bigwow
Well-Known Member
Will the results help find out how to stop black streaks appearing on the sides of my boat within 10 days of polishing? 
Protection product test
- Thread starter Marine Reflections
- Start date
Marine Reflections
Well-Known Member
I can help you with that right now - buy a bigger umbrella. :encouragement:
It might help you remove them easier. They should simply wipe off with a glide of a cloth, if not the surface needs correcting.
Funny, I recall a job years ago working on turning around the condition of 40ft Smelne
The job took 2 weeks and was 'the works'.
Owner called me a week later to complain that a bird had pooped on the deck and what was I going to do about it - for free!
I actually did remove it aswell, for free!! :disgust:
It might help you remove them easier. They should simply wipe off with a glide of a cloth, if not the surface needs correcting.
Funny, I recall a job years ago working on turning around the condition of 40ft Smelne
The job took 2 weeks and was 'the works'.
Owner called me a week later to complain that a bird had pooped on the deck and what was I going to do about it - for free!
I actually did remove it aswell, for free!! :disgust:
KINGFISHER 9
Well-Known Member
It's a long time ago now but I think I was responsible for getting this one going! Hearty thanks to 'Marine Reflections' - (sorry, don't know your name) - for all the hard work and time spent on this survey ... I hope you can get an article together for, preferably, Motor Boat & Yachting ... just the thing they should be publishing.
If they had Oscars for best forum threads of the year you'd surely win!
Very well done! .......... cheers ......... Tim.
If they had Oscars for best forum threads of the year you'd surely win!
Very well done! .......... cheers ......... Tim.
pks1702
Well-Known Member
Huge credit for a terrific amount of work here Tony - editing video etc all takes time.
I for one am fascinated to see the outcomes in due course.
Thanks also to the companies prepared to have their products tested.
I for one am fascinated to see the outcomes in due course.
Thanks also to the companies prepared to have their products tested.
Trundlebug
Well-Known Member
Well it's been a couple of months now since you first applied some of the products, can you give us an update on how they're standing up to the winter rain, storms, sun and frost so far Tony?
Have they gone green yet like the decks of my boat?
Have they gone green yet like the decks of my boat?
Marine Reflections
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys
Hope to have an update by the end of the week.
Tony
Hope to have an update by the end of the week.
Tony
Marine Reflections
Well-Known Member
So, the panels have been outside now since January.
They have suffered a little fallout debris from the trees above.
All the panels were able to reject the fallout with just water and without washing, which is a good result for all the products on test.
We will have to wait until the debris sticks to the surface before we need to involve cleaning products.
It is important to note that this is due to the condition of the surface as well as the product itself, one can’t expect the same results if applying any of these products to a surface that is rough.
There are no signs of oxidation on any of the panels as one would expect this early on.
As far as beading is concerned (the amount of rejection the surface offers) there is one product that is very clearly in the lead.
In fact, it is like watching Usain Bolt in the ‘fathers race’ at a school sports day.
That said, this is an endurance test and it could all change with the addition of more sunlight throughout the spring & summer.
Tony
They have suffered a little fallout debris from the trees above.
All the panels were able to reject the fallout with just water and without washing, which is a good result for all the products on test.
We will have to wait until the debris sticks to the surface before we need to involve cleaning products.
It is important to note that this is due to the condition of the surface as well as the product itself, one can’t expect the same results if applying any of these products to a surface that is rough.
There are no signs of oxidation on any of the panels as one would expect this early on.
As far as beading is concerned (the amount of rejection the surface offers) there is one product that is very clearly in the lead.
In fact, it is like watching Usain Bolt in the ‘fathers race’ at a school sports day.
That said, this is an endurance test and it could all change with the addition of more sunlight throughout the spring & summer.
Tony
Trundlebug
Well-Known Member
Wow, very interesting Tony, thanks for the update.
As you say it would appear there's a clear winner so far, and surprisingly it's not the one everyone raves about. As we get in to the summer months and the effects of uv get stronger things may change, as you say.
Keep us posted and thanks for all your efforts on this.
As you say it would appear there's a clear winner so far, and surprisingly it's not the one everyone raves about. As we get in to the summer months and the effects of uv get stronger things may change, as you say.
Keep us posted and thanks for all your efforts on this.
gjgm
Well-Known Member
Errr I have watched it twice and can't see an obvious winner so far ?
Marine Reflections
Well-Known Member
To be clear, I am not stating any 'winners'.
As far as beading is concerned (the amount of rejection the surface offers) there is one product that is very clearly in the lead.
Beading is only one quality on test here, but it's clearly a one horse race on the beading.
Gavin you are either watching it in a low resolution or you need some specs
Here's a link to it on YT click on 1080p res https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6nzIC6xL-0
Last edited:
KINGFISHER 9
Well-Known Member
These waxes all need to be used on pretty perfect prepared surfaces to make them work properly ... what's the best product to get the gelcoat up to the required state? ............ sorry!
Marine Reflections
Well-Known Member
Elbow grease? :encouragement:
Agreed to get the best out of them they need to go on a fairly decent surface.
I'd like to run another comparison later on in the year that will deal with all the correction / preparation side of things, products, wool and foam compounding / polishing heads etc.
I have a few favourite correction products, but the game is changing all the time, Farecla have just improved their marine range, so they kindly sent me the entire range and I'm playing around with theirs and a few others at the moment.
They will all work, but there are lots and lots of variables that make it hard to nail down, even explain.
What's best for you is what to aim for.
Your gel might be harder or softer than others and possibly at a different stage, there's no rule when it comes to prep, it needs what it needs which is why a test area needs to be worked and a game plan formed.
Tony
Ian h
Well-Known Member
Any updates on how the testing is coming along
Trundlebug
Well-Known Member
Hi Tony,
Well we've just started June and we're about 6 months in to your test now.
For many of the products isn't 6 months about what they state as the duration of their protection?
Any chance of an update to see how the test pieces are performing?
Well we've just started June and we're about 6 months in to your test now.
For many of the products isn't 6 months about what they state as the duration of their protection?
Any chance of an update to see how the test pieces are performing?
Marine Reflections
Well-Known Member
Hi guys
We are indeed into month 6 of the test.
The panels are looking ripe for another wash, this is a huge time span to go without washing away the fallout and contaminates.
Heavy pressure on any protection.
The last month has seen the relocation of the panels to a position under a tree so they've really been in it.
We noted quite a difference in the water beading side of things early on in the test, this is an important marker in the decline of a surface protection layer that deems itself as 'performing'.
When a surface no longer beads water one might generally assume that the protection needs a top-up and would apply another application? Even if the UV protection side of things could be still working away?
If water beading is a box you need ticking then many have revealed their re-application span.
Many of the protection applications never claimed to be hydrophobic for a duration, but it is deemed an important factor of today's protections.
An application that can maintain a state of rejection on a surface is the way forward for many reasons relating to ease of maintenance.
UV factor we are only going to get the results through degredation of the gel coat, but that can only start once the protection has completely failed in that department. Water beading or not won't be an indication of how well it's doing in that area.
Each manufacturer has put forward or recommended a mild soap to use in order to preserve the ability of the protection product.
How well a mild detergent and water does at removing the contaminates remains to be seen and surely will be testament to the product's abilities.
Should I wash now or allow the panels to soak up some sun that June might have to offer?
The risk is fallout and contaminates will further bond to the gelcoat.
Very tempted to wash them today whilst I have the chance, video and photograph it, any thoughts?
We are indeed into month 6 of the test.
The panels are looking ripe for another wash, this is a huge time span to go without washing away the fallout and contaminates.
Heavy pressure on any protection.
The last month has seen the relocation of the panels to a position under a tree so they've really been in it.
We noted quite a difference in the water beading side of things early on in the test, this is an important marker in the decline of a surface protection layer that deems itself as 'performing'.
When a surface no longer beads water one might generally assume that the protection needs a top-up and would apply another application? Even if the UV protection side of things could be still working away?
If water beading is a box you need ticking then many have revealed their re-application span.
Many of the protection applications never claimed to be hydrophobic for a duration, but it is deemed an important factor of today's protections.
An application that can maintain a state of rejection on a surface is the way forward for many reasons relating to ease of maintenance.
UV factor we are only going to get the results through degredation of the gel coat, but that can only start once the protection has completely failed in that department. Water beading or not won't be an indication of how well it's doing in that area.
Each manufacturer has put forward or recommended a mild soap to use in order to preserve the ability of the protection product.
How well a mild detergent and water does at removing the contaminates remains to be seen and surely will be testament to the product's abilities.
Should I wash now or allow the panels to soak up some sun that June might have to offer?
The risk is fallout and contaminates will further bond to the gelcoat.
Very tempted to wash them today whilst I have the chance, video and photograph it, any thoughts?
pvb
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure 6 months is that long, many of us want our polish/wax to last at least a year before it's washed.
Marine Reflections
Well-Known Member
Surely it would need to be quite a sterile environment to witshtand not washing for a year.
With aviation fuel, bird strikes, dust, rain fallout and so on to deal with, not washing for a year would be a long stretch for many, but can understand that in the right situation once a year is plenty.
pvb
Well-Known Member
Can't speak for others, but my boat stays in the water all year round, so only gets polished/waxed on the odd times I have it lifted. Used to be every 2 years with old boat, new boat has a saildrive so I'm currently lifting every year until I see how long the saildrive anode lasts.
Marine Reflections
Well-Known Member
But do you not wash it during that time?
There's certainly a difference between coastal and inland environments, the type and level of fallout that needs removing on a regular basis.
Thames inland for example see lots of tree dust / sap etc, two years without washing down and they would be covered.
Coastal has different issues but overall I think it's a more sterile environment cleaning wise with less fallout.
Seeing boats that havent been washed in years is common and so is seeing others washed weekly, so I think how long one might leave it is a personal thing and more often than not down to the environment it's in?
Some have certain issues, birds nesting above, or on a flight path and has fuel black runs constantly to deal with.
6 months is long enough for the purpose of this test isn't it?
If the test panels were on my boat I'd have washed them by now, but we have to take an average circumstance into consideration, I was thinking 6 months is possibly average?
So, I'm thinking I wash them down over the next few weeks after a litle June sun.
Any thoughts?
There's certainly a difference between coastal and inland environments, the type and level of fallout that needs removing on a regular basis.
Thames inland for example see lots of tree dust / sap etc, two years without washing down and they would be covered.
Coastal has different issues but overall I think it's a more sterile environment cleaning wise with less fallout.
Seeing boats that havent been washed in years is common and so is seeing others washed weekly, so I think how long one might leave it is a personal thing and more often than not down to the environment it's in?
Some have certain issues, birds nesting above, or on a flight path and has fuel black runs constantly to deal with.
6 months is long enough for the purpose of this test isn't it?
If the test panels were on my boat I'd have washed them by now, but we have to take an average circumstance into consideration, I was thinking 6 months is possibly average?
So, I'm thinking I wash them down over the next few weeks after a litle June sun.
Any thoughts?
pvb
Well-Known Member
I don't wash the hull, but the deck and superstructure get washed regularly (but they're not polished/waxed).
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