wot shampoo - you've had the wax debate now for the cleaner

stuartwineberg

stuartwineberg

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I've read the excellent threads over the years about which wax polish is best (I ended up with Mer) but what about boat shampoo. Having winced at the price of starbright etc - do the experts have a view? I know I shouldn't use car shampoo - something to do with metal vs fibreglass but what do you recommend?
 
stuartwineberg said:
I've read the excellent threads over the years about which wax polish is best (I ended up with Mer) but what about boat shampoo. Having winced at the price of starbright etc - do the experts have a view? I know I shouldn't use car shampoo - something to do with metal vs fibreglass but what do you recommend?
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washing-up liquid
 
Fairy Liquid (or cheapo own brand equivalent). Recommended by this board to me at the start of year and worked a treat.
 
Hmm - pots and pans

SolentBoat said:
Fairy Liquid (or cheapo own brand equivalent). Recommended by this board to me at the start of year and worked a treat.
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Interesting that responses so far are variations on cleaners for crockery and pans. A quick flit around the car forums suggests that they don't like these becuase they are so powerful that they will strip your hard earned waxing as well as get rid of dirt - so they certainly work but are they too powerful as degreasers?
 
Always

use Auto Glym these days, all products seem easy to apply and halfords do some great buy 2 get one free offers, results always been great for me
 
The best ive used ever was bought at the boat show in London,and i cant for the life of me find it online since,it was blue in colour. in a clear 1 litre plastic bottle and was made by Nielsen (spelling).
A capful or two in a bucket of warm water actually left the gelcoat with a newly polised look when dry.
 
STEP AWAY FROM THE FAIRY!!! :eek:

Yep it contains a fair amount of SALT!! and you are correct it will strip off most of the wax you broke your back putting on.
Stick to the wax safe products and only use the amount on the instructions(not a lot) a couple of caps in a full bucket is plenty, then use two buckets one for washing and one for cleaning the sponge, as to keep the product working and not to contaminate the washing bucket.
Auto glym for painted steel boats (Stevens etc) as they have a rust inhibitors in there.
Or my choice for gelcoat is Meguiars boat wash ( both wax safe) and does a great job of lifting off the surface dirt, plus both can go through a foam lance.

Each bottle should last at least 50 washes on a 40ft craft is used correctly.
:)
 
stuartwineberg said:
I've read the excellent threads over the years about which wax polish is best (I ended up with Mer) but what about boat shampoo. Having winced at the price of starbright etc - do the experts have a view? I know I shouldn't use car shampoo - something to do with metal vs fibreglass but what do you recommend?
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A couple of pros answering, so you cant get better advice than that!
You dont want to use any grease removers such as household cleaners/washing up liquids, and I prefer to use a wash and wax. Assuming we are discussing an end of day wash down and not a full start of season scrub, then any old car wash n wax seems fine. Just use a seperate bucket for windows, or you will put smeary wax all over them! By the way, one of those telescopic brushes (NOT the useless ones the water flows through for £20) but Firstmate or something where you can change the brush heads (blue,yellow orange etc) and absolutely brilliant, and one of those rare overpriced marine items that actually is worth the extortionate amount (£15-20 just for the brush head).
 
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