Silicone Polish?

[bobcv]

Help please! - What's the best polish to use on a new GRP boat? There seems to be two schools of thought as to whether polishes with or without silicones are best -I'd be grateful for any advice and any experiences with good/not so good brands.

cheers!

 

[longjohnsilver]

Mer

I and my mates all use Mer, don't know if it's got silicone in it, but we're all happy with it, easy to use and leaves a good long lasting shine, oh and it's a fraction of the price of pukka marine polishes!!

 

[hlb]

Re: Mer

Thanks John. Bring some round to mine. See if it's any good. Ok!!

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[coliholic]

Re: Mer

Well I've always been told, though I don't know by who, that Mer is one of the worst polishes to use on GRP 'cos it's got silicon in and apparantly should keep silicon off GRP, though I must say I don't know why. Think it's something to do with if you're ever likely to or need to paint the boat, the silicone is almost impossible to remove. Of course this could be a line given out by those polishes that don't have silicon in them.

I use the Starbrite polish with Teflon and find it easy to use and gives a great finish, very happy with it and see no reason to change, though it's not cheap at about £13 a bottle, though it lasts for ages. Give it one coat at the start of the season, another after a fortnight then about one or two more in August ish and that's it for the year.

 

[hlb]

Re: Mer

Colin I've yet to find time to get round the whole boat in one year. Much as I've tried. Mainly cos theres one side thats always at the pontoon. Dont know why. But my boats always Starboard to. So that side gets cleaned. Dont remember ever seeing other side.!!

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Mer

Haydn, can you imagine trying to polish mine, quicker to repaint it!

 

[coliholic]

Re: Mer

Well H you could always try reversing in to the pontoon for a change. Or ask that very nice lady who runs the marina to give you a diferent berth with the pontoon on t'other side?

That way the other side'll be against the finger and Tut's will be so ashamed that maybe she'll get out there and polish it.

Or perhaps not....

 

[ChrisP]

Don't know about the actual plolishing. I say it looks dirty and Wife polish's it. She seems fairly impressed with the Teflon one she's started using. Seems to last well. Mer doesn't stand up to salt water very well.

Must go, the ice in my drink is melting.

 

[Sirus]

Re: Mer

One of the guys who works for the racecourse uses a product from 3M that he gets from the states and it is the dogs,done a 37ft sealine in about 2 hours problem is dont know the name but he gave me some and it is so easy to apply..

 

[c_j]

I use Autoglym and although its not cheap you can buy it in bulk gallon cans and it is very very good.
Most of the Valet guys use it in preference to Mer and I have chatted to a few who have always said that they had used Mer in the past but on balance found Autoglym to be better. Sorry don't jknow about silicon issue. I also use a commercial cutting agent called G3 which I also find very good and which was recommended to me by commercial Valet guys

CJ
chris@stone.uk.com

www.stone.uk.com

 

[paulineb]

3M ...nm

.

Pxx

 

[Geoffs]

Starbrite Teflon

Agree with Coli, Starbrite Teflon really good, the best I've tried. Superior shine that lasts well.

 

[DepSol]

Re: Starbrite Teflon

I am with the Starbrite Teflon gang on this one


Dom


I just want my boat back in the water ;-(

 

[Piers]

Silicone - no. Others with animal fats - no. For excellent advice, call Peter Furby of 3M Marine Division (who is a sponsor of MBM) and see what he suggests. I have used his products and am really pleased with the results. 07770 284 926).

Piers du Pré
MBM Cruising Club enthusiast
www.dupre.co.uk/fsPlaydeau.htm

 

[Scubadoo]

Re: Starbrite Teflon - I AGREE

Nothing I found is as good as Starbrite Teflon.

RM.

 

[KevL]

Re: Mer

Silicon is a definate no no in the automotive industry for that very reason, we can't even use rubber with silicon in it. As you say it can't be removed and paint doesn't like it at all. It does make me wonder about the silicon brake fluid though.



--
Tides - Never there when you need one.
Wind - Always there when you don't.

KevL

 

[Medskipper]

Iv'e been boating nearly fifteen years and in that time I have used every polish mentioned here and many more besides! I have been boating in fresh water and salt water and the only polish that I have found that stays the distance is Starbrite with Teflon! Its really fantastic! I clean and polish the boat at the beginning of the season and as long as you hose the boat down after a trip to remove the salt my boat looks as good at the end of the season as it did when I first polished it!
And if by any chance the manufacturers of this product are reading this and need someone to help with their advertsing campaign for a particularly large fee I will state this in Public!!! well ok bung me a couple of bottles of Starbrite!!

Barry

 

[bobcv]

Barry,

Thanks for this - This very morn I hot-footed to the chandlers and bought a couple of bottles of Starbright with Teflon.

cheers!

Bob

 

[Chris771]

IMHO I have to agree with Starbrite Teflon. Have tried numerous polishes over the years and found that silicone polishes tend to get diesel exhaust blackening trapped under the silicone layer which is then very difficult to remove, usually necessitating abrasive cleaners which remove gelcoat.

With Starbrite I have never had this problem, just polish twice a year and wash down with freshwater and it gleams


Chris