Let me hear your techniques for hull maintenance

[eff1fitty]

Just picked up my boat from storage and looking to do a heavy cleanup on it in the next weeks. Wanted to get your opinions on what type of waxes and cleaners you use as well as how you use them on your fiberglass. Do you use buffers or just plain ole elbow grease? This is my first start of the season with this boat and want to get the most out of my preparation by using the best products on it.

[HS]

I use my checkbook, ha ha. Just kidding. Is there much oxidation to lift?

[eff1fitty]

No oxidation on the glass. Just want to put the correct amount of wax on it to prevent having problems with the brown ring which is common on my lake for a day on the water.

[HS]

There is talk that bow to stern (BTS) resists the brown ring better than 303, bit I haven't used BTS.

A good coat of wax is where I start, then wipe down after every use and spray 303 or 3M "clean n shine".

[Davidpsalt]

I use Collinite Fleet Was No. 885 - best I've ever used.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...e+Fleetwax+885

[s_kelley2000]

+1 on the Collinite Fleet Wax. I like to apply my wax by hand with some nice detailing towels. If you want to bring back some gloss on your boat you may want to use a rotary buffer and hit it with some polish or a maybe a fine compound and then polish before you wax. If your boat still looks new then some wax should be all you need. If you compound and polish be careful on the pinstripes and graphics as you can burn those up if you are not careful.

I have never used Bow To Stern but I have heard good things. I started using Babe's Boat Bright spray on wax last year and I was quite pleased with the results.

[swc5150]

Collinite, MaG's Flagship, 3M are all in my arsenol. All are great products. 303 for the interior.

[nyryan2001]

I just bought one of these and tried it out..... VERY impressed. its about 50$, and attaches to a regular or cordless drill.

I have tried the orbital polishers, the angle ones... all of them. actually never had good results with any of them and was always worried about doing damage vs detailing.

I can tell you this is the first time I have been able to achieve professional results.... this thing works great. If you have light oxidation, scratches, and swirls.... look at the Boat Candy Products... and look sspecifically at the Crystal Cut Optical Polish (2/10 abrasive wise, still very gentle) and then follow the wax of your choice, I use the Boat Candy Gloss Polymer Wax. I reccomend their Speed Gloss during wipe downs at the ramps for water spots hands down over Hot Sauce. I buffed out the front of my Tundra with the Optical Polish from all the scracthes and water spots and it looks new.

They have a Cyrstal Compound that is 6/10 abrasive wise.... thats for if you have strong visibile oxidation, scratches and such. They have a video on their home page of exactly how to use the buffer and wax, how to apply and buff...

[s_kelley2000]

Haha I saw an Ad for the Meguairs DA attachment while thumbing through Motor Trend last night and I was wondering how well it worked and what it went for. I have always gotten good results with a rotary buffer but have been wanting to try a DA.

[Bigdogsuperair]

Regularly put Mag's flagship whenever I head to Norris for a week......seems to help but there is something in that crystal blue water that loves to stain the hull. Also spider wax vinyl really keeps the seats clean at the dock.

[swankster]

Bow to Stern on fiberglass is like Rain-x on glass. You pull it out of the lake and everything wipes off easy.

[boo]

I called Meguiar's and asked them what the difference is between their Marine wax and Car wax. The Marine wax is more aggressive. If your fiberglass is in great shape, as mine is, use Meguire's car wax NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 liquid. I've been using it on my 2002 for 3 years. It has the best durability for water repellency and it removes the brown from the hull. I apply it by hand with a clean rag and remove it by hand using towels. You will not believe how white your hull will become.

[DLafont]

I use 3M Clean and wax, rub it on with a detailing towel and buff with a ball-sponge gizmo attached to a cordless drill. Shiny, shiny, shiny.