I have a 1995 that is in pretty good condition and of course want to keep it looking good and shiny. I have always used the 3M cleaner/wax on my previous boats and have been generally happy with the results. This stuff is a bit hard to rub off compared to the stuff you use on a car. I was just wondering if there was a better product out there. Is there a good brand wax that anyone can recommend. I do have an electric buffer. Thanks.
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2 studies
have shown that Collonite which is regarded as one of the, if not the best, was not as good as the West Marine cleaner/wax. You can check out both comparisons at Practical Sailor and Boatworks.
have shown that Collonite which is regarded as one of the, if not the best, was not as good as the West Marine cleaner/wax. You can check out both comparisons at Practical Sailor and Boatworks.
I Like Maguire's
I have faithfully used Maguire's 50 cleaner/wax for the last 10 or so seasons and have been very pleased with it's performance. I use an orbital buffer to apply it, switch bonnets to remove it. Lasts all season for me. Get it a most boat stores. One season, I tried the WM Cleaner/wax and it seemed more watery to me and more difficult to dry and remove.
I have faithfully used Maguire's 50 cleaner/wax for the last 10 or so seasons and have been very pleased with it's performance. I use an orbital buffer to apply it, switch bonnets to remove it. Lasts all season for me. Get it a most boat stores. One season, I tried the WM Cleaner/wax and it seemed more watery to me and more difficult to dry and remove.
Collinite #885 Fleet Wax - Paste Version
I measure a wax by how it prevents the yellowing at the waterline which are mineral deposits made up of mostly metals suspended in the water. A coat of wax is the only thing that prevents the minerals from binding to the gel coat. On & Off will remove these stains because the acid eats the metals. I can get 8 months with NO staining at my waterline using two coats of Collinite #885 paste wax. Having worked on mega yachts growing up and as a detailer for antique cars I've learned one thing. Liquid waxes are not as good as a paste nor as hard. Another thing you don't want is a cheater wax that contains lots of silicone. Silicone is imprevious to just about everything and soaks deep into the gel coat. Even though it may not be on the surface protecting it from the elements it's there deep in the pores of you gel-coat! If you need to do gel-coat repair in the future you'll have to sand away the silicone to get a solid bond.. Read this thread for more info: http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pviewall.tpl?uid=73269937819&sku=2006080193411.10&forumabr=as&fno=21 I subscribe to Practical Sailor and no longer put much weight in the comparisons because they very often look only at one factor like ease of use or price. When they test anchors they compare a 22lb Bruce against a 35lb size Spade & Delta and then say the Bruce does not hold as well???? If my memory serves me correctly I believe the article looking at waxes compared the Collinite "Liquid" wax not the paste& ther is a huge difference. Other good paste waxes are 3M and Tre-Wax but in 30+ years of working around and on boats I have yet to find one that beats Collinite #885..
I measure a wax by how it prevents the yellowing at the waterline which are mineral deposits made up of mostly metals suspended in the water. A coat of wax is the only thing that prevents the minerals from binding to the gel coat. On & Off will remove these stains because the acid eats the metals. I can get 8 months with NO staining at my waterline using two coats of Collinite #885 paste wax. Having worked on mega yachts growing up and as a detailer for antique cars I've learned one thing. Liquid waxes are not as good as a paste nor as hard. Another thing you don't want is a cheater wax that contains lots of silicone. Silicone is imprevious to just about everything and soaks deep into the gel coat. Even though it may not be on the surface protecting it from the elements it's there deep in the pores of you gel-coat! If you need to do gel-coat repair in the future you'll have to sand away the silicone to get a solid bond.. Read this thread for more info: http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pviewall.tpl?uid=73269937819&sku=2006080193411.10&forumabr=as&fno=21 I subscribe to Practical Sailor and no longer put much weight in the comparisons because they very often look only at one factor like ease of use or price. When they test anchors they compare a 22lb Bruce against a 35lb size Spade & Delta and then say the Bruce does not hold as well???? If my memory serves me correctly I believe the article looking at waxes compared the Collinite "Liquid" wax not the paste& ther is a huge difference. Other good paste waxes are 3M and Tre-Wax but in 30+ years of working around and on boats I have yet to find one that beats Collinite #885..
Wax/Polish
The Spring 2006 edition of Boat Works did a test of eight waxes and polishes and liked West Marine One Step Fiberglass Cleaner Wax the best. They said "it provided an incredibly high gloss finish," and was "easy to apply." Can't verify this, I have not used it.
The Spring 2006 edition of Boat Works did a test of eight waxes and polishes and liked West Marine One Step Fiberglass Cleaner Wax the best. They said "it provided an incredibly high gloss finish," and was "easy to apply." Can't verify this, I have not used it.
Collinite
I judge a wax by how many months pass before it stops beading water. I wash my boat often, probably once a week. Collinite paste fleetwax still beads water 6 months or longer. I also subscribe to Practical Sailor, and they rated it tops for years in their long-term tests. And Treewax paste was 2nd. I used many waxes before I went to Collinite. I have never used a cleaner wax that lasts much over a month or two. I do use cleaner wax for cleaning, but cover it with Collinite for durability.
I judge a wax by how many months pass before it stops beading water. I wash my boat often, probably once a week. Collinite paste fleetwax still beads water 6 months or longer. I also subscribe to Practical Sailor, and they rated it tops for years in their long-term tests. And Treewax paste was 2nd. I used many waxes before I went to Collinite. I have never used a cleaner wax that lasts much over a month or two. I do use cleaner wax for cleaning, but cover it with Collinite for durability.
Wax
I put a coat of West Marine Carnauba Paste Wax on the boat last May. It still beads in the rain and looks good after being outside in the lake for almost a year. It was easy to put on and remove.
I put a coat of West Marine Carnauba Paste Wax on the boat last May. It still beads in the rain and looks good after being outside in the lake for almost a year. It was easy to put on and remove.
Practical Sailor Select their favorites...
... and just test them over and over again. Nice to hear that Collinite (that lasts 6 months.... IG system lasts up to THREE YEARS!) is highly rated. Mr. Nouse of Practical Sailor (after much getting up in the middle of the night to call) said that they are under no oblgation to test our products they have not looked at our videos and have lost the samples I sent and that anyway, IG is probably just "another wipe on plastic that peels off" ...and then people get mad with their magazine etc" He says that he only uses wax on his boat and has used it for years..... The other Editor (Don Dickerson) was much more polite and said that they do not plan any more gelcoat- type tests for some time but said that me might be interested in the metal polish tests (the one product we don't have!). I suggested that they should video all their tests, have on website etc....(like we do here).. SO! We are going to have our own "shoot out" at next week's sailboat show in Oakland CA Bring poliglow! I will bring non-wax floor polish, various other products and Collinite (which I do agree is the best of the paste waxes but a PAIN to apply and buff out). I will have lots of different products there including new IG Elixir™ (released next week and available through this site the week after). We will video the results and also have people coming in by video link with their input. See you there!
... and just test them over and over again. Nice to hear that Collinite (that lasts 6 months.... IG system lasts up to THREE YEARS!) is highly rated. Mr. Nouse of Practical Sailor (after much getting up in the middle of the night to call) said that they are under no oblgation to test our products they have not looked at our videos and have lost the samples I sent and that anyway, IG is probably just "another wipe on plastic that peels off" ...and then people get mad with their magazine etc" He says that he only uses wax on his boat and has used it for years..... The other Editor (Don Dickerson) was much more polite and said that they do not plan any more gelcoat- type tests for some time but said that me might be interested in the metal polish tests (the one product we don't have!). I suggested that they should video all their tests, have on website etc....(like we do here).. SO! We are going to have our own "shoot out" at next week's sailboat show in Oakland CA Bring poliglow! I will bring non-wax floor polish, various other products and Collinite (which I do agree is the best of the paste waxes but a PAIN to apply and buff out). I will have lots of different products there including new IG Elixir™ (released next week and available through this site the week after). We will video the results and also have people coming in by video link with their input. See you there!
Jim can you explain more...
about this miracle IG product or give us a link? My Ginsu Knives are still sharp!
about this miracle IG product or give us a link? My Ginsu Knives are still sharp!
IG = Island Girl
I am pretty sure he means Island Girl when he says IG... When I ordered my Island Girl Kit for my boat they gave me a sample of the elixer and the guy told me it wasn't out yet. -- Jeremy
I am pretty sure he means Island Girl when he says IG... When I ordered my Island Girl Kit for my boat they gave me a sample of the elixer and the guy told me it wasn't out yet. -- Jeremy
Starbrite Marine Polish with Teflon
We've used Starbrite Polish for seven years now... Practical Sailor used it in their test of boat waxes in 2004. The caveat here is you DO have to wax the vessel twice for good results. Goes on easily/buffs off easily. Not too abrasive on the gelcoat either and removes chalk brilliantly! Still beads well at season end, too!
We've used Starbrite Polish for seven years now... Practical Sailor used it in their test of boat waxes in 2004. The caveat here is you DO have to wax the vessel twice for good results. Goes on easily/buffs off easily. Not too abrasive on the gelcoat either and removes chalk brilliantly! Still beads well at season end, too!
3M Cleaner/Wax
I just waxed my boat with this yesterday. I was quite pleased with the results! It took off ALL the oxidazation and left me with a great shine! We will see how long it lasts... also it was easy to work with. Sincerely, Brian
I just waxed my boat with this yesterday. I was quite pleased with the results! It took off ALL the oxidazation and left me with a great shine! We will see how long it lasts... also it was easy to work with. Sincerely, Brian
My yard used 3M
My yard used 3M polish/wax on my boat last season and the hull looked positively new -- for all of three weeks. Follow PS's advice; Collinite Feleetwax paste wax is simply the best.
My yard used 3M polish/wax on my boat last season and the hull looked positively new -- for all of three weeks. Follow PS's advice; Collinite Feleetwax paste wax is simply the best.
Just this past weekend...
The guy across from me was waxing his '83 Oday with 3M and I was totally impressed with the look before and after! The stuff is expensive though (at $30.00/bottle and he went through 2 bottles for a 32 foot boat). I use McGuier's(?)...1.) because my boat is only 1 year old, and 2.) because I can do it all by hand in about 2 hours....
The guy across from me was waxing his '83 Oday with 3M and I was totally impressed with the look before and after! The stuff is expensive though (at $30.00/bottle and he went through 2 bottles for a 32 foot boat). I use McGuier's(?)...1.) because my boat is only 1 year old, and 2.) because I can do it all by hand in about 2 hours....
Thumbs down on Island Girl!!!
I spent way too much on that Island Girl rip off last year. I have never been so disappointed. It looked great, until we splashed the boat. After that the fiberglass went right back to looking chalky. And forget about the claims of how easy to clean! We had some diesel smoke on the transom after the first time we ran it. IG did not make clean up any easier. I am going with Meguires this year and I told everybody I could in our Marina that IG does not perform.
I spent way too much on that Island Girl rip off last year. I have never been so disappointed. It looked great, until we splashed the boat. After that the fiberglass went right back to looking chalky. And forget about the claims of how easy to clean! We had some diesel smoke on the transom after the first time we ran it. IG did not make clean up any easier. I am going with Meguires this year and I told everybody I could in our Marina that IG does not perform.
McGuires 50
I have used McGuires for years and have been happy with it. It seems to protect very well. My last boat was 30 years old with original gel coat and looked pretty good when I sold her last season.
I have used McGuires for years and have been happy with it. It seems to protect very well. My last boat was 30 years old with original gel coat and looked pretty good when I sold her last season.
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