Boat Waxing and Polishing - DO WE NEED TO WAX OUR BOATS if we have dull gelcoat?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.ค. 2024
- Boat waxing and polishing is something lots of people say we need to do. But if you have dull gelcoat on your boat is it worth the time and trouble to sand, compound, buff and wax your boat? I test out some expensive wash and wax and some inexpensive polish on my boat to see if it can bring back the dull gel coat on my boat hull. I share what I have found out about waxing boat gel coat and whether or not polishing or waxing my old boat serves any purpose or makes a dull finished boat shine like new.
Do I need to wax my boat? Perhaps there is no actual benefit to waxing an old boat by hand. Boat detailing and boat waxing can certainly make a boat look better but can those of us on a budget just keep our old boat clean and not cause any harm by not waxing it?
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:21 Techniques for applying wax to a boat
01:50 The condition of the finish on my old boat
02:48 The boat wash I have been using
04:08 The polish I am trying on my boat
05:20 The steps needed to potentially make my boat shine
05:56 Applying the polish
07:52 Challenges with buffing a boat
08:50 Removing the polish
09:44 Survey results and social media feedback
11:32 Conclusion
If you are interested in purchasing any of the items I used...
Barkeepers Friend powder - amzn.to/3i1Gyml
OrPine Boat Wash - amzn.to/3wEqQBl
Nu Finish polish - amzn.to/3ceKLzp
As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
#boatwax #waxingaboat #dullgelcoat
❤️ Subscribe to my TH-cam Channel / waynetheboatguy
📷 Follow me on instagram! / waynetheboatguy
☞ Follow me on TikTok! / waynetheboatguy
▶︎▶︎▶︎Playlists About Boats
🚤 Tiny Boat/Jon Boat Stuff • Tiny Boat - Little Boa...
💰 Boat Shopping • Boat Shopping
🐋 Boston Whaler • Boston Whaler Videos
🛥 Boats, Boat Trips & Boat Accessories • Boats, Boating Trips, ...
⚡️ Electric Boats & Electric Boating • Electric Powered Boats...
🛶 Kayaks & Kayaking • Kayaking & Kayak upgrades
🪦 Curtis Creek Maryland Ship Graveyard • Curtis Creek Maryland ...
🎲 Boating Shorts • Boating Shorts
▶︎▶︎▶︎Boat Engines & Motors Playlists
⛽️ 2 Stroke Outboard Motors • 2 Stroke Outboard Engi...
⚙️ Volvo Penta Maintenance & Repairs • Volvo Penta Maintenanc...
🌎 Newport NT300 electric outboard • Newport NT300 3 hp Ele...
🚽 Evinrude 2 - 2 hp engine • Evinrude 2 - old Evinr...
🔒 Seized Suzuki DF20 • Suzuki DF20 Short Shaf...
🔧 Inboard/Outboard Maintenance • Inboard Outboard (Ster...
▶︎▶︎▶︎ Boat Repairs & Projects Playlists
🛠 Low Cost Boat Repairs & Projects • Low Cost DIY Repair & ...
🔨 Boat Transom Projects • Boat Transom Projects
🧰 Boat Repair & Maintenance • Boat repair, maintenan...
🛞 Boat Trailer Projects • Boat Trailer Repairs &...
▶︎▶︎▶︎New Boater Playlists
📌 Boating Education & Tips • Boating Education and ...
📓 Boating Basics • Boating Basics for New...
🆘 Boat Safety • Boat Safety - videos t...
❄️ Boat Winterization • Boat Winterization
Sound effects and additional music is copyright free from iMovie
Music is Orient by SefChol and Cute Avalanche by RKVC both from TH-cam Audio Library - บันเทิง
Wayne, yes keeping your boat oxidation free will prolong life of your gel coat. Oxidation can deteriorate gel coat. Shiny is not just a pretty boat, the reflection keeps UV from damaging gel coat. Boats are not cheap, protect your investment.
Yes he needs to compound then use nu-finish he will have wayyy better results
I went through the same thing. I tried many different products. My boat is over 20 years old and was heavily oxidized. I finally tried 3M marine restorer and wax. It did a fantastic job with little effort. The fiberglass went from rough to smooth in no time and brought out a very shiny surface. I tried the products you did prior to using 3M and my results were the same as yours. Happy boating!
By hand or with rotary tools?
@@KeepatIT69 I think you will be happy with either result, but I applied it by buffer machine and finished up by removing it by hand with a micro fiber cloth once it had dried to a haze
It’s a matter of pride. My next sore neighbor’s are slobs. Their yards are un kept. Their houses are unkept and they’re boats are unkept. So you can be proud of your boat and keep it looking great or just let in go down hill. Good news is if you want to sell it, cheap, someone can take pride in it and make it great again.
Compound would be needed to bring back shine. That said, simply adding the new finish is still valuable as it will make the boat stay cleaner longer. Basically, it adds a barrier that makes the dirt harder to adhere to the gel coat.
Good job explaining this - thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wax on,Wax off!!! Good that you cover the boat part of the year too. Sooner or later good idea to paint over gell-coat.The sun slowly breaks it down.Not hard to paint in the right season or in shop in winter.
Yeah I have seen online where many old boats have been nicely restored with a good coat of paint. Obviously lots of prep with that as well, but it's a good chance to address any chips, cracks and other damage.
Hello to you Wayne
I was introduced to Collinite 925 cleaner / wax. I found it to be good.
I was happy with the time and effort to get it done.
Be well
Be safe
Great watching you
Yeah the Collinite seems to be quite popular - Thanks!
Hello Wayne
I also enjoyed the utube video Ship Shape TV on waxing your none skid bow of boat.
Shurhold Industries owner Barry has a cool video. Yes it is work but very rewarding to me anyway. Looking forward to your next video.
I used nu finish on my alumacraft and it worked great at removing oxidation made the boat look pretty good
Try shine supply heavy cut. Can bu used by hand and dries slowly so less stress. Love your videos. Keep em coming captain!
I’m on my second year with a boat that we leave in a slip. We previously had boats on trailers that sat in the garage. We do have the benefit of living in a northern climate and have a covered slip, so the UV rays aren’t so bad. I purposely bought a boat that had been in a covered slip previously, at least the 4 years prior. All of this helped keep the gelcoat nicer. What you need to do, is buff and wax twice a year. It will keep the boat looking fantastic and protect it from water spots, harmful UV rays, and it dramatically increases your resale value. The best time to do this (imo) is in the fall before shrink wrap. Shrink wrap does not completely block all UV rays and the boat sits covered for nearly 6 months where I live, and then again early/mid season. In fact, before kids I detailed my car all the time, but I now hire it out. I pay about $900 per time to have the whole boat buff and waxed (35 ft) and to me, that’s a fantastic value. At some point when my kids are older I’m sure I’ll be back at it again too.
$900 is a lot of money to many boat owners. I detail mine 1x year for less than $30 materials. 19 YO Grady still looks great. Also winterize change oil/lower unit etc 1 x year ... for about $75. Marina/Dealer wants $1100 for exact same process I do for less than 3 hours labor (fun). Boaters that pay for these SIMPLE services must be lazy or SO rich... money is NO consideration.
This brings back memories of 25 years ago, and I spent over $70.00 back then on all kinds of different products ( all sucked ), I sold a product for fiberglass showers, through my plumbing company that I worked for, and I spent hours trying to get the oxidation out of a orange boat.
"Gel gloss" and it only took minutes and the oxidation was gone, and it's about $6.00 a can, and is avaliable at most major home centers.
I gotta try that - thanks!
Thank, you for you're video. 👍
thank, you.
Back in time I heard of Imron and also linnear poly urethane for boats... I used the linnear polyurethane and after 10 years there still was no oxidation.. they use it on planes, ,, Have you ever seen them polishing and waxing a plane ever three months ?
My boat is a 2016. Bought it new. My finish is dull so I had it detailed $$ but still dull. I have had to replace the covers on all my cushions. I just chalk it up to a cheap job done building an expensive boat.
Before you compound you may need a light wet sand to restore the gel coat.
Yeah I know - but of course that's yet another step that I'm not sure I personally want to take just to bring back a shine.
Acid for the staining is excellent. Kitchen cleaner works quite well for the hull . An electric polisher allows you to get a tiny improvement compared to doing nothing. A quick wax only takes a few minutes and it probably helps for a few weeks. My opinion is that if the boat is in the marina, then lovely looks are more important than if it is on a mooring being shat on by seaguls.
Waxes are for preserving an unoxidized surface. Gel coats are hard so you need to go with a more aggressive option. A buffer with a wool pad and cutting compound would take that off. Then use a foam pad and a polish to refine the shine. Lastly protect that surface with a wax or sealant 2-3 times a year. Waxing regularly will prevent the oxidation so you don’t have to do the buffing/polishing every year.
I like to use Collinite Boat Wax and buff it with microfiber towels. I think it helps preserve the gelcoat and keeps it from getting that chalky fiberglass look and feel.
Collinite seem to have several products - is there one that you really like?
@@WayneTheBoatGuy No. 925 - Fiberglass Boat Wax. It is $23.60 for 16oz on Amazon.
also use some marine compound products meant for fiberglass and gel coat
You have a like and a new subscriber!
Welcome aboard!
I work at a marina which does provide maintenance. The most knowledgable owners of older boat (over 5 years) Don't bother with compound/wax and even wash on a regular basis. The wash requests come on just before the owners intend to use the boat and then after, but in between use, the boat is left alone. Perhaps one compound/wax per year to keep the gelcoat from getting chalky. This is in Naples Florida.
For wax I use total boat premium boat wax that comes in a black and blue container. And for the jelcoat you would compound it. If its really bad I use super cut compound. But usually a finer compound for a boat like yours because its not that bad. I wax my fiberglass boats about 2 times a year but mine stay in my trailers in my yard. If they stayed in the water like yours I would wax them more often because the sun is more intense. And for soap dawn dish washing liquid has always been my go to because thats what most marinas use.
Total Boat seems to have some good stuff. I'm still on the fence whether to try to make this one shiny!
A friend of mine that does tournament fishing said waxing is definitely worth it, as it reduces drag on the water. Which when you think about it that’s what you want when you get in the water to save fuel, maybe just a smoother ride.
I can see that as a potential advantage. But boats that are bottom painted (like mine) only get waxed on the top side.
I had my boat gel coat done after a bloke crashed into it the repair shop told me they wouldn’t wax it until it needed ps it still looked new after 4 years
nice.
Thank you for actually asking this fundamentally important question. I’ve watched a ton of boat detailing videos and no one has even attempted to answer it.
How much longer does a gel coat last that has a decent shine and is waxed yearly, versus one that doesn’t get treated at all? Has anyone give you an answer to this yet?
I still haven't seen a really qualified answer. It would be neat to see a side-by-side of 10 years on the same boat!
@@WayneTheBoatGuy I was told today that if you never take care of it, then you can never get the full shine back if one day you go to sell it. But I’m not even sure if that’s true, since wet sanding can be done so deeply.
Every point people have only seems to support the aesthetics of it, and not the functionality.
And like once the outer layer of the gel coat gets oxidized, doesn’t that oxidized layer protect the deeper layers? It is literally mind blowing that no one can provide a qualified answer to this. I feel like I’m going insane, lol.
Unfortunately not waxing a boat will lead to oxidation. I had more staining on the boat. Used a 3 step polish and wax. As the resin polish breaks down to a finer grit a 2 step could of been enough. I would recommend 3m products.
An easier product to remove the leaf tanins from the river is Goof Off Rust Aid. I spray it on and rinse it off. Almost immediate results. It does have a high VOC to it so you might want a fan or respirator but no scrubbing required. I believe it's at Lowes for like $10 a gallon. Not sure about harm to grass either.
Washing, polishing and waxing a boat is not fun. It's a lot of work. However, when done properly, it can make an old tired hull look near new again. We're new boat owners and purchased a nice boat that sat for a couple years through northern summers and winters. I used a cheap polisher from Harbor Freight and gel coat cleaning/polishing kit from Mequiars. It took hours to compound all the oxidation/haze/grime off the hull. The polishing step seemed to be a waste of time. A lot of work with little visual change. Waxing was the easiest and my understanding and general experience is that wax protects the surface. It also makes it easier to clean going forward. I did it because we bought a well known, quality brand of boat that holds their value. I would like to keep it looking new and retain as much of that value as possible. We use it in the ocean and presume the layer of wax helps to keep the salt and sand at bay. It looks good after we retrieve it after an outing and rinse it off. I'm hoping it'll be a simple wash and wax before putting it up for the winter and another cleaning and layer of wax (if necessary) before launching next year.
To ultimately quantify if it's worth the effort is tough. If/when it comes time to sell, it looks clean and shiny rather than dull and faded, I'm certain it'll command a higher price than something that has been neglected.
Regardless, they're recreational toys that are meant to be enjoyed so have fun out there and be safe!
Well said. Personally I also worry that life will get in the way and I'll fail to keep it waxed and be back at square one in a year!
Wouldn't it have less friction =more speed if waxed. Aka slicksurfin
I guess theoretically. But I’m usually cruising about 15-20 mph and not in any speed competitions
Think sharkskin, rough and kind of smooth. They are effortless in motion. A slightly rough surface slides through water easier than a glass smooth surface. This is common knowledge in boat racing.
Washing and waxing your boat will keep a slick coat of wax on the boat, makes you glad on the water better, saves on drag which saves on gas , should plan off faster.
But my boat is bottom painted and the wax (polish) didn’t seem to make me the hull feel any better.
A smooth serface actually has more drag. A rough surface slides through water easier. I support waxing it however.
@@Local_Boydidgood Wrong.
So my 2 cents, through years of ownership, the only part of the boat I buff, polish, and keep waxed, is the back half, of the bottom part of my water line. The difference? Half a mile per gallon. Now, in my little boat, with limited gas, going crabbing in the bay, that helps a lot. But hitting the local rivers, lakes, with lots of people around to help, yeah, nah.
That's pretty cool!
Lucas Oil slick mist marine.
That seems like an intriguing product! They say it woks on decals too - and mine are very faded in some areas. Thanks!
Hello Andrew, it just so happens that I tried Slick Mist today and it didn't do much on the just washed hazy finish on the boat. I guess I may need to apply several coats... don't know. I think it may be a good product to use on a regular basis where the finish is not too far gone. Your thoughts?
wash the boat scrub the boat rinse the boat then use a clay bar then an oxidization compound never let the buffer stop then use a polish compound then switch over to 99% alcohol rub down parts of the boat and then apply a ceramic coat ive got an 89 Bayliner that makes new boats look bad also I taught myself with basic common sense my boat looks better after outdoor storage before I clean it than most do after a wax and polish
I bet your boat looks amazing! I just can't imagine the hours of work it would take to get MY boat to that level.
@@WayneTheBoatGuy Lazy.
My boat is a 1984 and it looks awful. So no I don’t wax it. It really needs to be compounded, but I’ve got a lot of work to do before I even get to that point.
My understanding, though, is that wax actually does protect the gel coat to lessen things like spider cracking, which can ultimately damage your boat significantly and even lead to water infiltration.
That's a great point! Some cracks are a result of flexing, weakness or other issues, but there are some that can certainly be maintained with some wax - much like deep chips in a car paint job.
@@WayneTheBoatGuy Yup. I don’t know how much of an issue it is or how much waxing really helps, but it’s sorta in the back of my mind. But first: electrical system replacement. Oh joy.
Wax on, wax off! Haha breathing is important :)
Wayne hold up….
To restore gelcoat you need:
7” rotary buffer, & 7” Velcro-wool pads. 3M, etc.
Meguiars Flagship Cleaner wax or Shurhold Pro Polish or similar.
It is incredibly easy once you get used to the process. Gelcoat is plenty thick no worries.
People that sling the product off the buffing pad are using waay too much product.
You could get that boat to a mirror shine in a day. Buff it once per year - every year the process gets quicker & results accumulate.
Doing anything by hand is crazy….you cannot apply near enough pressure to make a difference.
Also use a small 3” cordless buffer around detail stuff like cleats.
AND yes it will add incredible value at trade in or sale of the boat.
Details do matter; How you do anything - is how you do everything.
That sounds like a lot of work. I am sure it would look much better after that - but I just don't see myself taking that on.
@@WayneTheBoatGuy And thats why you have an oxidized boat! Everyone is different.
that's the right wax but make sure you applied correctly once under clean surface and then 30 days later you apply the second and I raced a lot of boats and you will increase your speed by about 6 miles per hour
No. A smoother surface has been proven to be slower throughout the marine racing world, for decades now.
A slightly rough hull slips through the water much faster than a glass smooth one.
You would need to Compound to fresh gelcoat, clean it and apply a protective coating. Then keep it cleen or you'll be doing this again next year instead of just waxing the boat with another application of your sealant.
Applying 2 coats of the wrong stuff won't help.
If you never wax a boat, it will still float. If you never wax it, the wood in the boat will rot before the fiberglass does. Gelcoat on some boats cures to a tough hard shell.
If however you want to weigh your new boat and again 20 years down the road, it could be 30% heavier because gelcoat absorbed water all those years if you didn't protect it with bottom paint and a "wax"
Selling your boat is much less fun if it wasn't cosmetically maintained, enjoying a boat is more difficult when it looks like you found it in an alley. Getting friends to enjoy a trashed boat with you, also hard.
The products you bought and for the expectation you had gave me a chuckle, only because I was in that same place before. Not trying to bust you chops too bad.
You need a machine.
Dirt on gelcoat accelerates gelcoat's decay. Clean oxidized boats can be maintained wax-free for decades but they rub off on your clothes and stain super easily. Wouldn't you rather just wax your boat once a year and never really have to much more than wash it now and then to keep the wax in good condition?
You can use a high quality olive oil on your blue stripe, it'll look great for a long time.
Your boat would take a good detailer 2 days to refresh the gelcoat to like-new. After that, just wax it once or twice a year and wash in between when dirty or store it covered when not in use.
The black dots are most likely spider poops or mildew hubs where the roots formed.
I have a ton of videos on how to fix exactly what's going on with your four winns. Enjoy.
Something is wrong with this poor guy.
Where's the value in this video???? Nothing learned.
Ocean Detailing in Annapolis are professionals. Ask them what they use. ⛴️