Well, that was surprising!

[Orbweaver]

I made an appointment to get my boat buffed and waxed at a local detailing shop. When I called the local boat dealer (yes, only one) to ask what they would charge they told me they send all their work to this independent shop. So I thought maybe I'd be OK. I called, explained what I have and asked the price. They said no problem, $15/ft for the whole project. The appointment was actually for tomorrow, but I pulled it into town at the end of the work day today to just drop it off. The ENTIRE crew of the detail shop and the next door neighbor truck accessories shop came out to gawk at the 'huge sailboat'. (It's a Hunter 26.5) I got to talking with the guy who would be doing my boat and started getting the idea that maybe leaving the boat wouldn't be the best option. He told me that he couldn't do any better than what I had already done, because 'white paint doesn't really shine up well'. Keep in mind, I'm using an el cheapo HF rotary machine. Then he said he doesn't to anything for the topsides except clean, no buffing because the end result is that you have very spotty shine/no shine due to all the changing surfaces. so for $15/ft he would essentially polish from the waterline to the rubber strip. If I wanted the topsides cleaned that was going to be extra, but he could probably get the blue paint on the bottom cleaned up and looking new. You know, the blue bottom paint. Also, in his opinion within two weeks of having the boat on the water the oxidized parts are just going to look exactly the same as they do now, and he doesn't recommend wax for the 'paint' because it just doesn't work on boats. Oh
.
.
.
So, I made the decision to just bring the boat home and do what polishing I can at home. I may be relatively new to sailboats, but I'm fairly confident that I made the right decision here.

 

[Will Gilmore]

I'm fairly confident that I made the right decision here.

You did.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I may be relatively new to sailboats, but I'm fairly confident that I made the right decision here.

That's cheap tuition for a boat lesson:
There's always some yard ape waiting to rip you off. If you want it done right, do it yourself. Particularly boat polishing and waxing when a little research will pay off big time.

 

[garymalmgren]

He told me that he couldn't do any better than what I had already done, because 'white paint doesn't really shine up well'.
In that case , why are you going to the trouble to polish again?

Given the choice between polish and sail, Choose sail!!

Gary

 

[thinwater]

Actually, you were fortunate he was open and truthful.

 

[Orbweaver]

Actually, you were fortunate he was open and truthful.

Yeah, I thanked him for being honest up front. While I may doubt his skills on a sailboat, I appreciate that he was honest enough to essentially talk himself out of a job.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Just to be a little picky ... "topsides" actually is the side of the hull from the waterline (or your boot stripe) to the deck (the rubber strip). If he quoted a price for topsides, that is what would have been done. The deck and the cabin top actually is quite a bit more work and you shouldn't have expected him to do that work if you said that you wanted "topsides". Everything above the topsides should cost a lot more.

So, about $400 to compound, polish, wax a 26.5' hull (at least an 8 hour job, I'd guess - it would take me more) and also clean the deck and cabin top. I think I would call that a bargain. If he told you he couldn't improve very much upon the look of it now, he possibly was just lowering expectations to avoid an ugly scene at the end of the job when you don't think it was worth the money. It might have started out badly over your misunderstanding of the term "topsides" and he didn't really want the job afterall. Just sayin'

 

[Orbweaver]

T-Bird, thanks for the correction. Even so, I'm 100% confident that he also didn't understand the difference in terminology, because he used the same term when referring to what I now understand is the deck and cabin top.

Gary, the choice right now is polish, or clean, or upholstery, or varnish. No sailing for at least another month, because we are waiting for the lake to fill enough to launch. Right now there's about 6" of water in the marina.

I need minimum water elevation of at least 2889' to access the marina. So I have some time before sail becomes an option. Once that time comes around you better believe I'll be choosing sail before anything not safety related on the boat.

 

[Kings Gambit]

It’s sometimes better to avoid jargon when talking to trades folks. For example, how much to clean, wax and polish the hull?, etc. I’ve never much like that term, “topsides”. It’s confusing. You must always be clear as to what work you wish done.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Looks like the snow melt doesn't really kick in until very late spring! My daughter's boat came from Flathead Lake ... they sailed on Hebgen Reservoir, SW of Bozeman.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

It’s sometimes better to avoid jargon when talking to trades folks. For example, how much to clean, wax and polish the hull?, etc. I’ve never much like that term, “topsides”. It’s confusing. You must always be clear as to what work you wish done.

That description "clean, wax and polish the hull" is even confusing. Did you mean compound, polish, and wax or did you mean just wax and buff the wax? Compounding, polishing, and waxing are 3 separate activities ... it could even be more, depending upon how particular you care to be!

 

[Kings Gambit]

That description "clean, wax and polish the hull" is even confusing. Did you mean compound, polish, and wax or did you mean just wax and buff the wax? Compounding, polishing, and waxing are 3 separate activities ... it could even be more, depending upon how particular you care to be!

True. I suppose I meant wash, wax, and polish.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

You could be right ... $400 might be considered high just for wash, wax and polish. But it certainly isn't a lot of money for the routine that Mainesail describes for the full treatment. It just goes to show how difficult it can be to manage expectations and provide a price for a job that isn't properly defined. I also get a little annoyed when the knee jerk reaction is to ridicule a trade service when there may be misunderstandings involved.

 

[Orbweaver]

I certainly didn't intend to ridicule anyone, if that's what came across then I apologize. I'm sure the guy knows what he's doing with autos/RV's. But, he flat out told me that he's NEVER done a sailboat, and had low expectations of how much he would be able to do. I was happy to pay $400 to get the work done, but my expectation for what I would receive in exchange for those dollars was higher than he could provide. That was the misunderstanding between he and I. We parted ways amicably. In fact, just because he was honest about the boat I may have him see what he can do about some light scratches in the clear coat on the kid's car.
I am using the Maine Sail method myself, except so far I haven't ponied up for the Makita. I do have better pads for it, and when the HF tool dies I will most likely upgrade. Until then, I'll get whatever shine I can and be happy with it. After all, isn't there a saying, something about any time spent puttering about in boats...

 

[Scott T-Bird]

All's well that ends well. I didn't really have any problem with your post/response at all. I was mostly reacting to the "yard ape" reference from Ralph, but we all have those moments, so it's really not a big deal. Mostly it's just discussion and presenting alternative perspectives.

 

[sailcapt340]

You made the right decision.
It's all well and good to have the job done for you. Waxing a boat does a lot more for the boat than just put a nice shine on it, though.
It gets "you" into points of the boat that you may otherwise never stick your head into. Which by default lets you see possible damaged areas, loose fittings, frayed lines, a whole host of issues that may go unnoticed until it's to late.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a real fan of being on my hands and knees getting wax into small areas, but the benefits far "outshine" the gloss of a newly waxed boat.
So for what it's worth, take quiet some time, we all need some from time to time, wax in stages and get the benefits of really seeing the boat up close and personal.
My hope is you never find any issues but if you do at least they are addressable early.

 

[Siamese]

Doesn't sound like he was going to do your vessel any good. Gelcoat is not paint, and if he hasn't done gelcoat before it wasn't going to turn out well.

I've used MaineSail's method on a couple boats. On both the topsides and the deck, with spectacular results. To anyone contemplating doing compounding and polishing, I always say, do it precisely to MaineSail's method, or don't bother. What MS says is true, that when you've done the compounding a polishing correctly, it's so shiny that the wax doesn't add any more shine, it just gives protection.

 

[TimFromLI]

For those looking for the mainesail method...

Tips For A Great Buff & Wax

Buff Polish & Wax Try these products (for Gel-Coat only not intended for Awlgrip) The Cliff Note Version: Steps: #1-Clean the hull with an acid base cleaner like FSR, oxalic acid or On & Off to remove rust & tannin staining. (only if necessary) #2-Wet Sand by hand 600 (if real bad)...

forums.sailboatowners.com

I've had great results with the 3M perfect-it products and the dewalt buffer

 

[DAVA390]

All's well that ends well. I didn't really have any problem with your post/response at all. I was mostly reacting to the "yard ape" reference from Ralph, but we all have those moments, so it's really not a big deal. Mostly it's just discussion and presenting alternative perspectives.

 

[DAVA390]

kind of in the same boat ( Ha) myself. Boat i just bought has many spots on the hull that are very flat. Altough not appearing oxidized, i tried rubbing compound, then wax on some test spots with poor results.Wondeeing now if i have to wetsand first, im unsure of where the tipoinf pount is here. Wondering if oxidation remover woykd be effective first instead of sanding even if the hull is not chalky...