Boats love clay too

2

280 SeaRay

New Member
Oct 10, 2006
656
Folsom, California
Boat Info
280DA
Engines
4.3 MPI
In process of the full detail of the 280 and found a very effective product that really helps for boats stored outside. In the last detail with my 220 I used detailing clay after the wash and before polish or color restorer... I was happy with the results but the 220 was garage kept and never experienced the "fall out" seems to magically happen on boats stored outside. I had small black/gray dots that were very small (only see them with your eyes a inch or two from the gelcoat) as well as some "stuff" that you could not see but could feel. After a thourough wash the gel coat on the top sides was not perfectly smooth.... when felt with the palm of your hand. I used my detailing clay (Meguiars) and Final inspection as the lubricant and I was floored when I saw the amount fo stuff the clay pulled off the gel coat. This is a boat that is washed weekly with no exceptions.

I would consider claying the boat a must if you are stored outside. It is not a time concuming process but is very effective. Claying to remove all of the "junk" on the gel coat that washing does not remove will also help you to avoid getting that stuff (likely somewhat abrasive) gummed up on your polishing or washing pad as well. Your compound, polish, or cleaner wax will like remove some or most of this... but do you really want to be pressing those contaminents against your finish? :huh:

http://www.autodetailingsolutions.com/Clay Bars.htm
 
I will pay for your plane ticket and put you up in my house if you come out to Williamsburg and "clay" my 480 for me.

You fly AirTran?
 
You have all that "stuff" on there because you trailer your boat and it picks up all the gunk from the road. :smt043

Keep it in a slip and you wouldn't need to use a claybar on it. :thumbsup:

And you can come polish my boat anytime too Jeremy. :wink:
 
You know Jeremy if you come down to see Dave and do not at least stop by to inspect First Born I will be highly disappointed. :smt018

Wesley
 
Throw in a weekend on your boat, all the beer I can drink and a full tank of gas and I would take up "claying" in a serious way. :lol:

as long as i don't have to do the bridge :smt043
 
Gary....it will likely take a day to clay the thing... but the clay removes wax and the whole bit.... so then you have to start polishing, waxing.... etc. I am 30 man hours into the polish and wax of my 280.... so if I were to do your 480... I would guesstimate about a month..... but it would be perfect :thumbsup:

Dave... I am sure the road does not help... but I never trailer when the ground has any moisture on it.... I refuse.... that black road funk is not acceptable on the boat. I like polishing..... but I gotta finish mine first.... hull is done... and topsides are 15%, cockpit I have not started. I figure I have another 15 hours or so before I am done.

Wesley... would love to stop by and take a look at the boat.... in fact I will just meet you on the ramp. That way you can take me for a spin. :cool:

TT... I will clay Gary's boat.... and you can polish and wax... I will even let you borrow my PC.... then I will sit on the cooler and ensure it does not go anywhere.... deal?

All the joking comments aside.... I was serious about my success with the clay.
 
I never have tried clay before, but I am going to try it out on a section this year. I ordered that kit plus some of the lubricant. Jeremy, how large of an area will that kit do, just curious ?
 
Brian59 great question. The specific clay kit comes with the quick detailer (QD) and the clay bar. I break the clay bar in two pieces then use each piece until full with junk. The clay bar really depends on how much bonded junk you have on your boat. As you finish each small "section" knead the clay into a ball then flatten out to continue onto the next section. If the clay bar hits the ground (you drop it) or becomes completely filled with "junk" it is time to throw it away. You want to be careful not to introduce scratching.

The quick test for "Do I need to clay" is wash and rinse the area well then dry. Run the palm of your hand over the surface.. if it does not feel smooth a perfect clean brand new glass..... then you need to clay. I personally found that all the areas above the rub rail needed clay. You basically spray the lubricant onto the washed and dried surface and rub with the clay bar wiping dry with a microfiber towel. When it feel smooth as glass your done.

Clay is not a replacement for compounding (if needed), polishing, or waxing. The clay does remove wax from the gel coat surface and should be used as a step just after washing and drying and before any compounding, polishing or washing.

To give you an idea where this falls out in the process (process is continually updated as I learn)

1. Wash and Dry
2. Clay
3. Compound (If required)
4. Lite gel coat cleaner (i.e. color restorer) (If required)
5. Polish
6. Wax
7. Maintain

Brian please let me know how the clay works for you.
 
I like the idea. I use Griot's Garage products including their clay and Speedshine detailing spray on my car. I've used the Speedshine on my boat every time I bring it back to the rack but I think the clay will work nicely on the gelcoat as well. I do get some "deposits" of bird crap and stuff so the clay ought to do the job before I use 3M Finesse and Mequire's wax.

P.S. I just got back from a 2-week cruise of the Danube. Saw very few pleasure boats. Mostly sport boats and the biggest cruiser looked to be about 34 feet at most. The banks reminded me of the upper Mississippi until you see a structure as everything has a red tile roof over there. And, some of the trees have misteltoe hangingg in them.

Dennis
 
Its funny that the steps you guys use on your boat's gelcoat is pretty much the same steps I take on my Camaro SS before my shows. So I guess my work will pass over to the Sea Ray as well:grin:
 
brian2001ss said:
Its funny that the steps you guys use on your boat's gelcoat is pretty much the same steps I take on my Camaro SS before my shows. So I guess my work will pass over to the Sea Ray as well:grin:
Click to expand...

If you are going to use Zaino, they recommend the polish for non-clear coated finishes. :grin:
 
Dave S said:
brian2001ss said:
Its funny that the steps you guys use on your boat's gelcoat is pretty much the same steps I take on my Camaro SS before my shows. So I guess my work will pass over to the Sea Ray as well:grin:
Click to expand...

If you are going to use Zaino, they recommend the polish for non-clear coated finishes. :grin:
Click to expand...

Nice info there Dave. I wonder if Menzerna would work just as well. :huh: What I probibly need to do is get the boat kit with the all the top notch polishes and cleaners, including the clay, and just keep the toys seperate with there own goodies. I wouldn't want red getting jelous.LOL I have a feeling my boat polishing and cleaning supplies will cost just as much as what I pay for the SS. Which isn't cheap. :smt101
 
Don't forget that claying and polishing actually remove the gelcoat. Claying and polishing are actually taking the micropores in your fiberglass and removing them, thus taking very thin layers of gelcoat off. Claying too much will eventually catch up with you; only use clay when you really need to.
 
I just tried using Turtle Wax "ICE" clay product. it is a liquid you use with a foam applicator, and wash off the remains after rubbing it on. I think it did a good job cleaning the surface and prep it for thewax/polish treatments. I then used the "ICE" wax. It made the 1982 finish look wet and had a nice shine. thoughts..
 
Agree with the clay bar idea. I was wondering if anyone had tried ever it for their boat. Works great on auto finishes. The key is to use the proper clay lube; and, for the most part its pretty fast. You don't have to rub "hard", or multiple times in one spot, the clay does all the work.

Also- one "may" need to clay the hull if it's trailered much (mentioned earlier). Boats in a slip should have no reason to do the hull.
 
brian2001ss said:
Its funny that the steps you guys use on your boat's gelcoat is pretty much the same steps I take on my Camaro SS before my shows. So I guess my work will pass over to the Sea Ray as well:grin:
Click to expand...

Yeah, but that's a show car.
I realize a lot of guys take incredible care of their boats- probably more so than their houses...
But I don't have a week to spare three times a year to perform a 7-step cleaning & waxing process on the hull.

Twice a year with Collinite Boat Cleaner, then Liquid Fleetwax, is all she's gonna get.
 
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