Wax on top sides over the winter

[joe17]

Just took the boat out today. I gave it a very thorough washing with gelcoat cleaner and the like. Now I was considering putting on some wax. I was wondering if I should just apply the wax and not buff it off till the spring or do I apply it and buff it now? I have seen photos of boats laid up with a layer of "not yet buffed" wax on the top sides.

Anyone with advice and/or experience?

Thanks,
Joe.

 

[longjohnsilver]

As you've already done the hard work I'd just put on a good layer of wax and leave it unbuffed. Then hopefully in the Spring rub/wash it off and hey presto, nice clean boat.

 

[pvb]

If you leave wax unbuffed over the winter, I'd have thought it would be difficult to buff next spring, and you'd surely end up just rubbing abrasive dirt into the gelcoat. The better solution would be to wax and buff now to seal the surface and, if necessary, do it again in the spring.

 

[pmyatt]

If you want to see the result of buffing unbuffed 6-month old wax polish, try this little experiment. Get a piece of formica and cover it in wax furniture polish - before it dries, cover it in sand - shake off excess sand then dry wax with hair drier. Buff and check result - from past experience it's excremental!!!!

 

[Billjratt]

The down-side of Med cruising is fine airborne sand..
not so prevalent up here, and if the waxing is done on a calm day, no probs.

 

[tangomoon]

Polish it! - I always put my coat on before it rains.

Poster below ref sand etc is dead right.

People convinced us to use 'White-Out" leave it on all winter - take it off in Spring - hard work took for ever. Found different product and it's wipe on wipe off in twenty seconds - goodbye yellow stains.

Polish it definitely and wash and polish again in the Spring

 

[Vara]

Def polish it off for reasons outlined, got the T shirt to prove that leaving it unpolished is a nightmare.

Have a word with "cleanandshiny" of this parish as he has some heavy duty winter waxes for sale.

usual caveats.

 

[johnalison]

I too tried to leave polish on once about 30 years ago when I saw it recommended. Never again - it was worse than leaving masking-tape on too long.

 

[Bodach na mara]

"The down-side of Med cruising is fine airborne sand.."

In Largs or Fairlie, it is fine airborne coal dust!

Leaving wax for six months before buffing is not a good ised.

 

[joe17]

Thanks. Recommendation seems to be clearly "buff now or pay later". I do remember seeing photos of yachts laid up with heavily waxed, but unbuffed top sides. Dont remember where exactly.

Discussion is somewhat academic today as I ran out of time yesterday and today it is a full on Autumn gale here in Helsinki. Maybe if the weather improves again next weekend.

Thanks again.

 

[pmyatt]

I think new boats used to be covered in wax for shipping - before they invented shrink-wrap,

 

[samwise]

Is it possible that the wax you saw was the kind they used to protect new cars for transport? Not much stuck to it, but it was a b**** to get off!

 

[Stemar]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it possible that the wax you saw was the kind they used to protect new cars for transport? Not much stuck to it, but it was a b**** to get off!

[/ QUOTE ]
When I was working for Toyota France, we used a very hot (almost boiling) water pressure washer to get it off.

Made me glad I worked in the office...