Cleaning/polishing/waxing/ product recommendations

T

TugSully

Active member
Joined
Feb 1, 2018
Messages
31
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Vessel Name
TJs Mate
Hello all

Looking for recommendations for products to be used in keep my tug looking good on the exterior. The Admiral has claimed the interior, so I'll leave that to her.........except the bilges...

Waxes, rail polish, sun protection, hatch cleaning etc....any tips tricks, routines,

Thanks

Also any recommendations for a book of charts for Lake Michigan. Saw a Richardson book but was 6 years old so may not have been to current
TJsMate
 
After using many different products I have settled on the Collinite and 3M products. When needed 3M rubbing compound followed by 3M Finesse IT then Collinite fleet wax. Collinite Fiberglass Cleaner when compound isn't necessary followed by wax. Collinite Metal Wax is fantastic on the stainless bright work, I use a cotton glove and it makes the work easy and fast.
It all depends on the hull color and its exposure to the elements as to how long all your hard work will last.
 
I use Richardson's Chart books for all of the great lakes. For areas that I travel frequently I also tend to purchase the paper charts because sometimes they are at scales that are easier to plot a course on (yeah, I am old school and use parallel bars and a compass because I did it for so long that way before the GPS was available). You are correct that Richardson books are only updated every so often. I would check West Marine for the most current edition. My experience is that the buoys and other markings on the Great Lakes tend to be consistent from year to year so there is probably little for them to update and folks would not buy new editions more than every 6 or 8 years anyway.
 
Sully...
I agree with Brian....
I've tried a ton of products with my old SeaSport and my new 25SC... 3M cleaning/polishing products followed by Collonite wax.. The Collonite instructions say not to let the product dry and haze over. I know better! I've waxed enough cars, airplanes, and boats to know you let the wax dry to a haze and buff it clean! Wrong! That Collonite dries like duck snot on glass! My big electric buffer walked off the job. But if you do it right it looks/lasts the best.. 3M Marine paste wax is a close 2nd. For in between major waxings I'm starting to use SpeedBead by Stoner. I had a hard time finding it, but their customer service email dude sent me a case to try it out. So far it's easy and does a great job. They also make a great glass cleaner.
For water marked windows I tried everything and I found Nu-Glass Dura Gloss 755.. Found it at NAPA. Amazing stuff!
 
For the brass portholes and the rails, we really like the Prism polishing products. It seems to stay shiny longer.
 
Another tip I learned from a fellow RT owner is using TurtleWax Wax & Dry. After washing the hull and while it is still wet spray it on then wipe it dry. Leaves a nice shine and easy to use.
 
I started using this wax when we purchased the Cutwater. The blue hull requires a little more attention then a white hull. Marine 31 is carnauba wax with a sealant. It goes on easy, comes off easy. I apply the wax twice season.



I use this product in between waxes. It is a high gloss sealant spray. Spray a small amount on a rag and wipe it on the fiberglass it gives the boat a fresh wax wet look. It to is very easy to apply. I order it online thru Chemical Guys, Hybrid V7. I purchased a gallon and I still have enough for my 3rd season.


 
Like many of you, I have been searching for the best way to keep my blue hull looking new. I purchased my R27 last summer, while the boat was very well maintained, the blue hull had problems. I talked to several professionals in my area to gain their input. I finally decided on a product produced by Shurhold (shurhold.com). Buffmagic is a buffing compound that isn't as aggressive as a rubbing compound and Pro Polish is a polymer polish. One of the marinas here has been using these products for several years, with great results.
My boat is in heated storage this winter which in enabling me to work on the hull. So far I am impressed with the results and the ease of application. I sail the northern part of Lake Michigan so I definitely don't encounter the sort of abusive sun that you do in the south. My goal is to do a good cleaning prior to launching and only have to do a light touch up during the season.
 
We also have the blue hull, which was somewhat oxidized when we bought it last fall. Plus there were rub marks from having it wrapped and shipped.
I didn't have much time before it got too cold to wax, so I picked up some 3M products and an electric buffer from Canadian Tire. I did the first pass with 3M Marine Restorer and Wax and then another pass with 3M Marine Cleaner and Wax.
I was pretty happy with the results I got, considering it was my first go at waxing a fiberglass boat. It did a good job of taking off all but the worst of the rub marks and the oxidation. I'll be looking at other products too for next time; but for now I'll be interested to see how the 3M products hold up.
 
zekeandboone":3n9uj678 said:
Sully...
I agree with Brian....
I've tried a ton of products with my old SeaSport and my new 25SC... 3M cleaning/polishing products followed by Collonite wax.. The Collonite instructions say not to let the product dry and haze over. I know better! I've waxed enough cars, airplanes, and boats to know you let the wax dry to a haze and buff it clean! Wrong! That Collonite dries like duck snot on glass! My big electric buffer walked off the job. But if you do it right it looks/lasts the best.. 3M Marine paste wax is a close 2nd. For in between major waxings I'm starting to use SpeedBead by Stoner. I had a hard time finding it, but their customer service email dude sent me a case to try it out. So far it's easy and does a great job. They also make a great glass cleaner.
For water marked windows I tried everything and I found Nu-Glass Dura Gloss 755.. Found it at NAPA. Amazing stuff!
Click to expand...
Found the Nu-Glass Dura Gloss 755 on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Duragloss-755-Au ... agloss+755
 
Hi Brian,

Do you still use Chemical Guys, Hybrid V7 every few washes? I was wondering if it makes sense to just purchase that instead of a quick wax spray that they have in their boat section or boat bling quickie spray?

Also what do you use for non-skid?

Very excited boat is in the water now! but waiting for better weather to bring up to my club.
 
Tried fsr blue gel this weekend to remove some rust spots. Impressive stuff. The online videos by shurhold do a nice job showing how to use their products. I am going to be tackling the white fiberglass in the coming weeks with shurhold

Use prism for the stainless
Rainx for the glass
 
NautiTug":2hw8v0k3 said:
Hi Brian,

Do you still use Chemical Guys, Hybrid V7 every few washes? I was wondering if it makes sense to just purchase that instead of a quick wax spray that they have in their boat section or boat bling quickie spray?

Also what do you use for non-skid?

Very excited boat is in the water now! but waiting for better weather to bring up to my club.
Click to expand...


I use Chemical guy V7 every few washes or if the boat just needs a wipe down bugs, bird dropping’s, water spots, I get the spray bottle out and wipe it with V7. I use it on non skid too. It is not too slick with boat shoes or bare feet. Really keeps the non skid looking nice. Test an area to see if you feel it is to slick. Don’t go on it with socks only!!!

I also apply it after complete wax it really makes the shine “ Pop”
 
Gavin: is there a particular Rainx product?

Brian: Even the nonskid in the cabin?

Thanks both!
 
My 2013 Claret Red C28 was pretty faded when I bought her 18 most ago. I tried compounding and waxing with 3M products and got minimal results. I finally bit the bullet and in January I wet sanded with 600, 800, 1000 grit using a pneumatic sander. Then I compounded, polished, and waxed using 3M rubbing compound, Finess It II, and collimate wax with an electric buffer at 3500 RPM. I used a foam buffing pad for compounding and polishing and a wool pad for waxing. I got much better results. To minimize water spots after every use I applied Hot Sauce Spray.
https://www.amazon.com/Boat-Bling-P...2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B006GWVBQ8/

Recently I noticed some slight fading so I compounded and waxed again. WOW!! What a difference! She looks 100% better. I'm tempted to do it again but my shoulders are still sore. I keep the boat on a trailer in a sunny boatyard so I made canvas skirts to cover the hull.
 
I started a ceramic coating business here in Washington state. I coated my R23 blue hull in 2017 it looks better than new still today. I coated the entire boat, glass, stainless, outboards and nonstick surfaces. Makes clean up a breeze, nothing sticks to it! No more waxing or buffing for me on my boat. Some of the benefits: adds a layer of 9h hardness to help resist scratches; oxidation; salt water; bird and insect droppings and more. Any interest? PM me and I'll send you my phone number. Kevin
 
Last year I waxed our boat. This year, I applied a superhyrdophobic nanoceramic (Carpro CQuartz UK 3.0) to our boat. It takes time with polishing, cleaning, applying, but the results are stunning. Yes, there is a lot of prep. My wife was floored with how it looks. Our first trip with the coating, cleanup was a breeze. If you aren't interested in the work, find a local car detailer or someone like Kevin.
 
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