Best UV barrier on the market?

bennylava

New member
So out of the millions of products out there, which one offers the very best UV barrier? I`m referring to ones that you would just wipe onto plastics. NOT a wax for a car`s paint job. I`m looking for something that I can use on my pontoon boat. I have to fight back against the sun with this thing. I need something I can put on all the plastic and rubber parts that are exposed to the Texas sun.
 
The one that lasts the longest for me is CarPro DLux. I like to use Solution Finish under it to darken washed out black trim before DLux.
 
Thanks for the reply! I`ll look into that one now. Anyone else have any others they might recommend for a boat exterior? Need something that I can apply from time to time, to help block those destructive UV rays.
 
I know 303 is a big contender here. But given the nature of this forum, I thought it would be down to a hard science by now lol. Something like 2 or 3 top products that are just known to be the very best. For now at least..
 
I would go with Aerospace 303 Protectant. It`s relatively inexpensive and easy to find over-the-counter at most boating or RV supply places. Just make sure the plastic/vinyl is clean before you apply it. Aerospace even makes a vinyl cleaner for that purpose. I use Meg`s Detailer Line D101 All-Purpose Cleaner (the green stuff) as a plastic pre-cleaner.
One thing about 303 is that, depending on where you live and how much sun-and-heat the plastic will be exposed to, it may require a more frequent re-application of the protectant than some of the coatings mentioned above to offer the UV protection, as it does gas-off (evaporate) in the heat over time. I would guess an every-other-week application may be in order if you use the boat a lot. One other suggestion is to use a cotton-cloth (like a flour sack cloth) to wipe off and buff excess protectant applied. Using a microfiber cloth for wipe-offs tends to be too absorbent and will remove too much of the just applied protectant, causing blotches and streaks on the plastic/vinyl. You can let the protectant sit for a 3-5 minutes, but I do not like to let it sit too long, or evaporate on its own in the heat, again causing blotches or streaks.

Edit: I see the OP wants some thing for EXTERIOR trim. My suggestions are more for interior trim. I`ve used Meg`s consumer-line Ultimate Black trim Restorer for exterior soft plastic/vinyl trim, but that`s an automotive-based application.

Meguair`s makes a marine-specific vinyl and rubber treatment M57 that may apply to meet your specific requirements.

Lastly, check out McKees 37 RV product line. While not marine specific, I am sure that some of their rubber and plastic care products may also cross-over for your application.
 
I use OCW on any exterior plastics/rubber/etc. that I consider especially vulnerable to UV, though I kinda prefer the look that Meguiar`s UQW imparts...just not convinced that the latter has the same UV protection (though I have no real evidence to support that).

When I got some of my vehicles the exterior trim/seals/lenses/etc. were utterly oxidized to the point of white and flaky. They came back fine with a little work and the black trim/seals turned out nice and black again without needing to employ a repigmenting/dye product (I have the ValuGard Exterior Trim Restoration Kit but never needed it for that after all) . More importantly, they`ve stayed that way with just the spraywaxing after every (infrequent) wash.
 
Duragloss, which has been making fantastic products for years, has a marine specific product: 531. Google Duragloss 531. EVERY order from them comes with a standard $5 shipping cost. They have some amazing products if you`re not familiar with their line.
 
Ah ok - So maybe I could use it on the pontoon`s "fence". Although, don`t most waxes contain a UV inhibitor? Or is that one just known to contain a very good and longer lasting UV inhibitor?
 
not sure which is best UV product...but I do know for ceramic coatigs..Pearl nano HD works for years on single stage paint and headlights

also know with no refresh/maintenance sprays....Polish Angel viking coat keeps a single stage blue from reoxidizing about 10 months out of the claimed year
 
On the facebook group people are reporting a couple years of good looking hard black trim using a product called penatrol from home depot. You could call them and ask if it blocks UV.
 
So to be clear, some of you are saying that Aerospace 303, doesn`t really stand up to being outdoors? Mainly, it gets washed off by rain?
 
So to be clear, some of you are saying that Aerospace 303, doesn`t really stand up to being outdoors? Mainly, it gets washed off by rain?

I wouldn`t use it for exterior protection if looking for durability. Didn`t last long on the hot tub cover. Doesn`t last long on tires either.
 
Which offers the best UV protection?

The one that can prove it. So far, no company has shown any, yet people eat up this UV protection garbage. #fakenews
 
Eh, pick something that oxidizes readily, e.g. there are a few seals on the Audis that do it *fast* under sunlight, and see if anything beats whatever you`re using now. E.g., on those Audi bits, they hold up better if I use OCW on them than they did with FastFinish (which displeases me as I prefer some things about the FastFinish).
 
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