Association Forum - Wax for the Hull

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Wax for the Hull

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Downbucket
Navigator

Member Avatar

USA
188 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/06/2005 : 20:02:23

Hi:

Although most of us are not planning to polish our boats this time of year, I've seen a few postings about which wax/polish is best and lest I forget, I want to mention a product which I have not seen advertised or discussed anywhere and I think it is outstanding.

Two years ago the boat I purchased had a lot of oxidation which was especially noticeable on the burgundy areas. I used the Heavy Duty Restorer Wax by Heller Glanz (Hellerglanz.com). I tried it side by side with a 3M product and the Heller Glanz wax was far superior. I also used the Wash n Wax when washing the boat. Next spring I will use it on the Catalina 25 I purchased this past August.

Will

Edited by - on

sailgal
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
400 Posts

Response Posted - 11/07/2005 : 10:07:18

Here's a question I often wonder about....
I heard that wax is not good for boats or cars left in the sun, you are better off using a Polish. Since I'm due for a good washing and wax or polish I want to use what is best (and not feel I wasted a lot of time or energy)
I leave my boat in the sun year round. Any idea? Thanks.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2005 : 09:55:26

Generically speaking:

A 'wax' is a coating that seals, protects and gives shine.
A 'polish' abrades (removes) a thin layer of surface to make it smooth, clean and shiny.

IMHO: A wax (I happen like Meguiars) or polymer coating (like Vertiglas etc) helps protect your gelcoat from oxidizing and degrading from exposure to sunlight and weather. It also makes it easier to keep the surface clean (most stuff doesn't like to stick to wax).

There are also a lot of automotive and marine products have both abrasive and wax... commonly known as 'cleaner-waxes' or 'one step' products.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2005 : 21:14:24

I'll repeat my endorsement for Poli Glow--I spent about three hours applying it (5 coats) about three years ago, and will finally do it again this spring. A couple of people remarked about the shine on my hull this summer--it was three seasons old! Just make sure the hull is free of dirt and marks--Poli Glow will immortalize them! Get it at boat shows or http://www.poliglowproducts.com/index.htm. Paste wax and other "cleaner waxes" can give a brighter shine (for a while) with a lot more work.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 11/08/2005 21:19:39

SailFisher
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
62 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2005 : 23:04:57

Hey there Dave, first thanks for your continued input on this subject, I've decided to use the Poli Glow kit thanks to your endorsement and the favorable review in Practical Sailor. I've got a couple of questions. Did you use the Poli Cleaner ? When you winterize did you cover the topsides from UV ? Do you have any advice to fill in a couple of deep gouges in the gelcoat ? I'm quite the sculptor with Marine-Tec. Any tricks or advice in applying Poli Glow ? Where did you hear about it ? Thanks again for your input.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

Members Avatar

672 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2005 : 13:41:16

I've put this on here before, but here it is again:

From Practical Sailor, November 15, 2004. A total of 28 waxes were tested. These results are as noted in the narrative:

Best: Collinite #885

2nd: Meguiar's Mirror Glaze

3rd: 3M Ultra Performance

Others rated as 'good':

Turtle Wax 2000

Boat Life Wax

Star Bright Presoftened

Star Bright Polish with Teflon

West Marine Carnauba

NOTE: All the above are paste waxes.

Two non paste waxes did well:

Poly Glow Liquid and WM Teflon Boat Polish...PS noted that some liquid plastics discolor and deteriorate and are hard to remove. Several testers liked these polishes because they went on very easily and had a good initial shine. However,
PS prefers a good hard wax which can be removed easily in order to apply a new coat.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 11/10/2005 : 10:16:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by At Ease

From Practical Sailor . . . A total of 28 waxes . . . in the narrative:

Best: Collinite #885

NOTE: All the above are paste waxes.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

FWIW, the Collinite 885 provides excellent results - but polishing it was very laborious and time consuming - and an electric polisher won't work. I discussed this issue with Collinite and they recommended their product number 870, Special Heavy Duty FleetWax (liquid) for Marine and Aeronautical Finishes. It's much easier to polish (still must be done by hand) and the finish is almost as good as the paste. Have also discovered that the Collinite product does repel lake matter better than anything else I've tried.

Edited by - OJ on 11/10/2005 10:18:42

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2005 : 09:08:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by SailFisher
 Did you use the Poli Cleaner? When you winterize did you cover the topsides from UV ? Do you have any advice to fill in a couple of deep gouges in the gelcoat? Any tricks or advice in applying Poli Glow? Where did you hear about it?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sorry for the late response--lots going on, and I didn't go back to this thread.

I haven't used the cleaner yet--it's mostly for removing the Poli Glow, which I'll be doing this off-season. I have a gouge to fill in (stinkpotter ran into me) and need to figure that out, too. Applying Poly Glow is simple--follow the instructions and use their chamois-like applicator on a broom handle. The first few coats look streaky--when you get to the third or fourth, it starts looking good. I wouldn't do more than five--it might make removal that much harder. For a few seasons, a single additional coat might dress it up--I didn't do that because it looked pretty good and I didn't want to add too much. I had seen Poli Glow being hawked at boat shows, but only used it after reading hearty endorsements on Trailersailor.com.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3324 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2005 : 11:36:13

I can endorse Polyglow as well. I bought the whole kit this Spring and first applied the cleaner (after removing all the scrapes and scratches!). The polish went on easily using their chamois and, as Dave said, the first 2 or 3 coats looked awful! However, after numbers 4 & 5 it looked wonderful and despite a season in the hot Texas sun still looks great! The whole boat probably took no more than an hour to do - the Polyglow dries very fast and I had no wait time between coats.
Derek

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2005 : 13:10:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by At Ease
 I've put this on here before, but here it is again:

From Practical Sailor, November 15, 2004. A total of 28 waxes were tested. These results are as noted in the narrative:

Best: Collinite #885

2nd: Meguiar's Mirror Glaze

3rd: 3M Ultra Performance

Others rated as 'good':

Turtle Wax 2000

Boat Life Wax

Star Bright Presoftened

Star Bright Polish with Teflon

West Marine Carnauba

NOTE: All the above are paste waxes.

Two non paste waxes did well:

Poly Glow Liquid and WM Teflon Boat Polish...PS noted that some liquid plastics discolor and deteriorate and are hard to remove. Several testers liked these polishes because they went on very easily and had a good initial shine. However,
PS prefers a good hard wax which can be removed easily in order to apply a new coat.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Bert, please do not take this personally, you are not alone in believing PS a a good source of information.
PS is a lot like Consumer Reports, if you want a politically correct evaluation from someone who does not have a vested interest in the outcome then they are great. For me the their formula for evaluating the products was wrong. Anything that takes more than a couple of hours is automatcally at the bottom of the list. Only Poli-Glow and Vert-Glass, (the product I use) meet the reasonable man test of making an old boat look new without wearing a hairshirt and self flaggelation. Sorry but the list from PS is BS to me.

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2005 : 19:08:37

I have used nothing but Meguiar's in the spray bottle on the hull. Easy on, easy off. Top side I still use Meguiar's but not on the non-skid.

Edited by - on

bbriner
Captain

Members Avatar

349 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2005 : 10:19:53

What do you all use on the deck and the cockpit areas? I was out Sunday and my boat is getting the winter 'gray' matter on it (it's in the water year-round) so come spring I want to clean it and do something so that it stays looking good. Thanks...

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2005 : 12:32:57

Bill, With the exception of the non-skid area's the whole boat gets a coat of Meguiar's, maybe two if I feel like. The non-skid just gets scrubbed with a brush with any spray house hold detergent that's on sale. My boat is under a tarp from Oct-March, so it is not in a harsh enviroment all year.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2005 : 13:05:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bbriner
 What do you all use on the deck and the cockpit areas? I was out Sunday and my boat is getting the winter 'gray' matter on it (it's in the water year-round) so come spring I want to clean it and do something so that it stays looking good. Thanks...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Hi Bill,

SoftScrub and a brush work well for cleaning. SoftScrub has some bleach in it, so you have to be careful about splatters or spills (don't get it on your sail cover, bimini, clothes, etc.). As for making things shine, I'm about to give up ... maybe just "clean" is as good as we can expect for these old boats ...

'Hope that helps ...

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2005 : 14:09:52

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bbriner
 What do you all use on the deck and the cockpit areas?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I plan to try some Poli Glow on the cabin bulkhead and sides, and on the seat sides and the inside of the transom (after scrubbing) with the objective of making them easier to clean as well as a little prettier. I won't put it on any horizontal areas--good footing is a lot more important than pretty decks.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 12/06/2005 14:10:48

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2005 : 17:10:10

Island Girl Pink on the decks. SoftScrub has a new Orange without bleach. Bleach is good on a white deck.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

Members Avatar

672 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2005 : 12:50:09

Frank...I certainly agree that some of PS is BS, they waste a lot of time and space on trivial tests, such as a recent test on flashlights. However, I prefer a tester without a vested interest in the tested product and see nothing PC about the wax test. They put different waxes on boats, let them sit in the weather for six months and report which is best...even had photos backing up their results. Then it's up to us to decide if using a paste wax is worth the extra effort vs benefits of a liquid. I opted for WM Carnuba Paste Wax, easy to put on, durable, and looks good.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.