Practical Sailor says POLI GLOW WORKS!

[NautiDuck]

The latest edition of PS has an article titled "Shining Star: Poli Glow Hull Restorer - After three years baking in the Florida sun, it is still working."The article sums up their experience with Poli Glo by stating "Recommending Poli Glow is a no-brainer" and that these products "provide a harder and more durable film than what can be achieved with wax." They also say nice things about New Glass 2. Everyone makes their own choices but hopefully this extended test by the Consumers Report of boating, will lay rest the horror stories that the polish-till-you-drop advocates always haul out when the topic of hull care comes up. Poli Glow is a modern product that works.

 

[AXEL]

New Glass 2

I've been using New Glass 2 for about 6 seasons (maybe more) now. I can't say enough good things about it and I constantly get compliments on how good my boat looks. I can apply 5 coats in 2 hours, no compounding required. Nothing....absolutely nothing sticks to it. I can sail through an oil slick and it wipes right off. You can't do that with wax. At the end of the season when all the other boats have brown scum lines and black diesel "mustaches", my boat looks as good as the day it launched.

 

[DC1417]

First time

I just used NewGlass2 on my '72 O'Day yesterday. I had always compounded and waxed. It looks great. The cleaner/prep was a little nasty (rash on arms). My biggest concern is maintaining year to year. Any suggestions? I don't want to see the stuff flaking or peeling - ever!

 

[Dick Westwood]

Just Poli Glowed

I poliglowed my Cal 20 yesterday. She went from looking really shabby to bright and shiny. And the process was really easy. 4 hours, maybe, to get the boat spotlessly clean. Then maybe an hour to put on half a dozen coats of PoliGlo.I don't know what she'll look like 3 years from now. But for now - she's never looked as good as this!

 

[Andrew]

Poliglowed this year

I just applied poliglow this year, and almost everyone who I talk to at my dock has come over and asked how I made my 20 year old C30 looks so good. My boat was had oxidation and came out looking like it just rolled out of the plant.-AndrewModus Vivendi

 

[jimq26]

First time I have used Poli Glow

I carefully followed the instructions, and ended up putting on 5 coats just as recommended. We have a 1973 G-26 and she has never looked so good - just like she did nearly 35 years ago. We did try all the waxing tricks, but this is absolutely the best she has ever looked. The boat is at the top of the yacht club yard, and everybody that comes in goes by her. The compliments are flying left and right. Even a couple of wax die harders have now made the switch after seeing my results, and you should see their topsides!!!!The key is to do another one or two coats after haulout in the fall, then another coat next spring just prior to launch.Any wonder Poli Glow is rated the best?

 

[Tim R.]

The key is maintenance

I used poliglow on my Pearson for 3 years and each year I would removed the old and apply 4-5 new coats. At $65/year and a day of labor for my wife and I, it is a good product. But like most everything else, you cannot apply it and forget it. And following the directions is very important. The initial prep work to make this product work is probably not much less than doing it the right way with the buffer and compound. Just like painting, it is all in the prep.Tim R.

 

[Tony McMahon]

Poli Glow Disaster

Approximately 4 years ago I used Poli Glow and achieved an amazing result that everybody noticed. The condition lasted for approximately six months after which I promptly washed with the recommended cleaner then reapplied this process was repeated for 2 years when I noticed that the original poli glow produce was beginning to oxidise more quickly each time I had applied the product. I ended up with a thick oxidised coating over the Gel coat that was difficult to bring up to a shine. Since identifying the problem I have decided never to use the product again. I have had to literally scrape the oxidise product from the hull sanding with wet and dry paper then heavy cutting of the glass followed by wax. I finally have removed all of this product that initially appears to be helping and saving you time and effort but it has taken 3 slipping events to reach the perfect shine that I now have. Even sworn advocates of the product are experiencing oxidisation in direct sunlight and they are starting to regret the commitment made many years ago. "The more you use it the more you have to" In defence of the product and if your glass is totally shot. It won't hurt anything but if there is a chance to cut and polish that's the best method of keeping your glass in good condition. There's no easy way out you get what you put in.

 

[AXEL]

DC, 1st timer

DC, you had asked about NewGlass maintenance. I have been using the stuff for many years and have never had any negative effects. What I do is try to remove most of it every spring just before re-applying. I used to use a heavy detergent like engine degreaser and a mild abrasive like soft scrub which is what the manufacturer recommended. This worked pretty well. You would see some minor streaking but it would disappear after re-applying the recommended 5 coats. This year I purchased the prep-stripper which works very well at removing the prior coats. So for me the trick is to strip and re-apply every year. It's still a lot less work than compounding and waxing and the results are far superior in my opinion. BTY, I have never seen NewGlass peel.

 

[frmreilly]

I hated it -- I like Island Girl Better

Island Girl is easy to use and I do it once a year -- it lasts all season. I tried poli-glo once & boy was I sorry -- it was a major effort to get it off.

 

[NautiDuck]

William

Poli Prep cleaner is the best hull cleaner I have ever used. Even if you don't use Poli Glow the prep product is awesome.Also, the fact that some people use the product for many years, and Practical Sailor endorses it, leads me to believe that the problems some people have is related to prep and maintenance. My two cents.