well and I found the guys at Nanotech very helpful.
http://www.nanotechsst.co.uk/

I've heard good things about Nanotech, I did try to get them to take part in our little product test a year or so ago. Products look impressive; I've yet to try them thoroughly.
Good that you found them helpful.

Yes, always apply wax by hand, certainly 3M PW,

 

[Scubadoo]

Just to add a small list of impressive protection applications:

Gtechniq C1 & Exo combination, easier to apply than their serum. (Pricey, yet cost effective)

3M Scotchguard marine liquid wax (Cheap but good results)

3M Ultra Perferformance wax (easy application for regular attention, can build up layers)

There has always been a whiff of promise from various labs experimenting with 'Superhydrophobic applications' these are over 150º of contact angle and where water droplets bounce on the surface.
However, the applications/demands for these products are still predominantly military and have yet to be released for us mere mortals.

Which one would of those two 3M wax products last the longest? So far used the 3M liquid and seems to last very well, but this year got a tin of the 3M Perf wax as another boater thinks suggested it last longer. So just interested in your opinion.

 

[pks1702]

Just in case anyone missed it, this was a super piece of forum work by Marine Reflections :encouragement:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?443397-Protection-product-test

 

[gjgm]

Ah..I didn't know it ever finished!!
I have probably used only maybe half a dozen waxes and the 3m scotchguard seems noticeably better to me too than most waxes.

 

[Marine Reflections]

Yes, as much as I was surprised, in our tests the 3M Scotchguard beaded for longer than the 3M Ultra performance paste wax.

I have to say I was quite taken back at this, The 3M PW has long been my wax of choice as it is so easy to apply and buff off, but real-world results tilted in favour of Scotchguard for durability.

To confuse matters; we also have to look at what can't be seen. UV protection, although we can quickly score a product on its hydrophobic abilities, there isn't a way to gauge just how much UV protection remains.

That said, despite the Scotchguard having the edge on beading durability, my choice would still be with Ultra performance wax as the better of the two. IMHO

Thank you pks