topside polish

[tomframe]

right I am tired of small boat cleaning companies just not turning up and giving a rubbish service - its time for me to get hands dirty. (how difficult can it be)

any tips on what polisher I should get and what cutting paste etc...

off to spend some cash and spending the weekend doing the work myself!!

 

[Richard10002]

I did my shipsides and topsides in April. I used T Cut to get the muck off, and a polish whose name I cant recall. Comments from neighbours and passers by were very positive. Whichever polish you use to get the final shine, T Cut certainly does its' job well.

A word of warning which others will no doubt make - you shouldnt use T Cut regularly, but once in a while I cant see it doing too much harm. The last time I used it was in June 2006.

That was about 6 weeks ago. I've just arrived back in Malta where I think there has been dusty rain since I left a month ago, so she is looking a bit mucky. The true test of the job will be when I wash her over the weekend.

 

[nickcred]

I use a cutting compound "halfords own brand" in a yellow tube and then follow up with Auto Glym shampoo and then auto glym super resin poish not cheap but mid range and does a great job, easy on easy off and lasts well. The window glass cleaner is brilliant, SWMBO swears its the best and easiest glass polisher she has used. Now used at home, the boat and the cars

 

[johnphilip]

Cosmetics for boats are a bit like ladies beauty products, you pay over the top for a designer product, but if I am spending a day buffing the boat I am prepared to pay a bit for the polish. 3M do a cleaner with wax which I find works very well. They also do a straight wax polish for areas with no staining or as a second coat if you are in really masochistic mood. Both are a bit expensive @ about £13

 

[alahol2]

The cutting compound you want is Farecla G3, or maybe G4 one is coarser than the other but can't remember which. If you've got brown stained waterlines don't try to polish it out, use oxalic acid. All the polishes seem to be much of a muchness.

 

[paulburton44]

The 3m cleaner with wax is very good.....removes stains and shines, in one go.

 

[Twister_Ken]

For boat cleaning, the best chandlery to shop at is Halfords. There is no difference between boat and car shampoos and waxes except price and snobbery.

 

[dje67]

I've found it great as well. Most of my boat has been spray-painted in the past, and the 3M stuff works well on that too.

 

[Caer Urfa]

Yes agree, use 'T' cut first then 'MER' (in a blue bottle) both from Halfords,lasts a long time and a superb shine
Even bought the electric polisher from Halfords, cheap yes, but it does the job!

 

[robbieg]

Starbright heavy duty cleaner & wax. Rub on an rub off-does what it says on the tin. I can get a good shine on my 20 year old topsides in a morning with this stuff.

 

[tross]

I fail to understand why people recommend T-cut , its far too aggressive. This is what I did to restore my 17 year old topsides and hull.

1, use Farecla G3 nothing harsher or as I have found out PVC windows cleaning compound - yes I know,sounds crazy but its very good. - not the solvent stuff but the abrasive stuff - it is perfect and cheap.

Get yourself a ball mop something like a Flitz polishing ball, and use this to polish the topside to a decent shine. - may take a couple of goes.

Then this is the expensive bit, go over it with KLASSE All -in-one cleaner /polish. Then finish off with KLASSE gloss sealent. I did my hull and topsides with this at the beginning of the year ( + 2 cars) and the results are fantatic! Where normal polishes / wax have washed away on the hull this is still there. it seems unaffected but normal wash detergents and in most cases just hosing down all this is need to clean the cars and boat. The best bit - if you have done it right the finish is soft and smooth just like new. They boast it should last up to 12months - so far so good.

 

[Refueler]

Stains I use Cilit WC Cleaner (Lime and Rust remover). Then T-Cut to do overall. Next is straight water and detergent to wash off the T-Cut that may be left after buffing of. If you don't it will turn yellow.
Once boat dry - then I use Diamond Hard car shine ... liquid based - wipe on, buff off.

After Cilit Lime and Rust Remover (general WC cleaners also will do similar ... make sure it's WC and Stain cleaner) :

I don't think they look too bad for an amateur job ?

 

[Richard10002]

Given my limited knowledge, I think T-Cut has its' place when a hull is particularly grimy. I wouldnt use it on a regular basis. Once a year tops, but the last time I used it was in 2006.

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
Given my limited knowledge, I think T-Cut has its' place when a hull is particularly grimy. I wouldnt use it on a regular basis. Once a year tops, but the last time I used it was in 2006.

[/ QUOTE ]

Variations on T-Cut :

Brasso
Bluebell

and other metal polishes - they all clean by fine abrading. For best info on this - is to ask a Car Refinishers - where they paint / spray cars - they have amazing ranges of stuff for bringing up paintwork.