Poly vs. Wax how long do they last?
On my last three boats, a San Juan 24, Catalina 30 and my present Catalina 36 (Anybody see a pattern here, involving 6'increments?) I have used Meguir's Mirror Glaze, and have been really quite satisfied with the results. In all three cases, the polishing and waxing has been done during haulout. I first use the cleaner/polish combination and then follow up with the wax. I use a Makita 12 grinder/buffer with a lambswool disc, and it makes for a truly brilliant and long lasting shine. But...BOY!...is it a lot of work. The 36 took two full days to polish to a shine and apply two coats of wax, working with a power buffer that felt like it weighed 60lb by the end of the day. Worth it? YOU BET! All I do now is apply a coat of wax by hand at the beginning of the season, and I'm good to go. The San Juan (which I saw recently) still looks good after five years. I sold the C30 to a buddy, and two years after I polished it, the topsides look factory fresh. I think the secret is polishing out the oxidation, and keeping it waxed for protection. I would love to find a product that is easier to use, and maybe Poli-glow is it, but I am concerned with removing the oxidation, and that can be a tough job, even with a power buffer. I would be interested to hear about the longevity of the finish you get.