Has anyone used Island Girl Pink to clean the non'skid and gelcoat? Any information and suggestion would be appreciated.
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Island Pink
I read rave reviews about it, so I made it my wife's birthday present to me. I found it hard to use the pink cleaning solution. I expected one bottle of cleaner to do the non skid on the H23 which is about what the literature would lead you to believe. I must not have diluted the cleaner enough because I got about 1/3 of the nonskid clean and was out of pink. I will say that it does clean well. It is just that I kept watching the $ go up with every square foot I worked on. After using the pink, I started putting the surface coat on both the non-skid and smooth parts of the cockpit. It seems fine on the non-skid, but on the smooth surfac, I could not get an even coat. It looked streaky and splotchy in those areas. I decided the product was not really designed for smooth surfaces. I got discouraged with the work involved and decided I would live with a less than perfect non-skid and went sailing instead. After it all dried - I did notice that the area where I used the two parts stayed clean longer and could infact be washed easily just as they advertize. It is just that either my application method is not what they intend, or you have to plan to use more of the pink and the final coating than I was lead to believe I needed. I wrote and asked on thier website and got some very nice and quick responses with suggestions on the correct way to use the product. I suggested that they make a video so that I could see how it is supposed to be done. I have not decided yet what to do this season.
I read rave reviews about it, so I made it my wife's birthday present to me. I found it hard to use the pink cleaning solution. I expected one bottle of cleaner to do the non skid on the H23 which is about what the literature would lead you to believe. I must not have diluted the cleaner enough because I got about 1/3 of the nonskid clean and was out of pink. I will say that it does clean well. It is just that I kept watching the $ go up with every square foot I worked on. After using the pink, I started putting the surface coat on both the non-skid and smooth parts of the cockpit. It seems fine on the non-skid, but on the smooth surfac, I could not get an even coat. It looked streaky and splotchy in those areas. I decided the product was not really designed for smooth surfaces. I got discouraged with the work involved and decided I would live with a less than perfect non-skid and went sailing instead. After it all dried - I did notice that the area where I used the two parts stayed clean longer and could infact be washed easily just as they advertize. It is just that either my application method is not what they intend, or you have to plan to use more of the pink and the final coating than I was lead to believe I needed. I wrote and asked on thier website and got some very nice and quick responses with suggestions on the correct way to use the product. I suggested that they make a video so that I could see how it is supposed to be done. I have not decided yet what to do this season.
I ordered a whole kit of this stuff, included were things to clean the space station, honestly I think the people there are nice, spoke by phone with the owner about a mix up and he sent some extra product. To me it may be amazing stuff but I guess I did not follow directions or something I still have most of it left , blotting with a paper towel is one method for cleaning , thats just not how I go about cleaning a boat, so I guess I would not buy any more until I use what I have and am not presently using any, I had read glowing reports about it here before buying so maybe it is just me , good luck Mike Bacome
PG is Nothing similar to IG.
Poly Glow is floor wax. Island Girl is a cleaner/ conditioner & wax system (more complicated than that, but very different).
Poly Glow is floor wax. Island Girl is a cleaner/ conditioner & wax system (more complicated than that, but very different).
Tilex
I use "Tilex" with bleach, inexpensive and very effective. Just spray on and let it set for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse off with hose. The tougher stains may have to be brushed. Available at your grocery or discount store..Don't wear good clothes when using , have ruined 2 or 3 shirts, made 1st. Mate very unhappy and when she's unhappy, everybody's unhappy.......
I use "Tilex" with bleach, inexpensive and very effective. Just spray on and let it set for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse off with hose. The tougher stains may have to be brushed. Available at your grocery or discount store..Don't wear good clothes when using , have ruined 2 or 3 shirts, made 1st. Mate very unhappy and when she's unhappy, everybody's unhappy.......
PoliGlow PoliPrep
I used PoliPrep (PoliGlow cleaner) on all the surfaces above waterline including he nonskid. It did a good job of deep cleaning all the surfaces. Removed dirt, stains and oxidation. I only used the PoliGlow finish product on the hull topsides. It is not recommended anywhere where grip, footing or safety is a concern. DO NOT USE POLIGLOW FINISH ON DECKS OR IN THE COCKPIT. PolyGlow isn't floor wax. Its unsuitable for flooring as its too slick.
I used PoliPrep (PoliGlow cleaner) on all the surfaces above waterline including he nonskid. It did a good job of deep cleaning all the surfaces. Removed dirt, stains and oxidation. I only used the PoliGlow finish product on the hull topsides. It is not recommended anywhere where grip, footing or safety is a concern. DO NOT USE POLIGLOW FINISH ON DECKS OR IN THE COCKPIT. PolyGlow isn't floor wax. Its unsuitable for flooring as its too slick.
re: PG is Nothing similar to IG.
PolyGlow certainly isn't floor wax. I weould never use it in that application and would STRONGLY recommend against its use on floors, decks or in the cockpit. It is much too slippery to get any traction, especially in boats where loss of traction or slipping could be disasterous.
PolyGlow certainly isn't floor wax. I weould never use it in that application and would STRONGLY recommend against its use on floors, decks or in the cockpit. It is much too slippery to get any traction, especially in boats where loss of traction or slipping could be disasterous.
Didn't Care for IG
I tried the Island Girl products and, IMHO, the results weren't equal to the hype. I thought they had very confusing instructions on which product to use when/where, etc. Last year I used products from an outfit called Aurora Marine and was very pleased. I plan to use them again this spring. Their link is below.
I tried the Island Girl products and, IMHO, the results weren't equal to the hype. I thought they had very confusing instructions on which product to use when/where, etc. Last year I used products from an outfit called Aurora Marine and was very pleased. I plan to use them again this spring. Their link is below.
Tim I guess thats what I was saying in my post , the instructions were confusing to me, I had good luck with poliglow for a few years and then I had this horrible streaking , I am back to my original mequiars 3 step process, when something works stick with it, take care , Mike Bacome
mequiars 3 step process ??
Mike, Mequairs? What is that? It seems I am about 3 years behind you in my education about non-skid cleaning and coating. Attending to the non-skid is high on my commisioning list this year so any info you can provide will be appreciated. Thanks, Bill Leathen
Mike, Mequairs? What is that? It seems I am about 3 years behind you in my education about non-skid cleaning and coating. Attending to the non-skid is high on my commisioning list this year so any info you can provide will be appreciated. Thanks, Bill Leathen
non skid
Bill I apologize, this thread started and stopped in the process I was just thinking about overall cleaning ,waxing and not non skid specific, I used the meguiars oxidation remover, polish and then wax on just about all of the boat except the non skid, usually just use whatever to get the non skid clean then leave it at that,hope this helps , I do think in the archives there is some info of people tapping off and painting the non skid with a paint that has abrasives in it , mine just get cleaned/ Mike Bacome
Bill I apologize, this thread started and stopped in the process I was just thinking about overall cleaning ,waxing and not non skid specific, I used the meguiars oxidation remover, polish and then wax on just about all of the boat except the non skid, usually just use whatever to get the non skid clean then leave it at that,hope this helps , I do think in the archives there is some info of people tapping off and painting the non skid with a paint that has abrasives in it , mine just get cleaned/ Mike Bacome
They are confusing.
I would have to agree that the Island Girl instructions are confusing. It is a much more technical product that the other products on the market. Polyglow is an acrylic finish, very similar to non buffing floor wax. Mequires and the rest of these products are sort of a temporary solution. Next season you boat is oxidized again and you start the process over. Island Girl will remove the oxidation and recondition the gel coat. I have areas on my boat that are exposed to the sun and they are still very smooth after several years. I just clean it up with Pink and apply the sealer. You can use any wax that you want with Island Girl and there is really nothing that needs to be removed (unlike the acrylic build up that will crack and peel after a while). I suppose this is like everything else a lot of personal preference depending on what you like to spend your time doing.
I would have to agree that the Island Girl instructions are confusing. It is a much more technical product that the other products on the market. Polyglow is an acrylic finish, very similar to non buffing floor wax. Mequires and the rest of these products are sort of a temporary solution. Next season you boat is oxidized again and you start the process over. Island Girl will remove the oxidation and recondition the gel coat. I have areas on my boat that are exposed to the sun and they are still very smooth after several years. I just clean it up with Pink and apply the sealer. You can use any wax that you want with Island Girl and there is really nothing that needs to be removed (unlike the acrylic build up that will crack and peel after a while). I suppose this is like everything else a lot of personal preference depending on what you like to spend your time doing.
Steve - excellent feedback
Steve, I hope you don't mind continuing on this topic. You said - "I just clean it up with Pink and apply the sealer." How much did you dilute the IG pink? Did you apply the sealant full strength? The IG instructions talk about blotting up the product with white paper towels. I tried this, but frankly that method does not seem real effective. How did you do it? Thanks, Bill Leathen
Steve, I hope you don't mind continuing on this topic. You said - "I just clean it up with Pink and apply the sealer." How much did you dilute the IG pink? Did you apply the sealant full strength? The IG instructions talk about blotting up the product with white paper towels. I tried this, but frankly that method does not seem real effective. How did you do it? Thanks, Bill Leathen
3m Synthetic wool
Bill: You should use the synthetic wool to remove the oxidation. I use the Pink straight. You just need to do small areas about 2 x 2 or 3 x 3 at a time when removing the oxidation. Then let the sun cook the stuff and the buff it up with the syn. wool again and rinse it off. The sealant can be dabbed on like you mention. Once this dries, you can use any wax product that you like.
Bill: You should use the synthetic wool to remove the oxidation. I use the Pink straight. You just need to do small areas about 2 x 2 or 3 x 3 at a time when removing the oxidation. Then let the sun cook the stuff and the buff it up with the syn. wool again and rinse it off. The sealant can be dabbed on like you mention. Once this dries, you can use any wax product that you like.
island girl , (Steve)
Steve are you telling me that you go over the entire boat with that small amount of syn material? when I read that I thought about how much of it I would need, when I do the meguiars I do the whole boat using towels, and it doesnt take that long with a buffer but to use that syn seemed to me to be an endless task , t hanks for the education , Mike Bacome
Steve are you telling me that you go over the entire boat with that small amount of syn material? when I read that I thought about how much of it I would need, when I do the meguiars I do the whole boat using towels, and it doesnt take that long with a buffer but to use that syn seemed to me to be an endless task , t hanks for the education , Mike Bacome
Mike, you are correct!
and you need to do your mequires once or twice a year after year after year. These commercial products DO NOT condition and protect your gel coat from further oxidation. That is the difference with Island Girl. You can purchase the Synthetic wool at West Marine, so if you run out you can purchase more. I just work on sections of the boat one at a time (cockpit, stern, cabin, hull). I do not have hours at a time to do the entire boat. I have priorities (relaxing, drinking, sailing, sleeping - not in any order). Once you get your gel coat conditioned you can use your mequires, aurora or any other wax that you like and it will last a lot longer. The key is removing and reconditioning the surface.
and you need to do your mequires once or twice a year after year after year. These commercial products DO NOT condition and protect your gel coat from further oxidation. That is the difference with Island Girl. You can purchase the Synthetic wool at West Marine, so if you run out you can purchase more. I just work on sections of the boat one at a time (cockpit, stern, cabin, hull). I do not have hours at a time to do the entire boat. I have priorities (relaxing, drinking, sailing, sleeping - not in any order). Once you get your gel coat conditioned you can use your mequires, aurora or any other wax that you like and it will last a lot longer. The key is removing and reconditioning the surface.
Aurora products
Has anyone used the Aurora product line, especially their waterline stain remover; boat scrub;algea strip; and boat shine. Considering giving them a try. What say you!
Has anyone used the Aurora product line, especially their waterline stain remover; boat scrub;algea strip; and boat shine. Considering giving them a try. What say you!
Steve
I want to make sure I get this straight (I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer!). You are saying that you use IG pink and 3M Syn wool to clean and remove the oxidation and then you use non skid sealant on the entire boat's topside and cockpit to seal the gelcoat and then use any wax that you desire? Thanks, Jonathan Costello Heeling Powers
I want to make sure I get this straight (I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer!). You are saying that you use IG pink and 3M Syn wool to clean and remove the oxidation and then you use non skid sealant on the entire boat's topside and cockpit to seal the gelcoat and then use any wax that you desire? Thanks, Jonathan Costello Heeling Powers
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