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Depends on what you are looking for.
Ozana: I think that it depends on what you are looking for. If you just a looking for a shine the Poly Glow may be your ticket. If you are looking to recondition you gelcoat or to protect new gelcoat then you need to look at IG. IG products are great for new gelcoat. If you have a boat that is not oxidized then they have a product that everyone should be using so your gelcoat does not break down. If you have gelcoat that is just oxidized but you want to bring back the life then you need to use one of the cleaning and conditioning systems. If it were me, I would always use the IG system first. The worst case is that you gel coat is cleaned and you can always use the Poly Glow over it without much ado. If you use Poly Glow and you do not like the results there is a lot more work in trying to get it off the boat. You are going to hear wonderful stories about Poly Glow but regardless you have to get the oxidation off the boat. The Poly Glow is a acrylic finish similar to floor wax.
Ozana: I think that it depends on what you are looking for. If you just a looking for a shine the Poly Glow may be your ticket. If you are looking to recondition you gelcoat or to protect new gelcoat then you need to look at IG. IG products are great for new gelcoat. If you have a boat that is not oxidized then they have a product that everyone should be using so your gelcoat does not break down. If you have gelcoat that is just oxidized but you want to bring back the life then you need to use one of the cleaning and conditioning systems. If it were me, I would always use the IG system first. The worst case is that you gel coat is cleaned and you can always use the Poly Glow over it without much ado. If you use Poly Glow and you do not like the results there is a lot more work in trying to get it off the boat. You are going to hear wonderful stories about Poly Glow but regardless you have to get the oxidation off the boat. The Poly Glow is a acrylic finish similar to floor wax.
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Brett Beach
Poli Glow user
Our boat had Poli Glow on it when we purchased it in the spring of last year. It is on both the hull and deck (but not the non-skid). I did not redo it last year or this year and would assume the previous owner did not coat it in the fall. So the hull probably has at least two full years and is still looking good. It is wearing away a little where the fenders rub. The deck now needs to be recoated as it is wearing off at the turn of the cabin top. I just removed the Poli Glow this weekend on the transom to apply a new name. It removed easily with the cleaner/remover that Poli Glow sells. The remover also removed all other stains that were there including tree seed marks. Some one commented that it was the cleanest transom they have seen. I have not yet recoated the transom so I cannot comment on application yet. I was going to remove it all and go to buffing and waxing that I know all too well, but I've have changed my mind. I do not plan on coating every year, but rather only when it starts to wear through. I think that this may prevent buildup. So if it looks good I will leave it. I do cover the boat to the waterline during the winter, which up here is at least 1/2 the year. I adopted the choice of Poli Glow so I cannot comment on IG. All I can say is that I get compliments on the condition of the boat, and from what I can tell so far the maintenance will be less then the constant struggle with buffing and waxing which never gave a good shine from more than one summer. Now about backing the 31 into the slip with a cross wind.....I don't want to talk about that.
Our boat had Poli Glow on it when we purchased it in the spring of last year. It is on both the hull and deck (but not the non-skid). I did not redo it last year or this year and would assume the previous owner did not coat it in the fall. So the hull probably has at least two full years and is still looking good. It is wearing away a little where the fenders rub. The deck now needs to be recoated as it is wearing off at the turn of the cabin top. I just removed the Poli Glow this weekend on the transom to apply a new name. It removed easily with the cleaner/remover that Poli Glow sells. The remover also removed all other stains that were there including tree seed marks. Some one commented that it was the cleanest transom they have seen. I have not yet recoated the transom so I cannot comment on application yet. I was going to remove it all and go to buffing and waxing that I know all too well, but I've have changed my mind. I do not plan on coating every year, but rather only when it starts to wear through. I think that this may prevent buildup. So if it looks good I will leave it. I do cover the boat to the waterline during the winter, which up here is at least 1/2 the year. I adopted the choice of Poli Glow so I cannot comment on IG. All I can say is that I get compliments on the condition of the boat, and from what I can tell so far the maintenance will be less then the constant struggle with buffing and waxing which never gave a good shine from more than one summer. Now about backing the 31 into the slip with a cross wind.....I don't want to talk about that.
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paul foster
fibreglass refurbishment
There is a very good review and test of Acrylic type products in PRACTICAL SAILOR JULY 1997.It tested about 8 of these products and Poliglow and Newglass came out as the top two.
There is a very good review and test of Acrylic type products in PRACTICAL SAILOR JULY 1997.It tested about 8 of these products and Poliglow and Newglass came out as the top two.
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Brent
Poly Glow is Goooooood
I just recently used Polyglow on the transom and cockpit of my Hunter 335. I am very pleased with the results. The key to a new boat look is to make sure the surface is very clean and free of any stains and dirt. I have had several comments when I tie up to the floating dock to pick up passengers. I plan to use Polyglow over the entire boat...it's just a lot of surface area to cover, so take your time if you have a big boat. Enjoy, Cap'n Brent S/V Elena Lua 1990 Hunter 335
I just recently used Polyglow on the transom and cockpit of my Hunter 335. I am very pleased with the results. The key to a new boat look is to make sure the surface is very clean and free of any stains and dirt. I have had several comments when I tie up to the floating dock to pick up passengers. I plan to use Polyglow over the entire boat...it's just a lot of surface area to cover, so take your time if you have a big boat. Enjoy, Cap'n Brent S/V Elena Lua 1990 Hunter 335
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Ken Palmer
Poly Glow for me.
This is my second season using Poly Glow on the hull and cabin of my 1981 H33. The results are outstanding. I had more fellow boaters stop by in the yard this spring asking what I was using to get such a shine. This stuff always looks wet! I would be rich if I was selling it. Most people that talked with me had never heard of it. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
This is my second season using Poly Glow on the hull and cabin of my 1981 H33. The results are outstanding. I had more fellow boaters stop by in the yard this spring asking what I was using to get such a shine. This stuff always looks wet! I would be rich if I was selling it. Most people that talked with me had never heard of it. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
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Greg
So far, I'm an Island Girl fan
I've got to be one of the biggest skeptics alive. I had a hard time believing that a small company can out R&D a company like 3M, and I also have grown up thinking that a good-looking car or boat comes with serious waxing effort only. I've used Island Girl Mirror Hard Superglaze on several areas of my boat - cockpit, cabin top, toe rails, and it looks outstanding. Better yet, I just wiped it on with a paper towel. Beads water well, shines great. I've proven it to myself that it can look that good without dragging out the paste wax and orbital buffer. So, this weekend I plan to start on the hull.
I've got to be one of the biggest skeptics alive. I had a hard time believing that a small company can out R&D a company like 3M, and I also have grown up thinking that a good-looking car or boat comes with serious waxing effort only. I've used Island Girl Mirror Hard Superglaze on several areas of my boat - cockpit, cabin top, toe rails, and it looks outstanding. Better yet, I just wiped it on with a paper towel. Beads water well, shines great. I've proven it to myself that it can look that good without dragging out the paste wax and orbital buffer. So, this weekend I plan to start on the hull.
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Bob Greenfield
Poli-Glo
A person asked if we re-painted the hull. I said no, and showed him the poli-glo. I am never going to wax again.
A person asked if we re-painted the hull. I said no, and showed him the poli-glo. I am never going to wax again.
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Joe Dickson
Another Poli-Glow Vote...
I applied Poli-Glow over a year ago and it still looks great. We have had many comments from others on our pier and in our marina. Folks ask how old the boat is and what I have done to it to get that shine. It looks wet all the time, and the non-skid is not slippery. The key to Poli-Glow is getting the boat CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN before applying. Any dirt or stains that are on the glass before applying the finish will be sealed in. The cleaner/stripper also works great. I have not used Island Girl products, so I can't comment on their ease of use or effectiveness. I tried Poli-Glow first and it has worked so well I've simply stuck with it...
I applied Poli-Glow over a year ago and it still looks great. We have had many comments from others on our pier and in our marina. Folks ask how old the boat is and what I have done to it to get that shine. It looks wet all the time, and the non-skid is not slippery. The key to Poli-Glow is getting the boat CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN before applying. Any dirt or stains that are on the glass before applying the finish will be sealed in. The cleaner/stripper also works great. I have not used Island Girl products, so I can't comment on their ease of use or effectiveness. I tried Poli-Glow first and it has worked so well I've simply stuck with it...
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Greg Jones
Happy with IG
Ozana, I used Island Girl for the first time this season. I did the complete system from cleansing thru scuffing, sealing and then 2 coats of the liquid wax. My 18 y.o. O'Day 26 came out beautifully. Oxidation is gone colors are bright white and blue and the shine is great. The non-skid sealer was also a great product. One month later I rinsed off the salt spray from the hull with a spritzer bottle mix of IG pink and fresh water - the shine came back with no effort. very pleased with the system would recommend it highly. I've not used Poli Glow so can't comment on its effectiveness. Greg Jones
Ozana, I used Island Girl for the first time this season. I did the complete system from cleansing thru scuffing, sealing and then 2 coats of the liquid wax. My 18 y.o. O'Day 26 came out beautifully. Oxidation is gone colors are bright white and blue and the shine is great. The non-skid sealer was also a great product. One month later I rinsed off the salt spray from the hull with a spritzer bottle mix of IG pink and fresh water - the shine came back with no effort. very pleased with the system would recommend it highly. I've not used Poli Glow so can't comment on its effectiveness. Greg Jones
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Doug T.
Testing 123
Our recently purchased old boat hasn't see any wax for many, many, many years. The oxidation is so bad it almost feels like sandpaper. I just ordered the Poli Glow kit. Will test the weekend of the 8th/9th. Stay tuned!
Our recently purchased old boat hasn't see any wax for many, many, many years. The oxidation is so bad it almost feels like sandpaper. I just ordered the Poli Glow kit. Will test the weekend of the 8th/9th. Stay tuned!
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Dennis Thomas
Trying Island Girl now
After years of waxing and buffing, I tried an acrylic product from Starbrite. The boat is an 83 Catalina and is beginning to be pretty weathered. It looked good for the first six months. It beaded water and was shiny if not totally “wet” looking. However, over the winter it began to discolor and come off in small flaks. I removed the old coating and am now in the middle of experimenting with Island Girl. The big advantage I see with the IG system is the conditioning of the gel coat before the final sealing finish. Steve Dion mentioned this in the first posting. I have only worked in my cockpit area as a trial but I am very impressed. First, you apply the Sea Glow “lotion/cleaner” to the white surface and as you clean and apply more coats it really begins to glow. This stuff has a UV activated ingredient that doesn’t just clean it really brightens. My old gel coat really soaked it up. Newer boats will take a lot less of the product. You can feel the difference as the lotion finally fills the porosity from years of weathering. Next, you apply a sealer to keep that stuff in the gel coat (just spritz it on and spread with a paper towel). Then apply the hard shiny wax finish. This stage may be similar to Poli Glow and you might even use Poli Glow at this stage instead of IG. I don’t know. However, I see the real improvement in the conditioning stages not in the final coat. I’ll see how it holds up.
After years of waxing and buffing, I tried an acrylic product from Starbrite. The boat is an 83 Catalina and is beginning to be pretty weathered. It looked good for the first six months. It beaded water and was shiny if not totally “wet” looking. However, over the winter it began to discolor and come off in small flaks. I removed the old coating and am now in the middle of experimenting with Island Girl. The big advantage I see with the IG system is the conditioning of the gel coat before the final sealing finish. Steve Dion mentioned this in the first posting. I have only worked in my cockpit area as a trial but I am very impressed. First, you apply the Sea Glow “lotion/cleaner” to the white surface and as you clean and apply more coats it really begins to glow. This stuff has a UV activated ingredient that doesn’t just clean it really brightens. My old gel coat really soaked it up. Newer boats will take a lot less of the product. You can feel the difference as the lotion finally fills the porosity from years of weathering. Next, you apply a sealer to keep that stuff in the gel coat (just spritz it on and spread with a paper towel). Then apply the hard shiny wax finish. This stage may be similar to Poli Glow and you might even use Poli Glow at this stage instead of IG. I don’t know. However, I see the real improvement in the conditioning stages not in the final coat. I’ll see how it holds up.
THANK YOU Dennis.
Dennis: Thank you for making my point. The IG products are actually restoring the finish. At that point it really does not make a big difference what you put on the Gel Coat. The IG products clean the gelcoat and then fill the pores to prevent further degradation of finish and keep it from collecting dirt. Then they also protect the finish too. These other products are NOT conditioning the Gel Coat. But they do make it shine. The acrylic finishes are also not suitable for new boats. Owners of new boats should also be using the IG products so they don't have to worry about doing this years from now.
Dennis: Thank you for making my point. The IG products are actually restoring the finish. At that point it really does not make a big difference what you put on the Gel Coat. The IG products clean the gelcoat and then fill the pores to prevent further degradation of finish and keep it from collecting dirt. Then they also protect the finish too. These other products are NOT conditioning the Gel Coat. But they do make it shine. The acrylic finishes are also not suitable for new boats. Owners of new boats should also be using the IG products so they don't have to worry about doing this years from now.
poli glow 4 me
Last year I tried both products, when I got the ig there was a mix up in shipping and Jim was great when he found out and sent me some product for free to make up for the mistake, having said that , I was at that time short on patience and time and may not have read as much as I should have in terms of what to put on when , but with the poli glow , it was simple and looks great and lasts, so goodby mcguiars , hello poli glow, If I had a new boat I might go with the ig, one thing about the poli glow , I had to replace the top blue stripe as a result of a meeting in a race and the poli glow does yellow some , there was a pretty big difference just in one year comparing the whiteness of the gel coat under the stripe and like I said it was done last year, hope th is helps some one ,regards Mike Bacome
Last year I tried both products, when I got the ig there was a mix up in shipping and Jim was great when he found out and sent me some product for free to make up for the mistake, having said that , I was at that time short on patience and time and may not have read as much as I should have in terms of what to put on when , but with the poli glow , it was simple and looks great and lasts, so goodby mcguiars , hello poli glow, If I had a new boat I might go with the ig, one thing about the poli glow , I had to replace the top blue stripe as a result of a meeting in a race and the poli glow does yellow some , there was a pretty big difference just in one year comparing the whiteness of the gel coat under the stripe and like I said it was done last year, hope th is helps some one ,regards Mike Bacome
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