Polishing Advice

[randyp]

I'm going to polish the hull and topsides of the mighty Blue Heron. Hull while she's still in the shed, and topsides afterwards. Hull has some minor scratches and a nice light brown "mustache" from our Erie Canal Trip along the bows, but basically it needs polishing and waxing.

Topsides are dull with some chalking that I usually just wash 2-3 times a season. I'm thinking this would require light compounding, then polishing and waxing.... I dunno - you tell me...

I know there's a ton of advice out there and would like to get some from you folks. I don't want to repaint, gel - coat, etc., so I'm looking for best products, techniques and tools to get a nice shine on the old girl.

Thanks

[Stripermann2]

Randy, check out the detailing threads at BE, lots on the subject.

http://www.boatered.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=4

[Paul]

Hi Randy,

You'll probably get alot of different responses on this one since there are alot of products on the market and methodes of application that do a good
job. Myself, I like the Meguiar's three step system. First step is a de-oxidizer applied with a wheel, second step is the polish also applied with a wheel and the last step is the wax which I apply by hand. It's alot of work but the boat has a great shine all season long and is easy to clean.

Hope this helps.

[guglielmo6160]

I use colonite.....
after I buff out the hull with softscrub with bleach, the softscrub really gets out all the funk,

Colonite, ( the spelling may be different , not sure) is high end wax avail at most detail shops, kinda a pain to rub it on, but works great, was originally used to insultate and seal high power lines which are exposed to weather,
a detail guy turned me on to it
last all season

[MattSC]

I use Finesse from 3m, it's a very fine compound and has given me great results over the years. Then of course a good quality wax, I use Trewax Four Seasons Boat Wax, applies easily and lasts the whole season. Whichever way you choose to do it, I would definitely make sure the boat is in the shade when you work on it.

[jddens]

I use a 3M one step product called Marine "Restorer & Wax. I put it on and off with a buffer. Not too much work and it works good and seems to last. I did my F30 last October and it still looks great. My boat is in the water year around.

[gjrylands]

I use Meguir's 50 cleaner wax.

I rubbed out the boat the first year I owned it. I used a 3M compound, but I can't remember which one. After that I but 2 coats of wax on the boat. The boat really sucked up the first coat. Second coat went on easy, then a coat or two at the beginning of each season.

[davescarrs]

Like MattSC said. 3M Imperial compound (if needed), then 3M Finesse it polish, followed by TreWax. interlux 202 the whole hull 2-rag method, to remove all old stuff built up before any of the above steps are taken. Ity will look awesome. Used Collinite cleaner/wax before figuring out the above method with not as good of results.

[LandVF36]

I concur with jddens. 3M Restorer and Wax works wonders on gelcoat. It has small micro beeds that break down as you polish so it starts out as a pretty agressive compound and ends up being very very fine. It is also high in oil content so as you polish, you are pushing oils back in that the sun baked out.

[randyp]

Thanks for the advice on polishes and waxes.

What's the consensus on what to use on anti-skid surfaces?
What type of polishes do you use for compounding/polishing and what type of pads work best?
What's the most effective way to apply/buff wax?

I really appreciate your advice on this.

Thanks

[jddens]

I don't wax the non-skid, just wash with boat soap and a fairly soft brush. For application I use a 7 inch buffer with a terry type bonnet.
for removal I use a 10 inch buffer with a terry bonnets then a light hand buffer with an old flannel sheet..........micro fiber towels work good too............John