Nanotech Speed Guard

[yimkin]

Anyone used Nanotech Speed Guard on GRP hulls for more than one season?
It looks the dogs b****cks but are there any problems with residues when re-preparing the hull in subsequent seasons?

 

[Neeves]

Looking at the website suggests you are to impatient . Marine Products and Marine Antifouling seem to be something for the future but there is no detail - they suggest contacting Nanotech directly.

Either wait or do as suggested, contact them - and see how your contact develops. They maybe looking for some willing and motivated white rats or guinea pigs - and then you can report back.

There is a market, we need a replacement to conventional antifouling. Silicone coating have been a major disappointment (they did not quite work as promised and then the residues were difficult to remove making the surface difficult to re-coat). If it was easy, to make a successful replacement to AF, we would all be using the products (especially if you could simply spray on.

If they were looking for guinea pigs then there is a niche market in propellors - where Prop Speed, a silicone, is the major alternative to chemical AFs. Coating a prop is hardly onerous.

Jonathan

 

[yimkin]

I am inquiring about a substitute for boat wax for shining / protecting gel coat topsides.

Speed Guard Marine 500ml

 

[Neeves]

There are a number of companies making what they claim is nanotechnology applied to polish for acrylic and fibreglass. There are some You Tube videos. Most companies also make mention on use of the technology for AF but the details are vague to say the least. There do not seem to be any negative comments. I'd do what is suggested and speak to the manufacturers, I note one is in Australia and another in the UK (we don't know where you are). I'd express your concerns to a manufacturer local to you and ask if they do smaller bottles for you to try on a small patch - it does not seem an unreasonable idea nor request.

The You tube vids look good - but then I'd expect that.

What is noticeable are the lack of comment you have had here suggesting its either too new, too expensive and or the manufacturers really need some exposure (which you can offer - if its as good as the hype). Of course it maybe it does not work - in which case I'd expect some conformation of same in a google search or even here on YBW - I am sure you are not alone in your interest.

But if you do speak to them enquire about AF - crack that and they don't need exposure - we will all beat a path to their retail outlets.

But let us know how you progress (that's the function of the Forum).

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

Check this thread Velox Plus prop antifoul no longer available?

A member called Metal???? seems to have had an interest in a product vaguely similar - but he posted and then did not update. You could send him PM.

and then between you post updates....?

Jonathan

 

[DesertIsland]

Apologies for the very late/ slow reply. I have only just seen this post. Firstly, I have no link to the company other than a satisfied customer. We have used the following nanotech products - Nano wash, pre-clean, cut and polish 2 in 1, super gloss polish, yacht shield/ nano shield and speed guard depending on the task at hand. And have done so for the last 7 years and continue to happily do so. With regard to specifically speed guard, we use it on the gelcoat and stainless steel once they are clean. We find it boosts the 'wax' protection and lengthens the time before a further polish is required. It really depends on what level of finish you are aiming to maintain as to what maintenance regime you use. What I can say, is that from my experience, this product range enables us to maintain a showroom finish. Certainly with less effort than we used to have to use with more traditional products.

 

[Ceirwan]

I've used a few of the Nanotech products.

The 2 in 1 super gloss polish as the guy above said works well, the Supergloss Polish I didn't really get on with. It didn't work that well for me.

The Speed Guard, well it kind of works, you put it on and water beads up like it would with a good wax finish, however I found that the finish longevity was pretty terrible, think a week maybe a little more. Its OK if you treat it as a spray cleaner for spot cleaning with a bit of protection, but its no long term solution.

 

[DesertIsland]

The trouble with the super gloss polish, if you can call it trouble, is that the surface needs to be really clean for it to work well. We were not to happy with initial results. But after talking to the company we use the pre-clean before the super gloss polish and have no longer any issues with it. Any imperfections will be highlighted so prep is key. Which is why we only use it when no oxidisation or fine scratches are present otherwise we use the 2 in 1 polish.

After a proper clean, compound, polish & shield at the beginning of the season we probably use speed guard about once a month after washing. Maybe more on well used stainless hand rails to bring them up. It keeps the water beading and the dirt off. I agree with Ceirwan in that I see it as not an 'instead of' polish and wax, its a 'maintainer' until the next polish and wax.

I also think results and longevity of those results is all about the prep, application and maintenance. My experience has been that the The Speed Guard works well as a maintainer not a replacement for 'Wax'. I didn't use it on my old boat, frankly the finish was never going to come up like new. My current boat is 4 years old and still like new. For us, living aboard, it is worth the extra time and effort.

 

[Ceirwan]

The trouble with the super gloss polish, if you can call it trouble, is that the surface needs to be really clean for it to work well. We were not to happy with initial results. But after talking to the company we use the pre-clean before the super gloss polish and have no longer any issues with it. Any imperfections will be highlighted so prep is key. Which is why we only use it when no oxidisation or fine scratches are present otherwise we use the 2 in 1 polish.

I'll give that a try, I do have a fair bit left over, so I'll try that at the start of next season.

Other products I have really liked are:

ROAR 910 single step compound - this worked really well on an oxidised hull topsides, we polished afterwards, but honestly the gloss was pretty fantastic even without.
Menzerna one step polish + after the premium gloss. - I used this on an Elan 362 last year and it came up almost like new. I'll use it in future for sure.