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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Polishing Cockpit area - Cordless Buffer

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3462 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/14/2008 : 06:04:52

I have been a bit negligent in completing the waxing of the cockpit area. Hull sides were in pretty good shape to start with and my effort went into that 2 years ago. Now I just put on polyglow every 6 months and very little need other than some hand rubbing to get out stains, oxidation, etc before putting on the new Poly Glow coat. but in the cockpit area, I have not been as happy to use the PolyGlow there and ...well first it, has been a bear to remove the oxidation from the sides. I have been doing a bit at a time but then wind up working other projects and then...well...i go sailing. So...this is an area I need to complete and then just wax every so often after the oxidation is completely removed. Doing this by hand is a bear.

Since I do not pay for the electric at the dock ($20/mo), I was interested in getting a cordless polisher/buffer to speed this work removing the oxidation and then maybe buff it as well after wax application. There are some 10" orbital buffers but that seemed to big not able to take care of the small areas as well. Also, it is heavier to hold sideways especially on the lower part of the cockpit area. So....I was looking at some of the smaller cordless buffers. Checked out Sears (website but not sotres have a 4" scrubber/polisher - 2 slow speeds and not orbital - 9.6V), WEN sells a 4" orbital one high speed - 4.8V. A place called AutoSports on the web also sells one similar to WEN. Harbor freight has a less expensive unit but not much detail on it. I decided to buy one from a website i came across that sells parts for motorcycles - J&P Cycles. They sell a 4" Orbital , variable speed to 2900rpm, 9.6V polisher/buffer.

I'll report on how it works when i get it. Ordered it yesterday. here's the link: http://www.jpcycles.com/productgroup.aspx?GID=697438B4-D446-4173-94EA-E9364E2C4202&search=cordless+polisher&store=All&page=1

What have you guys been using other than by hand.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2008 : 08:24:57

Not to steal the thread, but what are you using as a polish/sealant? my fear with the cockpit is that I'll use something too smooth, and have guests doing faceplants all over the place.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3462 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2008 : 08:47:26

I am mostly talking about the sides (vertical surfaces) not the non-skid areas which I would use a non-skid cleaner/wax such as what is sold by West Marine/Starbrite. I have used Aurrora Non-Skid but it's more expensive and the Boat US store in my area (probably the only one still using the Boat US name though is a West marine store0 had a clearance sale on all their Starbrite products that had the Boat US name on it and so I picked up about 6 large containers of it for under a dollar each.

On the vertical sides in the cockpit and the companionway bulkhead, I was using the West marine Heavy oxidation cleaner until the bottle popped on me while using it the other day. Now i am trying similar product that 3M makes - will start to use it this next week or so. After that I put on the pure wax that West Marine sells. Since I finished a few sections already, i just re=wax every couple of months which is easy once the initial oxidation/stains are removed.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2008 : 09:18:08

I have always wanted a flat finish on deck to reduce glare so I clean with SoftScrub with bleach, it deoxidizes and does not shine. I clean my deck/cockpit about twice a year so I just use various brushes. I like the buffer/brush you found, I may get one if you like it.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 01/14/2008 09:19:32

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3462 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2008 : 11:47:55

The deck areas that are not non-skid....well I have not done much. Wash the boat and...well those areas have been looking okay so have not really attended to them that much. The non-skid stuff is more cleaner than a wax - at least that is the Starbrite Non-Skid. At the price I paid it was less than 10% of actual cost. It is formulated to not make the non-skid slippery.

I know you have mentioned using Softscrub before. I have to remember that and give it a shot.

I am curious how that polisher /buffer works out in actual practice. I was leanoing toward the WEN product because they have been in business a long time and their website has the replacement pads, etc. I am taking a bit of a chance with the one I am buying in that the J&P Website had no details about getting replacement pads. Some of these buffers, the pads attach with velcro, etc and if that is the case, then other mfrs pads may also fit it. I suspect when it does arrive in the mail, it probably will have info about how to order addl pads/applicators. I like th eidea that it is a variable speed unit and is orbital. certainly do not want to burn thru the gelcoat. I just wanted something to make it a bit easier to use than doing it by hand. By hand...not much progress...the hand gets tired, you use the other one and then after about 1/2 - 3/4 hour to hand tired to go further and only made about 2 feet progress at best.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2008 : 14:18:11

After using the cleaner/oxidation remover type waxes over the years, for the last couple I've went with just the basic 3M liquid wax. Easy-on, easy-off (no polishers required) and it looks good. I say get a bottle and give it a shot. It makes my 28 year old boat shine.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3462 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2008 : 16:48:55

I am first using strictly an oxidation remover liquid. Then after it is completely clean, then applying a pure wax to the surface. I can't apply the wax straight over what appears to be a dirty/discolred surface and I have tried some wipe on/wipe off cleaners but only hard rubbing with an oxidation remover will do the trick. I was doing this the other day with some of the West Marine Heavy Oxidation Remover and possibly because it was cold outside, whjen i squeezed the bottle, it burst apart ! The liquid splattered all over the place. I then used the excess...wherever it was and then the broken bottle to do whatever I could for that time I had available for cleaning.

I then went to West Marine the other day and decided to give the 3M product a try. I'll see if that is any easier to get the surface back to square one.

I agree that once you have a clean surface, the maintenance is pretty easy as long as you regularly apply the pure wax. That process, I can do by hand. It is basically a wipe and massage it in and then wait awhile and wipe it off process with great results. I then use Black Streak remover occasionally to get rid of any rain/dirt stains that appear after a few weeks/month or so.

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