Boat wax

srt8mag said:
If you're a lazy SOB and it's a once a year deal you have to 3 step it again.
Click to expand...

Does this mean using dishwasher detergent and a brillo pad once a year on the gelcoat aren't enough to keep my boat looking new? :wow:
 
I did a test last spring. The area below the bowrail and above the rubrail (which is angled skyward) was waxed on the port side with Flagship over 3m marine cleaner wax. Stbd side was done with Meguiars Auto wax in red bottle (sold in Pep Boys) over 3m marine cleaner wax. Absolutely no difference by August in beading or dirt resistance. I'll finish up my bottle of Flagship but I won't be buying any more. Not worth triple the price.
 
Bottom Line said:
I have used both the regular Meguars Wax and the Flagship. I felt like the Flagship held up better. I used the Flagship after compounding, then applying a coat of Meguairs Polish, followed by the Flagship. Last year I tried a new product. I ordered from BOE (Jim...the site owner) and it is called Leverage Polish. I felt like it help up very well during the year. The Leverage is the easiet wax/polish I have ever used. It is a liquid. You apply it with a terry cloth towel, and then wipe it off. My only complaint about it is that they haze is very light and kind of hard to see where you have been. You might search on here and read a little more about it.

img38.jpg
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Bottom Line,
Are you saying that you've used both #56 Boat/RV Pure Wax and

Flagship Premium Marine Wax and you're suggesting to go with Flagship?

BTW, becides shiny deck you have nice looking non-skid area. What did you use on it? I've tried non-skid cleaner (don't recall but I think it was starbrite) and I wasn't impressed. Also, what's the trick you use to clean the groves from cleaner or wax?
 
So this is really useful - what kind of compound do you guys use? When doing the hull do you use a power polisher? I have a big rotary polisher with a giant lambswool disc but having a navy hull, I really don't want to scratch it.

I'd also like to know what you use for the nonskid - I've tried starbrite but it doesnt seem to do much more than any other liquid cleaner.

Is there a thread I've missed where people can post their entire 'cleaning regimens'?

Maybe Al Gross has a recommendation since I've got his old boat!
 
jeremyandalison said:
Is there a thread I've missed where people can post their entire 'cleaning regimens'?
Click to expand...

#1) Wash boat

#2) Next, use Star Brite Non-Skid Boat Deck Cleaner with PTEF on the non-skid. Squirt on, brush in, let it soak, rinse off. Repeat if needed. That is it for the non-skid.

#3) Use Meguir's M4916 Oxidation Remover above the rub rail. Apply by hand. Rub in as needed. Wipe off with cotton cloth by hand.

#4) Use Meguar's M6332 Flagship Premium Marine Wax. Above rub rail, apply by hand. Rub in as needed. Wipe off with cotton cloth by hand. Below rub rail, apply with orbital buffer. Work in with orbital buffer, Wipe off with cotton cloth.

Now I get to sit here and wait for str8mag to post yet another insulting comment about my post. He obviously did not read my last post to him.
 
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Alex F said:
Bottom Line,
Are you saying that you've used both #56 Boat/RV Pure Wax and

Flagship Premium Marine Wax and you're suggesting to go with Flagship?

BTW, becides shiny deck you have nice looking non-skid area. What did you use on it? I've tried non-skid cleaner (don't recall but I think it was starbrite) and I wasn't impressed. Also, what's the trick you use to clean the groves from cleaner or wax?
Click to expand...

Alex...I was kind of unclear. I have used both the pure was and the Flagship, but not together. One year I tried the pure wax and the next couple of years I used the Flagship. Last year I used Leverage polish. I am in freshwater, and a covered slip. I was everything, including the non skid, from the water line up. Yes is can be difficult removing the wax from the non skid. A couple of ways I have found to remove is the use and old towel and wipe diagonal to the boat or putting on a terry cloth bonnet on the buffer. I have a cheapo rotary buffer from Harbor Freight. Since I wax my boat while in the water, I didn't was to buy and expensive buffer, just in case I dropped it. After I wax the swim platform, it is pretty slick, so I take a brush and scrub on the swim platform a little bit and then towel dry .
 
srt8mag said:
SOS pads are better because they have the built in soap.
Click to expand...

Outstanding....being as lazy as I am I'm always looking for labor saving ideas :smt038
 
I'm on my 4th season of black hulls... maybe the toughest hull maintenance color? I use Meguiars too.
What's worked for me is I use a swirl remover to clean the hull and inspect for scratches... and light abrasive on the scratches... then the swirl remover again. Once the hull is clean and polished I use a carnauba wax to protect it. I use an 8" Makita buffer with different pads for each compound (important).
Anything more than a scratch and there's a different process but there's not much magic involved.
 
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This is polished with swirl remover and then protected with carnauba... I use Meguiars products.

Gotta' love shiny stuff!

Picture1430.jpg


Picture1429.jpg


Picture1426.jpg
 
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DITTO ... been using it since it came out and swear by it. It lasts almost an entire season ... Dave, nice job but you gotta polish that ugly reflection of that Camaro outta there ... urrghhh


:grin:

Dave S said:
I have used Flagship for several years and I like it. It really shines up my blue hull and lasts a long time as well since it is a polymer (even though they call it "wax") and it bonds to the Gel Coat.

DSC03379.jpg


Dave
Click to expand...
 
Maybe I missed it in this thread, but what brand of compound does everyone like?
 
Funny you mentioned that. I was using a bottle of 3M Perfect-It III that a buddy who owns a body shop gave me for the last 2 seasons. I used it with a rotary polisher and a 3M 5723 foam pad. It worked great. I ran out of that yesterday and I picked up a bottle of 3M Imperial. I used it today with the same pad, and it works even better. I like them because they seem to work without removing any of the gelcoat. There isn't even a hint of blue on the pad.
 
skibum said:
Funny you mentioned that. I was using a bottle of 3M Perfect-It III that a buddy who owns a body shop gave me for the last 2 seasons. I used it with a rotary polisher and a 3M 5723 foam pad. It worked great. I ran out of that yesterday and I picked up a bottle of 3M Imperial. I used it today with the same pad, and it works even better. I like them because they seem to work without removing any of the gelcoat. There isn't even a hint of blue on the pad.
Click to expand...


I still have a full bottle of Perfect it III that I have used when I finished painting sections of the military truck I'm in the midst of restoring.

The perfect it III seems pretty agressive- are you sure it is safe for gel coat?
 
Used it on mine. I there is more than one version of it. This is not a very good link, but it shows 2 of them side by side if you click "enlarge image". There is an "extra cut" version and the "rubbing compound" version.

I don't have the bottle in front of me, but I know that it was not "extra cut". I'm 99% sure the bottle I have is the #05933.

Having said that, I used it on the entire hull 2 springs in a row and there were no swirls or cut marks visible even in bright, direct, sunlight. I used a foam pad lightly misted with water.
 
Bottom Line said:
I have used both the regular Meguars Wax and the Flagship. I felt like the Flagship held up better. I used the Flagship after compounding, then applying a coat of Meguairs Polish, followed by the Flagship. Last year I tried a new product. I ordered from BOE (Jim...the site owner) and it is called Leverage Polish. I felt like it help up very well during the year. The Leverage is the easiet wax/polish I have ever used. It is a liquid. You apply it with a terry cloth towel, and then wipe it off. My only complaint about it is that they haze is very light and kind of hard to see where you have been. You might search on here and read a little more about it.

img38.jpg
Click to expand...

THAT, is nice! I just found this post, but I tried Flagship last season, fartin' around, just to see how my '81 would clean up.

Didn't really know how good the stuff was. It turned out sweet.

Definitely will do the whole boat this season.
 
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