Cleaning, Waxing, Polishing, and Maintaining
- Thread starter First Born
- Start date
280 SeaRay
New Member
Shining... I have found the best price here... great company to deal with... best prices I have found...
http://www.autodetailingsolutions.com/Meguiar's%20Marine%20Care.htm
http://www.autodetailingsolutions.com/Meguiar's%20Marine%20Care.htm
Shining
New Member
Thanks Jeremy, Nice find! :thumbsup:280 SeaRay said:
-Mike
- Oct 3, 2006
- 4,404
- Boat Info
- 280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
- Engines
- twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
Some tips I have discovered:
#1) If you use ‘cleaner wax’ or even more aggressive ‘restorer & wax’ the wax does not last very long. The sell, per the bottles, is to do oxidation remover and wax in the same step. It does work but you need to re-wax the boat very soon after. If you keep your boat in a uncovered slip this would be about a month later.
#2) If you use the non-skid deck cleaner there is no possible way to rinse it off with out the water running down the hull. As soon as this stuff touched the regular part of the fiberglass the wax is gone. So I recommend you use this type of product only just before you are going to re-wax the boat. It does a great job of cleaning the non-skid, far better then hours and hours of scrubbing.
#3) Mr Clean magic erasers. OK, I try my best to not endorse a specific brand of anything. In this case I know of no substitute. There is a good chance your wife has one in the kitchen. Use this to clean marks off all sorts of stuff. On the seats I first wipe the seats with a wet rag and mild soapy water. Then I rub the vinyl seats with wet “Mr Clean magic erasers†then I spray on a vinyl protector and wipe with a cotton cloth. You guys with new boats / great looking seats will not get this. This is for those of us with older boats but want to make them look better.
#4) Isinglass. Forget Windex, Plexus, etc. Grab out of your wifes supplies Lemon pledge. This will clean and wax the isinglass at the same time. It also hides small scratches.
#5) Windshield wipers. If your windshield wipers are different then the ones sold at every gas station, etc, and those ones just do not fit on the arm, the blades are wider then the replacement blades you see, you have Ford “L-series†Semi wiper blades. You can find them at truck service centers
#6) Yellow discoloration at the water line. On-Off will take the yellow/brown stuff on your hull right off. Warning – your bottom paint will turn green and it will ruin the paint on your trailer. I suggest you use this product when in the water. I was told Lime Away gel works great too but have not tried myself.
#7) Got oil stains? Try BRAKE CLEANER.
#8) If none of this works mix Bacardi with Coke and consume until you no longer notice or care about the mess.
:smt101
#1) If you use ‘cleaner wax’ or even more aggressive ‘restorer & wax’ the wax does not last very long. The sell, per the bottles, is to do oxidation remover and wax in the same step. It does work but you need to re-wax the boat very soon after. If you keep your boat in a uncovered slip this would be about a month later.
#2) If you use the non-skid deck cleaner there is no possible way to rinse it off with out the water running down the hull. As soon as this stuff touched the regular part of the fiberglass the wax is gone. So I recommend you use this type of product only just before you are going to re-wax the boat. It does a great job of cleaning the non-skid, far better then hours and hours of scrubbing.
#3) Mr Clean magic erasers. OK, I try my best to not endorse a specific brand of anything. In this case I know of no substitute. There is a good chance your wife has one in the kitchen. Use this to clean marks off all sorts of stuff. On the seats I first wipe the seats with a wet rag and mild soapy water. Then I rub the vinyl seats with wet “Mr Clean magic erasers†then I spray on a vinyl protector and wipe with a cotton cloth. You guys with new boats / great looking seats will not get this. This is for those of us with older boats but want to make them look better.
#4) Isinglass. Forget Windex, Plexus, etc. Grab out of your wifes supplies Lemon pledge. This will clean and wax the isinglass at the same time. It also hides small scratches.
#5) Windshield wipers. If your windshield wipers are different then the ones sold at every gas station, etc, and those ones just do not fit on the arm, the blades are wider then the replacement blades you see, you have Ford “L-series†Semi wiper blades. You can find them at truck service centers
#6) Yellow discoloration at the water line. On-Off will take the yellow/brown stuff on your hull right off. Warning – your bottom paint will turn green and it will ruin the paint on your trailer. I suggest you use this product when in the water. I was told Lime Away gel works great too but have not tried myself.
#7) Got oil stains? Try BRAKE CLEANER.
#8) If none of this works mix Bacardi with Coke and consume until you no longer notice or care about the mess.
:smt101
Larry&Leisa
Active Member
I can vouch for #6 using the limeaway.... well and # 8 also, altho my formula is a little different :wink:
I am going to try a bit of an "experiment" this summer. I am going to coat my decking strictly with 303. It is a polymer so it should bond to the gelcoat and provide UV protection to boot. My gelcoat is nice and shiney so I'll see if it keeps it looking that way. If it does then I will strictly use polymer based polishes from here on out. While I don't want to debate the merits of polymer versus wax again........we already did that on SRO :grin: .......it's my belief the new polymers are far superior to the waxes both in shine as well as how long they provide lasting protection from the elements. 303 may not be as good as a regular polymer polish but based on my use of it on my Eisenglass and my Seats, I think it will hold up real well on the gelcoat too.............and if you read the label they tell you its OK to use on fiberglass. :thumbsup:
On my blue huill I need to first apply polish to bring the shine up to my standards and then I will be using Meguiars Flagship Wax on it.
On my blue huill I need to first apply polish to bring the shine up to my standards and then I will be using Meguiars Flagship Wax on it.
280 SeaRay
New Member
Dave a very interesting idea indeed.
http://www.303products.com/tech/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=310
http://www.303products.com/tech/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=362
As I understand it 303 is a wax replacement not a polish replacement... there is not a bit of diminishing abrasives or anything else that will polish the surface in 303. I tried 303 on my 220 but was unsure (got scared) and re-polished and waxed the area. On my 280 I use 303 on the matte finished areas of the dash with superb results.... waxing this matte surface with regular natural or polymer leaves residue that turns white.
I may join you sir in this experiment. Hmmmm...
What do you think... apply with a finishing pad and PC?
http://www.303products.com/tech/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=310
http://www.303products.com/tech/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=362
As I understand it 303 is a wax replacement not a polish replacement... there is not a bit of diminishing abrasives or anything else that will polish the surface in 303. I tried 303 on my 220 but was unsure (got scared) and re-polished and waxed the area. On my 280 I use 303 on the matte finished areas of the dash with superb results.... waxing this matte surface with regular natural or polymer leaves residue that turns white.
I may join you sir in this experiment. Hmmmm...
What do you think... apply with a finishing pad and PC?
Those links are very interesting Jeremy, especially the one on restoring fiberglass. I think I'll share those with a couple of folks at our Marina who I am trying to give "lessons" to on the ways to properly maintain the finish of their gelcoat. :thumbsup:
Daniel P Thomas
Member
- Nov 26, 2006
- 755
- Boat Info
- 1992 350 EB
- Engines
- Twin 454 Mercruisers 330 hp each
w/ Bravo II Drives
Dave and Jeremy
Indeed interesting about 303
What about wax or polish currently on surfaces?
Will it need to be removed prior to using 303?
I did not see any info on those links regarding that
Dan
Indeed interesting about 303
What about wax or polish currently on surfaces?
Will it need to be removed prior to using 303?
I did not see any info on those links regarding that
Dan
If you have wax on your boat, I would remove it. Generally speaking washing the boat with a high alkaline content dishwashing soap like dawn will remove all the wax.
Daniel P Thomas
Member
- Nov 26, 2006
- 755
- Boat Info
- 1992 350 EB
- Engines
- Twin 454 Mercruisers 330 hp each
w/ Bravo II Drives
Dave
Thanks
As I am already splashed, what will the dawn do to my hull was and polis job?
Dan
Thanks
As I am already splashed, what will the dawn do to my hull was and polis job?
Dan
Daniel P Thomas said:
Whatever it touches it will strip the wax. So if it gets on the hull, it will take the wax with it. Sounds like maybe it's not a good idea in your situation.
craig240DA
New Member
- Apr 27, 2007
- 94
Dumb question
Do you wax/polish the hull the same way you wax/polish the topside fiberglass? Our boat is on a lift, always in the same direction. I can only get to the hull with a brush and clean it if I go around in a kayak. I can't reach half the boat when it is in the lift. What do others do when your boat is on a lift?
Do you wax/polish the hull the same way you wax/polish the topside fiberglass? Our boat is on a lift, always in the same direction. I can only get to the hull with a brush and clean it if I go around in a kayak. I can't reach half the boat when it is in the lift. What do others do when your boat is on a lift?
mrsrobinson
Well-Known Member
We wash the boat every time we are on it, usually 203X a month in boating season, with Yacht Bright.
We clean it once a year with 3M Cleaner and Wax using the Porter Cable Orbital Polisher. We then apply a coat of Collinite Paste Wax with the Porter Cable.
Then, once a month we clean and wax the top sides, during the boating season only.
For the isenglass we use a mild soap and a diaper then hand dry with a diaper.
Our biggest challenge is black streaks off the canvas and where the water runs off the gunnels. We use Spray 9 for that and then re-apply a coat of wax.
We clean it once a year with 3M Cleaner and Wax using the Porter Cable Orbital Polisher. We then apply a coat of Collinite Paste Wax with the Porter Cable.
Then, once a month we clean and wax the top sides, during the boating season only.
For the isenglass we use a mild soap and a diaper then hand dry with a diaper.
Our biggest challenge is black streaks off the canvas and where the water runs off the gunnels. We use Spray 9 for that and then re-apply a coat of wax.
wish2fish
Active Member
okay Jeremy and Dave,
for the rest of us who are not obsessive compulsive and want a simple procedure. Should we wash the hull with a "stripping" soap like dawn prior to waxing the hull or would any boat wash do and then the wax?
FYI, I have no need to see the reflection of the marina head boat 300 yards away as I will just turn around to see it! :grin:
for the rest of us who are not obsessive compulsive and want a simple procedure. Should we wash the hull with a "stripping" soap like dawn prior to waxing the hull or would any boat wash do and then the wax?
FYI, I have no need to see the reflection of the marina head boat 300 yards away as I will just turn around to see it! :grin:
wish2fish said:
There is no reason to strip the wax unless you want to use a polymer polish that requires it to be stripped such as Zaino. Use a good boat wash soap and then go to town with whatever your favorite polishing/waxing products may be. :thumbsup:
280 SeaRay
New Member
I would not wash with a stripping soap before applying wax.... I would just wash the boat well with boat soap and then wax (2 thin coats better than 1 heavy).
brian2001ss
New Member
With all this great info, you guys are going to put me in the dog house when I tell my wife I need to spend just as much money on the boat's polishing and wash products as I do for my SS. :smt021
wickeral
New Member
SearayPaul said:
Don't exceed 1400RPM or you'll be sorry. Speed equals Heat, equals Burnt Gel coat. Al W.
Arizona240DA
Banned
Forgive the question, but what is the difference between a polish and a wax? Also, do any of you have experience or familiarity with the Dewalt DW849 varible speed polisher?
Many thanks,
Chris
Many thanks,
Chris
