Polishing boat while in the water.

[rigpigpaul]

I want to polish the boat at the start of the season but it will be afloat. The boat is tied end on to the pontoon with a laid mooring fwd. I will have plenty of space around the boat for access. I will be using the dinghy. Any tips and advice appreciated. There will two of us doing the work.
RPP

 

[rivonia]

Just do it. We have been doing it for many years.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

I do mine in the water, using the electric polisher!

Before everyone yells "darwin award", I tie a line to the polisher from the toe rail that is just short enough to prevent the thing hitting the water!

 

[DaveRo]

Hold on to the boat with a dent-remover, which is essentially a big sucker with a handle.

 

[sarabande]

Hold on to the boat with a dent-remover, which is essentially a big sucker with a handle.

don't call me a sucker


Yep, greatest boat invention of the last twenty years.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B000LFVQIE

 

[jakeroyd]

dent remover (or glass handle)
Great Idea !

 

[Bav34]

Couldn't agree more re the suction pad.

I have one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dent-Pull...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item58ab6f720d

I tie a line from the dinghy bow to the stern through the handle. No more clinging onto the toerail with the dinghy being pushed away the harder you polish.

They grip underwater too.

 

[Tony Cross]

I do mine in the water, using the electric polisher!

Before everyone yells "darwin award", I tie a line to the polisher from the toe rail that is just short enough to prevent the thing hitting the water!

If you tie it on with bungee cord you'll find less strain on the arms. This is because you'll be pulling the polisher down instead of trying to hold it up!

 

[[2574]]

If using electrical tools then use a plug in RCD inline in case some comedian has stuck a bent nail in the shorepower supply fusing........

 

[Mistroma]

Couldn't agree more re the suction pad.

I have one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dent-Pull...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item58ab6f720d

I tie a line from the dinghy bow to the stern through the handle. No more clinging onto the toerail with the dinghy being pushed away the harder you polish.

They grip underwater too.

I've polished the boat a couple of times in the water and not too difficult by hand. I've tied the dinghy with 2 lines and used one of these handy devices. Important to avoid ones with big dimple in centre (that's where the bolt head is fitted) as they only hold on completely flat surfaces. Mine held at bows and wouldn't grip on a slight curve. Fortunately, dinghy was squeezed by next boat either side and held position without lines where hull was curved.

 

[BobnLesley]

...Any tips and advice appreciated. There will two of us doing the work...

Yes, if allow a couple of extra days for the task, then the wife will have time to do it on her own.

A gentleman should never own a garden (or boat) larger than his wife can maintain comfortably.

 

[duncan99210]

...Any tips and advice appreciated. There will two of us doing the work...

Yes, if allow a couple of extra days for the task, then the wife will have time to do it on her own.

A gentleman should never own a garden (or boat) larger than his wife can maintain comfortably.

Lesley gone back to the UK for Chrstmas then Bob? Or have you suddenly become suicidal?

 

[stromboli]

Glad to hear the Messolonghi wit is alive and well,Seasons Greetings to all.

 

[Marine Reflections]

If you tie it on with bungee cord you'll find less strain on the arms. This is because you'll be pulling the polisher down instead of trying to hold it up!

Please, NO! This suggestion does the rounds quite often, catch the bungee in the polisher spindle and see what happens at 2000rpm.

"I want to polish the boat at the start of the season but it will be afloat. The boat is tied end on to the pontoon with a laid mooring fwd. I will have plenty of space around the boat for access. I will be using the dinghy. Any tips and advice appreciated. There will two of us doing the work"

RCD breaker if pontoon doesn't already have one.

Two glass suction cups tied to tender so if they come loose they don't sink.

Hold the polisher as close to your chest as possible.

 

[rivonia]

We never asked for advice when doing simple tasks on the yacht. This is just a chap wanting to chat. We like him had never polished the yacht in the water. I just got in the dinghy and did it slowly by hand. NO electric polishers whilst in the water, saved that for on the hard. We experimented with various methods each time we did it and each time was different. Just get on with it.

 

[Marine Reflections]

Possibly the OP does just want to chat, but more likely he wants to know if there's an easy way or indeed a hard way to do it.

This is no 'simple task' and of course electric and water don't go together well, but sometimes needs must.

I guess it depends on what each of us determines the word polishing to mean.

Polishing (IMO) means to correct the surface, to burnish away the dead microns and reveal a more uniformed surface.

To some polishing is applying or adding 'polish' to create a shine.

If polishing, it should be done with a machine, you are wasting time trying to correct a surface by hand, you won't, you will just fill in the gaps with lubricant that was meant for preventing overheating and enabling workability. This is why some find it looks good for a week and then it's back to its old condition.

If you are waxing (protecting) it should be done by hand. If this is hard going it is because you need to have 'polished' beforehand.

 

[Vara]

When doing mine in the water, I find it helpful to induce alist on the boat, I do this with spinny halyard to pontoon.

My challenge this year is to repaint the boottop with the boat in the water.

 

[ceproof87]

Polishing a boat is such a big job. For easy and fast polishing i will suggest you to use Dual Action Orbital Polishers. It is used for mild oxidation removal, light polishing, and wax application. This tool is easier as compare to working with hands.