Best wax/coating after buffing

It's all fun and games until that first flock of birds comes along and craps all over your freshly waxed topside.

I could not believe the amount of direct hits I took last week from birds. Some kind of record. The aching back and knees from winter waxing...it almost made me wonder why I spent the time.

We'd probably all save money in the long run if we just invested in canvas covers stem to stern :)
 
I bought a new truck on March 6th. March 7th I came out and had about 7 or 8 large splats of bird crap on it. And it's dark blue so stands out. ugh.....
 
pyro said:
This past weekend I went around with polish a light cut foam pad. At times I had the polish stay moist and then I could come back and remove it. However very often it would turn hard on the hull and be very difficult to remove with the buffer. Usually had to take a rag to get it off. What went wrong? Should I wait longer for it to dry before removing? Should I not wait at all and keep it moist. I used a whole 16 oz bottle of 3M Finesse It II on just the outside of a 290 Sundancer.

I followed up with Collinite Fleetwax paste. From reading forums I was expecting it to be much more difficult to apply and remove. It was pretty easy. Trying to get the small stains and small debris stuck to the hull was much more difficult and time consuming.
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The loading up and drying is exactly why I stopped using finesse it. Try it with a wool cutting pad...though I think your problem maybe that you need a product with more cut. Finesse it is a polish...there are more cost effective and user friendly products out there. If the surface isn’t see yourself perfect ditch the foam. Get a wool cutting pad and pick your product from there.
 
I had such rotten weather for so long this spring that I was looking for a quicker alternative.

After a wash, I machine applied Meguire’s Mirror Glaze 6 with a wool bonnet and got the best shine I’ve ever had.

I followed up with a spray wax to remove dust and it looks really good.
 
That combo will give you a nice result but probably not a lot of longevity depending on the spray wax you used.
I like the Spray products for quickie jobs but they don’t really hold up as well.
If you can keep up with adding additional wax through the season it will continue to look good.
 
I wasn’t counting on the spray wax to add protection, just to get a week’s worth of yard dust off it before I splashed. A “quickie job” as you put it.

We’ll see how long the Mirror Glaze lasts, but I couldn’t believe the shine it produced.
 
Their mirror glaze is good stuff, but doesn’t last.
Glazes don’t correct finishes like polish or protect it like a wax.
They do enhance a shine giving it a wet look and the fillers in it temporarily fill in minor swirls in the surface so it reflects light better and becomes a more even surface for the wax to bond to.
I’ve used it a few times to get my GTO ready for a show or for a quick result on the Corvette when I want a nice refreshed shine but don’t have time for a full job and it works really well but the fillers in it (like with all glazes) wear off after a washing or two.
You should be good to go though if you keep up with the wax.
 
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You know when I saw the word glaze I was expecting a much thinner product. Most glazes I’ve used before were like water and went on and off very quickly and as you say didn’t last long.

The MG 6 was thick like a cream, labeled as a cleaner wax and would have been a PITA to apply by hand.

Either way I needed a quicker solution, the boat already had a decent shine from last year’s rubbing out and it’s white, so I expect it to do fine.
 
Detail guys just did my boat, buff, polish, and then ceramic coating (extra 2400$), guaranteed 18-24 months, hell, I'd be happy with 12 months in the FL sun (95-96 degrees here this weekend) Happy Memorial Day to all of you!!
 
Stee6043 said:
It's all fun and games until that first flock of birds comes along and craps all over your freshly waxed topside.

I could not believe the amount of direct hits I took last week from birds. Some kind of record. The aching back and knees from winter waxing...it almost made me wonder why I spent the time.

We'd probably all save money in the long run if we just invested in canvas covers stem to stern :)
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I heard that!!!! ;)
 
susanandlance said:
Detail guys just did my boat, buff, polish, and then ceramic coating (extra 2400$), guaranteed 18-24 months, hell, I'd be happy with 12 months in the FL sun (95-96 degrees here this weekend) Happy Memorial Day to all of you!!
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Interested to see how the ceramic coating holds up over the long term.
What brand did they use?
 
susanandlance said:
Ceramic Pro
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Thanks! Keep us updated on your experience with it. I had thought about applying a DIY ceramic coating to the area above the rubrails but below the deck just to give it a test this season but wound up not doing it.
I’ve been getting a lot of pop up ads for Ceramic Coatings in the last year or so and have gotten curious about them.
 
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The Ceramic Pro the installers have to attend a class to be qualified to use the product
 
susanandlance said:
The Ceramic Pro the installers have to attend a class to be qualified to use the product
Click to expand...

I see that, but there are other versions on the market that you can buy and apply yourself that I keep getting pop up ads for. I was thinking of picking an area and giving one of them a try to see how it hold up and to see if it makes washing easier by reducing stains.
 
Tonka Boater said:
Here's a list of my personal favorite products and supplies.

WASHING
I use Meguiar's M4364 Marine/RV Boat Wash. I trailer my boat and wash it once a week....in addition to drying off at the boat ramp at the end of the day. It cleans very well, has good suds and a good fragrance and it won't remove your wax the way dish soap will.

If you have non-skid areas, you will want to use Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner with PTEF. Use this with a medium bristle brush and it's hand's down the best way to clean your non-skid.

Boat Wash: https://amzn.to/2Jc4h1q
Non-Skid Cleaner: https://amzn.to/2PICQOh



COMPOUNDING
The red stripes on my boat tend to oxidize pretty bad as well as my transom. For these areas I use Meguiar's M4916 Marine/RV Heavy Duty Oxidation Remover. After I remove the oxidation, I hit the stripes with Meguiar's M4416 Marine/RV Color Restorer.

Oxidation Remover: https://amzn.to/2Vbdui0
Color Restorer: https://amzn.to/2GZhXvf



FINISHING POLISH
For polishing to a deep shine with great UV protection, I think Star Brite Premium Marine Polish with PTEF is the best. Easy to apply and remove and leaves a deep mirror shine.

https://amzn.to/2LhtF8D



WAXING
Finally, for the final layer of protection, I apply Meguiar's M6332 Flagship Premium Marine Wax. This wax deepens the mirror shine that the Star Brite polish gives and it seals it in with a layer wax. In the northern climates, this will last me all season.

https://amzn.to/2Y5gHN6



THE POLISHER
Finally, I use the PORTER-CABLE 7424XP 6-Inch Variable-Speed Polisher to apply all of these products. This polisher is super easy to handle and it's a random orbital buffer so it's less likely you will damage your gelcoat the way you can with a straight rotary buffer. I think the rotary is a better tool overall for polishing but, you can cause some bad damage by burning the gelcoat if you're not careful. This polisher gives a great finish and is your best bet if don't want to use a rotary.

https://amzn.to/2ZWGY1U
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What kind of pads did you use to polish and wax with your Porter Cable? I have the same machine. Looking to use the Meguiars Blue bottle M50 Cleaner wax and then the Flagship Wax. Trying to determine best pads to apply product.
 
I did Starbrite Cleaner Wax with an orange compound pad. I then put on two coats of Collinite 925 with a black wax pad then removed the wax with a 3M Wool Buffing Pad. Very happy with the result. This is my first time using Collinite products based on the recommendation of many here on our forum. Thanks for the tip !!
 
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