Leavingpolishon over winter

[Slow_boat]

I have heard that at he beginning of winter lay-up, some folk put a coat of polish on the boat and don't polish it off; just leave the polish on the GRP to protect from u/v, wind born dust etc.

Is this a good idea and if so, do you just rub it off in spring or will it be full of wind blown grit?

 

[pvb]

... or will it be full of wind blown grit?

You guessed!

 

[macnorton]

I wash it off with a hose, most on the cabin roof will be gone unless it's tarped over.

 

[Slow_boat]

But is there any point on leaving it on in the first place?

 

[Vara]

I have heard that at he beginning of winter lay-up, some folk put a coat of polish on the boat and don't polish it off; just leave the polish on the GRP to protect from u/v, wind born dust etc.

Is this a good idea and if so, do you just rub it off in spring or will it be full of wind blown grit?

Many years ago I did this with a boat left in the water at Brighton Marina, it was a swine to remove and didnt seem to make much difference to the overall grime.

Now I put on two coats of this stuff

http://www.collinite.com/marine-wax/fleetwax-paste-wax/

Applied and buffed off, does a really good job. The hull which was last polished 18 months ago is still beading although its shine has gone.

Its quite expensive but a little goes a long way.

 

[Alan_B]

It will be hard to remove by hand after leaving it on all winter.

Dont see any advantage to it at all. Infact, to protext from UV etc, which lets face it there wont be alot of in winter, you would be better to give it a coat or two of wax, not polish.

 

[macnorton]

I use wax not compound, this will come off with a hose and it makes it easier to get the shine back in the spring as the grime sticks to the dry wax not the boat.

 

[Mistroma]

I did this with my previous boat for about 24 years and have continued to do the same with my current boat. The previous boat still had an excellent finish even when 30 years old. I remember lots of owners complaining one year because the local bridge was being cleaned over winter. They all had problem cleaning their boats but I hadn't even noticed as it just washed off.

A few pics. here when boat was about 29 years old. http://www.mistroma1.webspace.virginmedia.com/MistromaOriginal/Gallery2009_1.html

Boat always stored in open with no cover over the hull.

I think that the secret is to use a polish that just forms a white powdery coating. I did use a little wax polish one year when I just ran out of usual stuff. Big mistake, it was terribly difficult to remove. After that I always tested an area if I had to switch brand of polish.

I'll continue to apply polish after lift out as it takes little time and washes off very easily in spring, along with most of the winter grime.