Here is where I’m starting g off this year. I spent today just doing a vinegar/water mist and wipe to clean the surface and prep.
I’ve never started with this level of shine already. I’m contemplating either going right with the Presta Polish followed up with Collinite paste Fleetwax OR I have a bottle of Meguiars no 50 cleaner wax and then maybe throw Collinite on top of that.

 

I like to put armor all in my pressure washer and run boiling water through it.

 

Once graduated from a 27' er, pay the marina and watch.

 

I posted in another thread that I outsourced this year…..but they are working with my foundation…..so it should look awesome

 

I am finally in a place where I plan to do a one-pass polish (starke ignition) followed by two coats of sealant. Now, that's for the hull sides above and below the rub rail.

This years big project is to restore the very oxidized foredeck non-skid. It's so bad that it looks yellow when it's wet and retains dirt over the summer. I'll be repeatedly cutting it followed my many coats of sealant. Thankfully our shrink wrap is tall enough that I can do it during the winter and it gets warm in there with the sun out.

As soon as i finish reinstalling both heads and waste hoses that's the next project.

 

I am finally in a place where I plan to do a one-pass polish (starke ignition) followed by two coats of sealant. Now, that's for the hull sides above and below the rub rail.

This years big project is to restore the very oxidized foredeck non-skid. It's so bad that it looks yellow when it's wet and retains dirt over the summer. I'll be repeatedly cutting it followed my many coats of sealant. Thankfully our shrink wrap is tall enough that I can do it during the winter and it gets warm in there with the sun out.

As soon as i finish reinstalling both heads and waste hoses that's the next project.

Will you be tackling this using Drakes method of a rotary on its side? Or the Shurhold method of the yellow brush on a DA?

I’ve tried both, and am 50/50 on which works better. A note about the Shurhold method…..the deck will turn yellow until you rinse it with hot water and a white scrub brush……then it looks pretty good.

 

Last Friday I finished up my plotter and radar . Picked up my Starke products and this coming Friday I'll start getting my shine on

 

After talking to the meguiars rep, I’ll just throw that bottle of cleaner wax in garbage and use the presta ultra polish with Collinite on top.
That rep was a piece of work. Their business must be completely predicated by their so called name brand.

 

We ain’t even broke February and y’all thinking about waxing?

 

We ain’t even broke February and y’all thinking about waxing?
View attachment 139449

you know it. I bring a 12 pack and a space heater under the shrink and have myself a party of 1 mid-February

 

Still working on starting other maintenance items (impeller, hopefully bellows). Doing what I can while it's still so cold up here in WA. Won't even get warm enough for the bellows until at least April/May.

BUT. It does need a good polish. It's still pretty good overall, but not to my standards...

 

https://buffpro.com/

A buddy of mine owns this company. I know my 29' boat is small compared to some. But it cut the amount of time to do any cutting, waxing and polishing on my boat by 2/3. Your mileage my vary. I can tell you that I don't miss the swirl marks.

 

13 lbs?!?!?!? Yeah, no.

 

I use McGuire's Marine cleaner wax put it on by hand take it off with a buffer it works very very well and it's quick

 

I switched a couple of years ago to the Smoove products. Much better results compared to 3m and Meguire. Collinite is still one of the best waxes out there

 

Good to know

 

 

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Looking good. I’m starting on mine today. The tequila last night slowed down my plans for the early start

 

@Blueone turned me on to Smoove products last year and then he bails, pays someone else to do it this year

I finished my sides in December. After a compounding and polishing last year (w/ Smoove) I only used Hotsauce and then a polymer wax this year. Really pleased with what the Smoove left me with after one full season (2022).

 

@Blueone turned me on to Smoove products last year and then he bails, pays someone else to do it this year

I finished my sides in December. After a compounding and polishing last year (w/ Smoove) I only used Hotsauce and then a polymer wax this year. Really pleased with what the Smoove left me with after one full season (2022).

Hot sauce? Whose polymer wax?
Thx

 

Here is where I’m starting g off this year. I spent today just doing a vinegar/water mist and wipe to clean the surface and prep.
I’ve never started with this level of shine already. I’m contemplating either going right with the Presta Polish followed up with Collinite paste Fleetwax OR I have a bottle of Meguiars no 50 cleaner wax and then maybe throw Collinite on top of that.
View attachment 139435 View attachment 139436 View attachment 139437

That’s a hell of shine. Bet a lot of us would be happy if that was our finished product. Lol

 

We ain’t even broke February and y’all thinking about waxing?
View attachment 139449

Long list this winter for the New to Use 340. New Garmin 1042 with Radar relocate horn& AM/FM antenna, Bottom paint and last but not least buff and seal. This is what I do so I don't go batty over the winter.

 

Well got about 23 feet polished yesterday. Too many feet still to go. Hoping I can get at least the starboard side finished polishing today. Again, that darn tequila slowing me down lol

 

Damn tequila

 

dump some red bull in it next time.

 

I have tried about everything and always go back to my old 2 step standby.
1. Mequiars's cleaner wax
2. Mequiars Flagship
3. BuffMagic if/where needed
4. Mequiars spray wax for touchups

Nothing like working on the boat on an early spring day!

My new (too me) 2014 Cobalt - previous owner was pretty particular, like I am. This is after a coat of cleaner wax last fall before I put it up - will get the Flagship here in another month or so:

My 23yr old SeaRay that I just sold last fall:

 

Meguires flagship is what I use and it's easy to use

 

First time using Starke product before this, normally just used Meguiars products. I can say first off the Elevate medium compound went on easy and a 16 oz. bottle was more then enough . Always had a hard time with Meguiars cleaner wax clogging up the pad and not drying to wipe off when using it in cooler temperatures. The building I store in is kept at 55 degrees and the Elevate wasn't effected.

 

As I said I rub on by hand and take off with the buffer it works pretty good for me I would like to try a product that's easier absolutely

 

That's the opposite of most. Machine to work the product. Simple wipe off with a microfiber to finish.

My springtime shine happened last fall.

 

Here is where I’m starting g off this year. I spent today just doing a vinegar/water mist and wipe to clean the surface and prep.
I’ve never started with this level of shine already. I’m contemplating either going right with the Presta Polish followed up with Collinite paste Fleetwax OR I have a bottle of Meguiars no 50 cleaner wax and then maybe throw Collinite on top of that.
View attachment 139435 View attachment 139436 View attachment 139437

Here is where I’m starting g off this year. I spent today just doing a vinegar/water mist and wipe to clean the surface and prep.
I’ve never started with this level of shine already. I’m contemplating either going right with the Presta Polish followed up with Collinite paste Fleetwax OR I have a bottle of Meguiars no 50 cleaner wax and then maybe throw Collinite on top of that.
View attachment 139435 View attachment 139436 View attachment 139437

Last season I used Presta products for the first time. (Even though many threads had me leaning towards the Starke line.) After speaking with the Presta rep he suggested I use the Presta Gel coat followed by Presta's Maxfinishing Polish vs the Ultra Polish. Since you're also using Presta I'm curious to know which ones your using and I'd like to know more about your vinegar prep process. Do you use this instead of a wash with a cleaner like Dawn to remove all wax etc or in addition to the washing? Do you then rinse with water? Thanks

 

I am using the ultra polish and following that up with the Collinite fleet wax. last year I had to really get more aggressive and had to use Presta super cut followed by the ultra polish and finished with Collinite. You see how clean the hull looks after all season. This year I only needed to polish and wax. I think the max stuff is one of the newer products just haven’t tried it yet.
The thing to look for is something which is not using silicone/polymer based type fillers which create a false sense of finish. They more seem to fill in that porous gel coat versus clean it up. and wear away quickly during the summer months.

the gel coat or ultra compound would be a good choice if the oxidation is light or medium light.
So my boat is in a heated storage building over winter. You can’t really wash it in there. At haulout I was it really good that morning and in the shed she goes. Building is dusty if you will. Just misti g that 3/1 water/vinegar ration on boat and wiping it off starts you with a clean slate. It’s certainly removing wax and it’s cheap non toxic to yourself.
just remember, you will take all day and several days on your boat project. In the end, you’ll have an appreciation and you will spend more time if it doesn’t look right. The boat yard needs to finish projects daily to be paid. Cutting corners and good enough are mostly their motto. Very few exceptions. I’m sure of you grossly over pay them, they will do you a favor lol.
Just my $0.02

 

Anybody tried the Presta Hydroprotek yet. Long term results? Don't know much about the ceramic coatings products . If it seems too good to be true it probably is?