polishing topsides

[Marine Reflections]

Early in my boat-owning career I read somewhere that it was a good idea to put polish on in the autumn but leave it without buffing it off. When the spring came it was a nightmare to remove, and I suspect that modern preparations and waxes are just as bad.

Yes, it's bad practice.

The thinking is that the surfaces will be better protected with a build up of wax and I guess with regards to UV this could be true.
However, the problem is dust and yard fall-out over the months will bond into the wax.
Even with a washdown prior to buffing there will be many particles within the wax surface.

When it comes to buffing (which will be a nightmare) you'll be micro-scratching the surfaces with the particles in the paste.

 

[Mistroma]

Yes, it's bad practice.

The thinking is that the surfaces will be better protected with a build up of wax and I guess with regards to UV this could be true.
However, the problem is dust and yard fall-out over the months will bond into the wax.
Even with a washdown prior to buffing there will be many particles within the wax surface.

When it comes to buffing (which will be a nightmare) you'll be micro-scratching the surfaces with the particles in the paste.

It is if you use a polish which needs work to remove it when dry. OK with type I wouldn't use to protect a boat over summer (i.e. Just dries to a dusty finish, easily wiped away when dry).

I started doing this more than 30 years ago and everyone said how great the hull looked when I sold her after about. I have continued the practise with my current boat which has a harder life in the scorching sun. It has saved me a lot of problems over the years.

I use an "easy to apply" type which goes to a powdery finish and just wipes off if you run a finger over it. I think I used a Simpson Lawrence product initially but it was discontinued. I had trouble finding a suitable replacement and my first attempt was a failure when the small test patch set rock hard after a week. I could still see that tiny patch about 18 months later.

I did find a suitable "rubbish polish" (term my wife uses) and all was well again. I think I'm currently using International PolWax which is fine (might have been re-branded a year or so back).

I remember one year when work on the Forth road bridge resulted in concrete dust covering everything, causing a lot of problems for other boats. I actually knew nothing about it and had pressure washed the non-slip decks (always filthy) before a quick wash to remove the coating on smooth surfaces. I discovered it later after running into several people who'd commented on how great the boat was looking and that they were still trying to remove the coating of dirt on their boat.

Similar experiences when grinders were being used nearby. Oxalic needed on deck but hull came up like new with just a quick wash.

I give the boat a wash after lift-out to remove antifoul spray from hull during pressure washing. Applying the polish is an easy job because I'm simply smearing it over everything and not polishing it off. I use 3M hard polish pre-launch and that takes a LOT longer to apply and buff.

 

[Marine Reflections]

Mistroma it seems to be working for you as part of your annual routine and that's brilliant!

I stand corrected.