Wax for below the waterline? How many coats?

[joes new addiction]

Been a while since I've been here, sold my PT, bought a O Day Mariner and I've been just about living on it, the amount of sailing I've been doing on it!
She out of the water now, on the hard for some tinkering and maintenance.
Spent the day today cleaning below the waterline.
I dunno WHERE she had been before, (I think she was at the Chesapeak).
High pressure, spray n go, lime away, ALOT of soft scrub and elbow grease, (always good when you have to clean the hull on the trailer laying on the ground)!
She's ALL white now!
What is a GOOD brand of wax to apply to the hull?
How many coats?
IF, I'm a trailer sailor, how often?
IF she's living at a fresh water slip, how often?
I've been using some 3M Marine Protective Wax on the deck and it seems to work well, (2 coats since I got her).
Thanks!
Joe

 

[Siamese]

3m is fine. Or Collinite wax. Although, I can't really come up with a good reason to wax it.

If you keep it in a freshwater slip, you'll need to use a bottom paint like v17 to prevent algae growth.

 

[RichH]

Ditto on the recommendation for VC17

If the boat was kept in salt water, keep a sharp eye for the sudden growth of 'hull blisters' when being stored in 'fresh'.
If 'blistering' begins to happen, then consider to add a barrier coat.\

Waxing the bottom of a boat thats kept in the water .... waste of time. Either leave it bare or apply bottom paint.

 

[higgs]

VC 17 is good stuff because it does not build up much from coat to coat, thus sanding is not necessary after your first coat is on. If the boat is going to live in the water, you might want to consider putting a barrier coat on like Interlux 2000, which will give you more protection against blisters.

 

[higgs]

Forget waxing the bottom. If you leave your boat in the water you have to use a bottom paint of some kind. If you dry sail - that is pull it out after each daysail, you don't need anything on the bottom. Ask around your marina as to what most people use and that would be the way to go.

 

[monkeybars]

you don't HAVE to wax or paint or anything,but it sure won't hurt.I'm never in the water for more than a week at a time,but I rub a heavy coat of wax below the water line and leave it on (don't buff off) lasts all season

 

[zeehag]

if you use bottom paint, do not wax. if you do not use bottom paint, then wax.