The 2022 springtime Shine Thread

I clean them in a 5 gallon bucket with soapy water, a spur tool and my hands. Spin them out on the rotary tool, rinse them well with fresh water, spin again then air dry. They still look new...

I found the washing machine beats them up, even on delicates. But I have an old school top loader...
 
For some ding-dang reason I cant find the other thread which was discussing Smoove. @firecadet613, did you tell me to get Pro Cut 1000 and Bubblegum? ProCut 1000 for the top side (in my case) where it's dull or where there might be some fine scratches and then Bubblegum. Would I just use Bubblegum below the rail line if it's good?
 
OllieC said:
For some ding-dang reason I cant find the other thread which was discussing Smoove. @firecadet613, did you tell me to get Pro Cut 1000 and Bubblegum? ProCut 1000 for the top side (in my case) where it's dull or where there might be some fine scratches and then Bubblegum. Would I just use Bubblegum below the rail line if it's good?
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I skipped bubblegum this year and went right to cloud. On a few spots I used 3M compound and no need to polish after that
 
Blueone said:
I skipped bubblegum this year and went right to cloud. On a few spots I used 3M compound and no need to polish after that
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Sorry about the newb questions, but I've never compounded the boat before, only used a cleaner wax and a wool bonnet with a rotary which brought out the shine. Then on an off year, used a foam pad and Meguiar's Flagship. However as mentioned earlier, the topsides aren't holding a shine and are dull. Also, the aft has fine scratches where the boat name is from taking items in and out while beached. The only places I've used a compound is with tiny gelcoat repair areas and scratches which was followed up with 3M Finesse it and then Meguiar's Flagship. Meguiar's has done the trick for me every year, but it's time to step up the game.

So the questions are, and I think I know some of the answers - for the rail line and below that shines already, 'maybe' hit it with Bubblegum and then hand apply White Cloud?

For the top sides and the aft, which aren't chalky but dull, this is where I'm stuck - what would be that process? ProCut 1000, Bubble Gum and then White Cloud? Or what 3M compound would you recommend if these are the stages? I'm assuming I should tape off the boot stripe as well as the boat name.
 
OllieC said:
Sorry about the newb questions, but I've never compounded the boat before, only used a cleaner wax and a wool bonnet with a rotary which brought out the shine. Then on an off year, used a foam pad and Meguiar's Flagship. However as mentioned earlier, the topsides aren't holding a shine and are dull. Also, the aft has fine scratches where the boat name is from taking items in and out while beached. The only places I've used a compound is with tiny gelcoat repair areas and scratches which was followed up with 3M Finesse it and then Meguiar's Flagship. Meguiar's has done the trick for me every year, but it's time to step up the game.

So the questions are, and I think I know some of the answers - for the rail line and below that shines already, 'maybe' hit it with Bubblegum and then hand apply White Cloud?

For the top sides and the aft, which aren't chalky but dull, this is where I'm stuck - what would be that process? ProCut 1000, Bubble Gum and then White Cloud? Or what 3M compound would you recommend if these are the stages? I'm assuming I should tape off the boot stripe as well as the boat name.
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I'd suggest Starke Level R on a white wool pad to start
Then I'd go to Elevate on a Yellow wool pad
Followed up by a polish step, Ignition
And a good wax (my preference is Collinite 885)

If you keep the wax up, you should not have a need to do anything but a polish and wax next year.
 
Stee6043 said:
Haven't washed my lines yet though. Interesting...:)
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I don’t wash the boat lines. Just wash the permanent dock lines …. They get grungy and hard… so a quick wash and softener fixes them right up
 
OllieC said:
Sorry about the newb questions, but I've never compounded the boat before, only used a cleaner wax and a wool bonnet with a rotary which brought out the shine. Then on an off year, used a foam pad and Meguiar's Flagship. However as mentioned earlier, the topsides aren't holding a shine and are dull. Also, the aft has fine scratches where the boat name is from taking items in and out while beached. The only places I've used a compound is with tiny gelcoat repair areas and scratches which was followed up with 3M Finesse it and then Meguiar's Flagship. Meguiar's has done the trick for me every year, but it's time to step up the game.

So the questions are, and I think I know some of the answers - for the rail line and below that shines already, 'maybe' hit it with Bubblegum and then hand apply White Cloud?

For the top sides and the aft, which aren't chalky but dull, this is where I'm stuck - what would be that process? ProCut 1000, Bubble Gum and then White Cloud? Or what 3M compound would you recommend if these are the stages? I'm assuming I should tape off the boot stripe as well as the boat name.
Click to expand...
I am not much help this year as I am using up left overs…. I got a bottle that just says wax on it…. Bottle of some older 3M compound
Typically compound polish wax… if you skip compound and don’t like the result go back to compound
Use high quality wool pad to compound like 3M not harbor freight…. Big difference
I am happy with smoove products
I hate collinite but so many love it
Not sure about Starke but seems to be greatest latest according to the forum
 
Prior to Starke i was using
Presta Super Cut for heavy compounding
and menzerna 400 for polishing
I also tried the 3m product line

I was shocked at the difference in results using the Starke products
 
I was using Presta and Starbrite Premium Marine Polish before @Blueone pics sold me on Smoove.

@OllieC Pro Cut 1000 if needed, then Bubble Gum, top with Blue Ice. Blue Ice can't get wet for 24 hours after application though.

I did above and below the rub rail on my 37' on Monday. Yellow Wool pad with Bubble Gum then Blue Ice on a blue foam pad, both taken off by hand. Took me less than two hours. It wasn't bad though, looked almost this good when I started.

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Starke seems to be as good, if not better than Smoove. But too many damn options to choose from. With Smoove it's easy. Smoove Bubble Gum will polish and protect (it has the same polymers as White Cloud), so no need to top it if you're short on time.
 
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I am sooo confused tracking all these products: Bubble Gum, Smoove, Stark, 3M, 2M, Amen, Groove, Twist, Shout, Finesse, Fitness, Wool, Foam, Super Cut, Paper Cut, White Cloud, Black Cloud Lives Matter, Spurs, Rejex, Reject, Presta, Pasta, white or red sauce...

I am paying someone again this year and will have no idea what they use :)
 
firecadet613 said:
Looks damn good! I'm jealous of the heated storage...

What product / pad / speed?
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Overall the blue was in pretty good shape…. I had a 5’ spot with a bit of oxidation on both sides….. which is odd since only one side got sun.
So used what was left of the cut max on one side…. really like that stuff ….. the other side I used the 3M compound. 3M pad at 1,400 on the dewalt rotary for both sides. I used one side of pad for one side…. Other side of pad for the other. Usually I use one pad both sides for one side and then get another pad.
Like I said earlier I didn’t polish …. I used the porter cable orbital on 3.5 to wax …. Use micro fiber rag to remove

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OllieC said:
I have a couple of wool bonnets that I’ve used for a couple of years and are cake’y. What do you all do in this situation - just buy another pair or is there a good cleaning method? Last time IIRC I soaked them in dishwashing liquid and it seemed to help. Unfortunately I didn’t clean them after last years polishing. Good ones aren’t cheap.
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soak them in woolite and warm water which will break the compound down, then a stiff bristle brush to clean the bits out, then a good rinse and run it at full speed on the rotary (not angled towards you or near your boat) to dry them quickly
 
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