Wax on?? How soon with a new boat

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Scott B

Scott B

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Sep 20, 2006
2,952
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
After reading the thread on Maine Sail's rant on clean boats and admiring the wax job on his boat (and others), I am re-thinking the wax job on our boat. Ours is a 2005 and I am assuming not waxed previously. When I asked, the Dealer said there would still be mold release on the hull from the factory and waxing would not be necessary for another year or two. So, what has everyone else done with their new boats, wax on or no wax. Scott. H33 Sunset Chaser
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,702
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Wax On

Scott, Unfortunately your dealer knows nothing about hull maintenance or the realities of what goes on at the factory. Most every gelcoat hull comes from the factory done with a rubbing compound after it leaves the mold. Molds are not perfect and builders employ people to buff the hulls after they leave the mold. Sometimes only certain areas are hit but usually about 70% of the hull gets buffed with compound. Rubbing compounds are harsh and will leave, depending on the compound, grade 800 to grade 1200 fine scratches or "swirl marks" these swirl marks attract more UV rays because there is more surface area for the sun to hit and more "right angles" to absorb degrading UV rays. My current boat, for a few more weeks, is an 05 also and I started with a round of Finesse It II, then Meguires #9 then Colinite paste wax. You may need to go all the way back to a compound at this point to bring the shine back to like new and do a four step or at least a three step. At minimum I would advise a Finesse It II #05928 and two coats of Colinite #885. Contrary to popular belief your boat can stay looking new for 25+ years as long as you keep the hull smooth (minimal to no swirls) and keep it waxed. For Georgian Bay one polish stage & wax a year is all you should need but use a good product not a one step!
 
Scott B

Scott B

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Sep 20, 2006
2,952
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
thanks

I read and printed your previous posts on the waxing. Looks like I've got my work cut out for this weekend. Boat hits the water next Wed. Time-wise will this take one day, two days or ??
 
NautiDuck

NautiDuck

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Jun 3, 2004
730
Catalina 250 Wing Keel Eugene, OR
Don't do it

Your gelcoat will wear away over time on its own, but for crying out loud do not take rubbing compound to a two year old boat! Just clean and wax the thing and you will be fine. Are you entering the boat in some sort of show for best shine? Clean and wax the hull and go sailing. Taking power tools and compounds to to a 2005 hull is nuts, in my humble opinion and with all due respect.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,702
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Nautduck..

Please, you really need to learn a little more about gelcoat, why it wears away, and the PROPER use of polishes before you make blanket statements with very little understanding. Lack of maintenance will do more to wear away gelcoat than getting a smooth protected surface. Gelcoat is THICK and even if you polished it every year for twenty years you would most likely never burn through it. Now if you compound with a heavy duty compound every year or wet sand every year then that's a different story. once you are caught up all it needs each season is a polish and wax. Polish is NOT compounding! Like I said he most likely only needs Finesse It and wax. Hell I can buff my wifes BMW with Meguires #9 and never burn through the clear coat which is fifteen times less thick than gelcoat and I've done it 6 times in 144k miles!
 
B

Bob V

wax goes on before the mast

And by the way your mast also needs wax and the brand new stainless cable on shrouds is contaminated with ferrous metal from the factory which will cause corrosion if not removed. I have had people tell me my boat looks like new and I tell them it looks considerably better because it came without wax. I love a new boat... it's the only time you can skip the cleaner wax or worse rubbing compound or wet sanding.
 
Scott B

Scott B

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Sep 20, 2006
2,952
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
Meguires #2 ?

Hey Maine, I sought out the Meguires line and could only find one automotive supply that carried the "tan" line and could not find the 3m Finesse line. Is the Meguires #2 fine-cut cleaner the same idea? I also picked up a Dewalt 7" polisher, same as Makita?, and should be good to go.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,702
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
#2 Fine Cut Cleaner is more..

of a light weight compound and would be about a number 4.5 - 5 on a scale of grit with #1 being wax (no grit) and #10 being wet sanding. It is certainly a little more aggressive than Finesse It II (about a 3- 3.5) but will work with the proper pad. Try a body shop supplier for good quality products from Meguiars, 3M and my favorite Presta Products. keep in mind the word "cleaner" is a very PC term for a compound. Some compounds are very fine and some very aggressive. Fine Cut (another key word "cut") is a very fine compound and not what would be considered a polish. As you know from reading my stuff there is a definite difference between compounds, polishes and glazes.. My feeling is that #9 might be to light and not aggressive enough with two years of exposure and Finesse It II or Fine Cut would be a good starting point.. If you can find a product called Presta Chroma 1500 Polish you'll never use anything else! The problem is their dealer network only consists of body shop suppliers.
 
NautiDuck

NautiDuck

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Jun 3, 2004
730
Catalina 250 Wing Keel Eugene, OR
Again

Quote: "You may need to go all the way back to a compound at this point to bring the shine back to like new and do a four step or at least a three step." There is no need to take compound to a two year old hull. A two year old hull doesn't need a multiple step job unless, of course, you are a obsessed with hull shine. You don't need a degree in gelometry to know that. Put some wax on and go sailing. This sailing hobby is great because there are many facets to enjoy. Some like racing, some cruising, some adding gizmos, some love to polish and others love to varnish teak.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,702
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
May....

"May" is the key word Nauti.. Believe me I have seen two year old hulls with oxidation that required a rubbing compound. Mostly in the islands and South though. If this guy read my writings on the subject I'm assuming he wants to re-condition his hull to like new or better than new. New hulls, from the factory are, in most cases, covered in severe swirl marks but no one notices because most boats are white these days.. Quote: "Some like racing, some cruising, some adding gizmos, some love to polish and others love to varnish teak." By the way I like all these things..... Well ok teak gets frustrating...
 
NautiDuck

NautiDuck

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Jun 3, 2004
730
Catalina 250 Wing Keel Eugene, OR
Maine

One of the best things about our new boat is NO TEAK!! I will defer to your gelcoat expertise, and I bet your hull is beautiful, but it just seems a shame to have to put a lot of work into a two year old hull. Oh well.
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,821
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Easier

I think what main sail is trying to say is if you do the hard work first time its all easy after that. I found out that when you give the boat a real good wax job in spring and fall it keeps your boat looking good with half the work and every year after that it's so easy. Nick
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,006
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Many years ago

a fellow sailor and I were looking for boats, same time, same information available (C34 website). He chose a new boat for no teak and "supposedly" less maintenance, while I chose a previously owned boat for less cost, maintenance that would teach me everything I needed to know, and the teak. Yup, I chose teak -- how 20th century of me! I love the look of our older boats, and the fact that our particular boat (like the C36s) is still being made, albeit without teak, still doesn't make me want to get a newer one. Your boat, your choice. PS - I'm workin' on gettin' MS to come detail our boat! :)
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
On my boat wood on the outside

gets paint! NO exterior bright work.
 
J

jimq26

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Jun 5, 2004
860
- - -
Uh Scott ol' buddy - you did the topsides.

Now you want to do the deck and cabin right? Looks great. Topsides The part of the boat hull between the waterline and the edge of the deck. Hull below the waterline The part of the boat hull between the waterline and the bottom of the keel.
 
Capn Pete

Capn Pete

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Jun 2, 2004
297
Oday 35 Staten Island, NY
Sequence

I should remember this from last year, but I don't, so this is as good a time as any to re-post the question: Is it wax before polish, or polish before wax? Pete s/v EmmieLou (Oday 322) Little Silver, NJ
 
Scott B

Scott B

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Sep 20, 2006
2,952
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
topsides, bottomsides, deck, up down ???

Your right Jim, I know how to drive (helm ) this thing, but I don't always know all the right terms. Still learning. ;) Pete, polish 1st and then wax. http://archives.sailboatowners.com/pviewarch.htm?fno=20&sku=2007079075943.67&id=458039 scroll down to Maine Sail post (3rd)
 
J

jimq26

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Jun 5, 2004
860
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Maine Sail is paid by the word - not to worry

You must be very satisfied with your results.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,702
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Scott your boat looks great!

Nice work for just a two step! It's obviously all she needed. 1)Compound (if needed) 2)Polish 3)Wax
 
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