Suggestions on Boat waxing and detailing

[YANKEES5]

First Boat - Looking on suggestions for keeping the shine.

What kind of wax do you use ?

What about spray on quick wax detailer ?

Do you need to use a buffing machine or will a little elbow work be good enough?

How often should this be done ?

My boat is red and I have been told it will need a little extra loving to keep the shine for years to come

 

[BigN8]

Maguire's Flag Ship boat wax is one of the most recommended. Wipe on with a damp cloth or applicator sponge and rub off with a towel. I tried the buffer. Not really a benefit in my mind.

 

[mattschepker]

I use Meguiars flagship wax . I use the application pad and a towel . I have a blue boat 5 years old and it looks brand new . When I pull it out of water I use hot sauce to wipe it down and it keeps the shine. For the first 3 years I paid a company to wash and wax my boat. This year I did it myself and loved every minute of it including all the money I saved.
This picture is from about 2 months ago. I put the boat away dirty last year because the weather did not cooperate. All I did was wash it with hot sauce and it didn't have a coat of wax yet.

 

[RightStuff]

I do a good wash/wax once a year using Meguiar's stuff (gel wash and boat wax, polish step if needed). Every couple of times I during the season I use Hot Sauce . Also every time she leaves the water she gets toweled off before leaving the ramp's parking lot to remove any possibility of water spots since I have a black hull. I think that last thing keeps it looking the best to be honest.

Doing that stuff does the trick for keeping the boat looking good for me, I'm sure you could spend a lot more time doing stuff but I do the most I have time for.

 

[Scuba_ref]

Same for me, I use Meguiar's wax (sometimes also the polish as a first step) at the beginning of the year. Then after every outing she gets wiped down at the ramp with Mequiar's spray wash and wax. I use the shine off the black hull to shave with every morning!

 

[njmr2fan]

This is a combo that I've used so successfully on boat detailing that it's worked it's way onto my (and others) cars.
1. Wash with dawn dish detergent to remove all wax.
2. Wipe with Isopropyl alcohol
3. Polish with a dual action or "random orbital" polisher set to speed 4-5 with Duragloss 501. Polish out the oxidation wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.
4. Apply Duragloss 105 polish over the top at a speed of 3. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.
I then go the extra yard by applying Colinite845 insulating wax. On the boat it wears off after 3 months. On my vehicles I easily get 12 with beading comparable to only the best nano sealants like CQuartz.

 

[Wayloncle]

 

[d_coyne1984]

Meguiar's Flaship wax with the WEN 6018 DA Polisher, once at the begining of the season and again half way through. I try to always wipe it down with Meguiar's Rinse Free Wash'n Wax after each outing. Takes 10 min on the trailer or about 20 on the lift. It look brand new every time it hits the water. Very happy with the results. I also have to recommend the 303 fabric guard once a season on the mooring cover. Great stuff!

 

[Shannon]

I use Mothers Marine Synthetic Wax ($9.00) on my black boat and it really makes it shine. As for a quick wax I use Boat Bling quickie Sauce. The Hot Sauce is also a must and I use it to wipe the boat down as soon as I pull it out of the lake. The thing I like most about the mothers wax is that it leaves no white residue at all. The stuff wipes off very easy and goes on just as easy. Best of luck!

 

[swatski]

I use Mothers Marine Synthetic Wax ($9.00) on my black boat and it really makes it shine. As for a quick wax I use Boat Bling quickie Sauce. The Hot Sauce is also a must and I use it to wipe the boat down as soon as I pull it out of the lake. The thing I like most about the mothers wax is that it leaves no white residue at all. The stuff wipes off very easy and goes on just as easy. Best of luck!

@Shannon Is it paste or spray?

 

[Shannon]

@Shannon Is it paste or spray?

The mothers is a bottle,( like thick liquid) .. The Quickie Sauce and Hot Sauce is a 320z spray bottle.. Hope this helps.

 

[Shannon]

Here is the mothers.. I picked it up on Amazon a while back.

http://www.mothers.com/02_products/91556.html#&slider1=6

 

[pagekl]

Try Klasse All-In-One Polish. I use it on my truck and boat. Really good stuff made in Germany. Talk about shine. Google it.

 

[swatski]

Try Klasse All-In-One Polish. I use it on my truck and boat. Really good stuff made in Germany. Talk about shine. Google it.

@pagekl It sounds good. Do you find this to be true:
3. Shines not only car surface but also plastic trims and headlights.

 

[Shannon]

Try Klasse All-In-One Polish. I use it on my truck and boat. Really good stuff made in Germany. Talk about shine. Google it.

I have heard of this stuff. Looking at reviews I think I will give it a try. I have a 14 Audi s4 and it looks like a lot of people on the Audi forums are using this.Thanks @pagekl

 

[pagekl]

@pagekl It sounds good. Do you find this to be true:
3. Shines not only car surface but also plastic trims and headlights.

Absolutely, the headlights on my then 08 Tundra were a little foggy, I put some Klasse on and hit it with the DA polisher and as good as new. I've tried most of the waxes everyone is mentioning and to me Klasse stands apart. My boat is black and my old truck was white and let me tell you, it brought both back to a showroom shine. I am in no way affiliated with Klasse or in no way benefit from the sale, just passing along my experience with it. A little expensive, but worth it IMO.

 

[pagekl]

I have heard of this stuff. Looking at reviews I think I will give it a try. I have a 14 Audi s4 and it looks like a lot of people on the Audi forums are using this.Thanks @pagekl

@Shannon, you won't be sorry. I think you'll be happy with the results.

 

[McMark]

I've been using collinite. It has no cleaner in it at all, just carnauba. I do put it on with a 6" orbital waxer though. Towel off.

 

[BakedZiti]

Try Klasse All-In-One Polish. I use it on my truck and boat. Really good stuff made in Germany. Talk about shine. Google it.

This stuff rocks, always use it for my truck, lasts forever and the shine is awesome. And yes it works on plastics etc. Use sparingly, a little goes a long way and I suggest changing your pad out a couple times

 

[WickedPorter]

I used to use a product called Zaino - a Synthetic protection/polish for cars and boats. It's a lot of effort to polish a 24ft boat, especially when you also have a rather large SUV and car to maintain as well.

My boat sits in a covered slip all summer and covered storage in winter. I've noticed that no matter how much effort I put in to polishing the boat, it's always nullified after 2-3 outings.

My new hull maintenance routine is the following: Beginning of season: Polish any dull spots/scuffs with Makita orbital + medium foam pad + 3M Finesse-IT finishing compound, then follow up with generous application of Boat Bling Hot Sauce. After every other outing, clean with marine-safe soap/water + 100% cotton or microfiber wash mit, then Hot Sauce it.

After discovering Hot Sauce a couple of years ago, I use it on my cars and the boat now. It lasts just as long as the Zaino or any other "wax" (synthetic or natural) I've tried. Water beads off it, and it does seem to have some UV protection built in as well. Love the stuff and swear by it. I use nearly the exact same routine on my cars now. Hot Sauce + black vehicles (boat and SUV) is a gift from God.