Boat Wax

**Addicted2Bling** · 02-19-2012, 06:24 PM

I have a boat coming up in a couple of weeks that is lightly oxidized. And the owner wants his boat to look like a diamond! Compound, Wax, metal polish, the whole nine yards done to his boat. The owner was telling me that his old detailer used to compound it before waxing which is probably what I`m going to end up doing, but the boat wax I have is Meguires Cleaner wax. I don`t mind using the cleaner wax, but I don`t think a cleaner wax does as good of a job as straight carnauba... My question is can I get by with using auto wax on a boat? or do I need to go out and get some wax that is designed to be used on gel coat?

**RTexasF** · 02-19-2012, 06:41 PM

Ultima Paint Guard Plus will save you a ton of time and produce superior results/durability.

**erobertson** · 02-19-2012, 06:57 PM

Some auto waxes will "get by" but in the long run better off getting a dedicated marine wax. They all look good dry but the marine environment will often cloud a wax better suited for land vehicles. You`ll really see the difference after pulling the boat out. There are several Marine AIO`s that are great. 3M has a couple that leaves a great shine, has good cleaning ability and not very expensive. I`ve used their entire marine line in fresh and salt water and was never disappointed.

**Old Pirate** · 02-19-2012, 07:21 PM

Gel Coat Labs products are made for all gel coat boats and work awesome in the correction and protection of them.

**glen e** · 02-19-2012, 09:59 PM

x2 on the ultima once the surface is pristine gloss

a great combination is duragloss 561 with orange pad/then 501 and then 105 if you want....

The only place I have not seen car products work is in initial rough gelcoat polishing - once the surface is in good shape - car stuff works fine. I`ve been doing boats boats 25 years...

see here:
http://www.autopiaforums.com/forums/...over-pics.html

**phoenixs1234** · 02-19-2012, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by glen e

x2 on the ultima once the surface is pristine gloss

a great combination is duragloss 561 with orange pad/then 501 and then 105 if you want....

The only place I have not seen car products work is in initial rough gelcoat polishing - once the surface is in good shape - car stuff works fine. I`ve been doing boats boats 25 years...

see here:
http://www.autopiaforums.com/forums/...over-pics.html

Do you use the 601 with the 501 and 105 on tbe boat like it is used on cars?

**glen e** · 02-19-2012, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by phoenixs1234

Do you use the 601 with the 501 and 105 on tbe boat like it is used on cars?

see my post - no mixing...

gelcoat is so much harder and thicker than paint, you don`t have to be delicate...
561-wool/flex
then 501 - foam/GG6 or flex
then ultima - hand

**Addicted2Bling** · 02-19-2012, 11:20 PM

Glen that boat looked amazing. Is there a good AIO that you can reccomend? For the price I`m charging this guy, I can`t do anymore than 2 passes with a rotary, and I`ve pretty much decided that I`m going to use 561 followed by an AIO. I just have 1 question. Do you think I even need to use 561 or can I use the 501 polish to take out the oxidation? I only have 2 passes with a rotary, and it`s either going to be A.compound followed by an AIO or B. polish followed by a wax or sealant...

**glen e** · 02-19-2012, 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by Addicted2Bling

Glen that boat looked amazing. Is there a good AIO that you can reccomend? For the price I`m charging this guy, I can`t do anymore than 2 passes with a rotary, and I`ve pretty much decided that I`m going to use 561 followed by an AIO. I just have 1 question. Do you think I even need to use 561 or can I use the 501 polish to take out the oxidation? I only have 2 passes with a rotary, and it`s either going to be A.compound followed by an AIO or B. polish followed by a wax or sealant...

it really depends on the oxidation - if you have a little, meaning you have some gloss, I think the 501 will do it as it is pad dependant. , then any AIO with foam you like.