waxing process?

boatman37

Well-Known Member
Jun 6, 2015
4,211
pittsburgh
Boat Info
2006 Crownline 250CR. 5.7 Merc BIII
Previous: 1986 Sea Ray 250 Sundancer. 260 Merc Alpha 1 Gen 1
Engines
5.7 Merc BIII
So what is your typical pre-season routine for waxing/buffing? Mine looks very good below the rubrail all season but every spring I still buff with Presta Super Cut, then MeGuiars Fine Cut with the buffer, then Meguiars Flagship by hand. Last week I did one side this way then tonight being in a hurry I did the other side only using the buffer with the Fine Cut then hand waxing with the Flagship and it looks the same as the side I used the Super Cut on. What about above the rubrail where its a little worse? I'm thinking there I will need the Super Cut first? Or do you think the Fine Cut would be enough? If it isn't raining tomorrow I am going to try above the rubrail without the Super Cut but just wondered what others do? It is a 30+ year old boat but the finish is excellent for a boat that old.
 
Similar to your process. I use a lot of 3m, so I go armed with imperial polish, finesse-it II, a glaze (this year I used McGuire’s) and collinite 925. Also 2 wool pads, 2 foam polishing, and hand wax applicators

Below rub rail only needed finesse it then a quick pass of the glaze to clean up any left over swirls. Finesse it can be tough to remove, so the second pass made it easier

I compounded, polished, and finally used the swirl remover above the rub rail. It needed it pretty badly.

Lastly the whole boat got 2 coats of collinite by hand. I’ve tried other waxes, including the polymers, but I keep going back

Try the least aggressive compound/polish in a 2x2 section to see if you can skip the full compound step. You mind find it enough, but if not it’s easy enough to run back through with the cutting compound. Wait until an hour or so before sunset to make your decision when the light is coming at an angle to the surface. That will show any leftover oxidation as well as swirls better than bright sunlight
 
Similar to your process. I use a lot of 3m, so I go armed with imperial polish, finesse-it II, a glaze (this year I used McGuire’s) and collinite 925. Also 2 wool pads, 2 foam polishing, and hand wax applicators

Below rub rail only needed finesse it then a quick pass of the glaze to clean up any left over swirls. Finesse it can be tough to remove, so the second pass made it easier

I compounded, polished, and finally used the swirl remover above the rub rail. It needed it pretty badly.

Lastly the whole boat got 2 coats of collinite by hand. I’ve tried other waxes, including the polymers, but I keep going back

Try the least aggressive compound/polish in a 2x2 section to see if you can skip the full compound step. You mind find it enough, but if not it’s easy enough to run back through with the cutting compound. Wait until an hour or so before sunset to make your decision when the light is coming at an angle to the surface. That will show any leftover oxidation as well as swirls better than bright sunlight
Yeah, really hoping I don't need the heavier stuff just for the sake of saving time. Hoping to try to launch Sunday but if not then next weekend. It's supposed to rain tomorrow and Saturday so not looking too good for this weekend but there is about a 3 hour window tomorrow with no rain. Some above the rub rail I can do in the water but hoping to at least get the one side done beforehand so I don't have to do the old merry-go-round to get the other side next to the dock...lol.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,948
Messages
1,422,806
Members
60,930
Latest member
Ebrown69
Back
Top