Any recommendations on a good gelcoat cleaner and wax. I have visited the "Island Girl System" website which advertises products that easily wipe-on wipe off but the two step cleaning kit is over $120.00. Any comments about this product or others would be appreciated. I have a 28' sail that is in the water. Thanks
Gelcoat Cleaner
- Thread starter rbarclay
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I like it
I have used Island Girl on two boats, a newer one(ne gel coat damage from the sun) and an older one (with sun damage). It works well on both. However on the older one it did a remarkable job on the gel coat to clean brighten and seal. It won't wear away the gel coat like compounding or abrasive cleaners which do wear away the thin gel coat layer. I like it. Oh BTW my friend who is a clean freak took one look at the boat after I used Island Girl and he flipped and said what ever you used and what ever it cost it was worth it. For what that is worth. Keith
I have used Island Girl on two boats, a newer one(ne gel coat damage from the sun) and an older one (with sun damage). It works well on both. However on the older one it did a remarkable job on the gel coat to clean brighten and seal. It won't wear away the gel coat like compounding or abrasive cleaners which do wear away the thin gel coat layer. I like it. Oh BTW my friend who is a clean freak took one look at the boat after I used Island Girl and he flipped and said what ever you used and what ever it cost it was worth it. For what that is worth. Keith
POLIGLOW FOR OLDER BOATS
Poliglow for older boats. If your boat can retain a wax shine for a year then do not use poliglow on newer boats. I was corrected by another member on using poliglow on newer boats. I checked with the poliglow people and they indicated it should only be used on older boats that cannot retain a shine from wax. I used it on a 1984 Hunter 31 and it made the hull look new and lasted all year. Its easy to apply and worth the cost. Richard
Poliglow for older boats. If your boat can retain a wax shine for a year then do not use poliglow on newer boats. I was corrected by another member on using poliglow on newer boats. I checked with the poliglow people and they indicated it should only be used on older boats that cannot retain a shine from wax. I used it on a 1984 Hunter 31 and it made the hull look new and lasted all year. Its easy to apply and worth the cost. Richard
Collinite cleaner
I used the Collinite cleaner for the first time last year. It worked really well, even in our cool spring weather. I have used Collinite cleaner wax for several years but I found last year the separate cleaner followed by the wax worked much better. The boat was a whole different shade of white, guess I had not noticed the grey film build up before. Not sure how well the Collinite cleaner would work before another manufacturer's wax product, but it (the cleaner) is not expensive- I think it was only 10$ or so- try it
I used the Collinite cleaner for the first time last year. It worked really well, even in our cool spring weather. I have used Collinite cleaner wax for several years but I found last year the separate cleaner followed by the wax worked much better. The boat was a whole different shade of white, guess I had not noticed the grey film build up before. Not sure how well the Collinite cleaner would work before another manufacturer's wax product, but it (the cleaner) is not expensive- I think it was only 10$ or so- try it
Check the archives ... here ....
Look/Search for Maine Sail's thread on polishing or buffing. For cleaning gelcoat simply use a caustic based detergent ... a sodium silicate based detergent (Tuff-eNuff), triSodiumPhosphate (TSP), etc. to remove 'air pollution' specks, fungus/mildew (caustics dissolve mildew, etc.) , dissolve/strip old dead wax, etc. .... then rinse and 'bleach' with an oxalic acid mixture. All this can be obtained from a hardware store. Acetone will remove organic 'goos', shoe marks, etc. Then follow Maine Sail's method of polishing and buffing the gel (from the archives, here) ... to restore it to almost 'brand new' condition. archive: http://archives.sailboatowners.com/pviewarch.htm?fno=400&sku=2007012200307.56&id=443490&ptl=#2007012212906.10
Look/Search for Maine Sail's thread on polishing or buffing. For cleaning gelcoat simply use a caustic based detergent ... a sodium silicate based detergent (Tuff-eNuff), triSodiumPhosphate (TSP), etc. to remove 'air pollution' specks, fungus/mildew (caustics dissolve mildew, etc.) , dissolve/strip old dead wax, etc. .... then rinse and 'bleach' with an oxalic acid mixture. All this can be obtained from a hardware store. Acetone will remove organic 'goos', shoe marks, etc. Then follow Maine Sail's method of polishing and buffing the gel (from the archives, here) ... to restore it to almost 'brand new' condition. archive: http://archives.sailboatowners.com/pviewarch.htm?fno=400&sku=2007012200307.56&id=443490&ptl=#2007012212906.10
snobol
this snobol toilet cleaner WILL CLEAN GEL COAT JUST WIPE ON AND RINSE OFF WITHIN TWO OR THREE MINUTES. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS IT TAKES THE WAX OFF SO YOU WILL HAVE TO RE WAX. hope this helps,it worked for me. got the tip from a boat yard.
this snobol toilet cleaner WILL CLEAN GEL COAT JUST WIPE ON AND RINSE OFF WITHIN TWO OR THREE MINUTES. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS IT TAKES THE WAX OFF SO YOU WILL HAVE TO RE WAX. hope this helps,it worked for me. got the tip from a boat yard.
- Jan 22, 2008
- 519
can poliglow be used inside the cockpit
or does it cause the surface to be slippery? My boat is significantly older and was considering painting the cockpit to restore it, but the gelcoat is not worn away, so perhaps poliglow will do the trick. Comments, advice???
or does it cause the surface to be slippery? My boat is significantly older and was considering painting the cockpit to restore it, but the gelcoat is not worn away, so perhaps poliglow will do the trick. Comments, advice???
Roger, just some general input here, no direct experience . .
You should be able to use the Poliglow on the smooth surfaces in the cockpit - seat backs, bulkhead sides and vertical surfaces between the floor and seats. Use something else intended for non-skid on the seat tops, coaming tops and cockpit floor. JMHO.
You should be able to use the Poliglow on the smooth surfaces in the cockpit - seat backs, bulkhead sides and vertical surfaces between the floor and seats. Use something else intended for non-skid on the seat tops, coaming tops and cockpit floor. JMHO.
Agree - no PoliGlow on any nonskid or bench tops.
I used it with great results on all the smooth cockpit surfaces - what an improvement. Use something like Kiwigrip on the cockpit floor (see link)
I used it with great results on all the smooth cockpit surfaces - what an improvement. Use something like Kiwigrip on the cockpit floor (see link)
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