Waxing... needs more input

[H2ONUT]

When everyone posts about their experience with waxes, it would be a good idea to explain what kind of conditions you are in.

Obviously if you are in a covered slip, out of the sun, you will have excellent results with just about anything. Constant sun in a lake or fresh water river, vs constant sun in a river or bay with salt will yield different results. Are you in an area with a lot of industry and air pollution...

Also, are you good about washing and detailing...

So, lets see what products you are using and what type of environment your in.

This could possibly be turned into a sticky if we get some good info for future members...

 

[280 SeaRay]

Meguiars Flagship wax used only after very detailed, detailing process.

Boat washed every week, 52 weeks a year. Full wash scrub down by hand with only microfiber wash mitts (no brushes, no toilet cleaners, not power washer, no rinse only, no magic eraser, etc) and Meguiars Premium Marine Wash. Cockpit is hosed out and scrubbed like rest of the boat.

Detail process (Porter Cable 7424)

Wash
Clay (Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay)
Inspect Surface and mark problem areas with grease pencil
#44 Color Restorer (Used only if needed) (Meguiars 8006 pad)
#45 Polish (Meguiars 8006 pad)
#63 Premium Flagship Wax (3 very thin coats allow to dry and remove between coats) (Meguiars 9006 pad - Apply, Meguiars 7006 with Microfiber bonnet - remove)

Process is repeated a couple of times a year based upon after wash inspections and how well the wax is sheeting water during wash (pretty easy to tell when wax is gone).



Boat kept on the trailer uncovered in the CA sun. Arid climate 90-110 degrees during summer day. Zero rain April/May - October/November. Camper canvas on full time when not being used.

 

[brad10281]

Waxing...what's that? :huh:

I'm extremely lazy when it comes to keeping my boat clean. I'll take it to the local car wash and spray er' down every once in a while. I had heavy oxidation that started last year and it was a pain to remove this spring but i got it back to a pretty good shine.

Today I spent the day focusing under the rub rail, it was yellowing at the water line and all together looking like crap. I washed with dish soap, sprayed the hull with "Rust Out" which eliminated the yellowing within 30 seconds, rinsed thoroughly and then washed with dish soap again to be sure all the Rust Out was washed off. I then took a Magic Eraser to the painted part of the hull to remove all the hard water stains and grit/grime, rinsed again then dried it. Applied Yacht Bright Pro Polish and removed with a rotary polisher w/cotton cloth, it looks great...compared to what it did look like. I still need to apply some wax.

I have no set ways of keeping my boat looking good but I will be taking better care of it from now on since its such a pain to clean when you let it go.

Kept on a trailer in Michigan, first 2 years of its life it sat in the driveway on the trailer. I built a shed this year to get some stuff out of the garage so it has been garaged almost all year when not in use. Yesterday is the first day it sat out in the rain all year :smt013

 

[First Born]

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1874&highlight=polishing

 

[mawyatt]

Waxing...what's that? :huh:

I'm extremely lazy when it comes to keeping my boat clean. I'll take it to the local car wash and spray er' down every once in a while. I had heavy oxidation that started last year and it was a pain to remove this spring but i got it back to a pretty good shine.

Today I spent the day focusing under the rub rail, it was yellowing at the water line and all together looking like crap. I washed with dish soap, sprayed the hull with "Rust Out" which eliminated the yellowing within 30 seconds, rinsed thoroughly and then washed with dish soap again to be sure all the Rust Out was washed off. I then took a Magic Eraser to the painted part of the hull to remove all the hard water stains and grit/grime, rinsed again then dried it. Applied Yacht Bright Pro Polish and removed with a rotary polisher w/cotton cloth, it looks great...compared to what it did look like. I still need to apply some wax.

I have no set ways of keeping my boat looking good but I will be taking better care of it from now on since its such a pain to clean when you let it go.

Kept on a trailer in Michigan, first 2 years of its life it sat in the driveway on the trailer. I built a shed this year to get some stuff out of the garage so it has been garaged almost all year when not in use. Yesterday is the first day it sat out in the rain all year :smt013

Brad,,

I'm lazy and have lots of other stuff to do, so waxing the boat is not my favorite pastime. I have been using Woodywax for a few months and it seems to work. It just brushes on and rinse off..which is why I like it (read easy). Anyone else using WW?

Mike

 

[Quint4]

I boat in Ohio,trailer my boat, and keep it in a building...so the boat is "pampered" I guess.We do go boating every weekend though and leave the boat in two or three days. I used a two part system this spring consisting of "buff Magic" followed by "pro polish" ( a polymer polish - not a wax) and am very happy. Here is a few pics I took right after i did it. It still looks good after I wash it.

 

[Newbie]

I used to have a routine similar to 280SR until we bought the 340. Now it only takes me about 2 minutes to write the check for someone else to do it :grin: SB

 

[Mr Salt]

We keep Salt 'N Sand in salt water she stays there all year long except for one week when she is getting zincs changed, bottom painted and other things that need to be done out of water. Her hull gets cleaned first with Collinite Fiberglass Boat Cleaner, she then gets a coat of 3M Fiberglass Cleaner and Wax and then two coats of 3M Scotchguard Marine Liquid Wax.

Above the rub rail she gets the same treatment in the spring and then at least one more coat of the Liquid Wax in mid summer. The flat portions like above the pilot house and the hard top get two more in between when the whole boat is done.

She gets washed once a week with West Marine clear soap and completely dried.

Mr Salt
2001 CMPY
Caterpillar C-12s

 

[95290]

Anyone use a product called Leverage, if so, how do you like it?
Thanks

 

[sbw1]

Our boat sits in the water in West Michigan from April 15 to October 15. It's waxed with McGuires Flagship following a good polishing with 3m Finesse. Gets washed with a little Ivory Soap in a bucket of water every Friday. We use a soft brush on a pole for the shinny surfaces and a stiff brush on a pole for the nonskid. We go cruising from late June to early August and it never gets washed during that period, only rinsed every day with fresh water and mopped dry. Ivory Soap does not strip wax and the gel coat still beads up. During the first week of October I will wax the hardtop down to the rub rail with Flagship, wash the boat the night before taking it to the marina to be pulled. It is put away clean and dry. In the spring I polish and wax the hull and spray Home Defense in the air intakes to keep spiders and birds out. I wipe Home Defense under the rub rail using a clean towel. Following pollen season in June, I polish and wax the topsides again. The boat always looks fresh except when the yellow stuff is flying around.

 

[brad10281]

Brad,,

I'm lazy and have lots of other stuff to do, so waxing the boat is not my favorite pastime. I have been using Woodywax for a few months and it seems to work. It just brushes on and rinse off..which is why I like it (read easy). Anyone else using WW?

Thanks for the tip Mike. After spending all weekend (I'm a slow worker) washing/polishing/waxing...oh, and fighting with the wife because I'm spending more time with the boat than her, I realized that a small 18' boat really isn't that difficult to throw on a coat of wax. I went out earlier this year and picked up a rotary polisher which makes quick work of the job...plus it helps build up the shoulder muscles :lol: