No more waxing and polishing for me!

[Kevinandcarol]

Rather than continually waxing and polishing our new boat we installed ceramic coating on our R23 shortly after purchasing and have been very impressed with the results.

I also installed ceramic coating on a black & white 2005 Regal Express Cruiser which now shines brighter than when it was new. After sitting at the marina, the 3 weeks worth of growth cleaned off effortlessly. I posted photos & a video in my album.
I’ve also installed it on several RVs & was impressed by how easily the bugs clean off after a road trip with NO staining.

The benefits of ceramic coating that are most important to me are:
Protection from oxidation, salt water & bird/insect droppings.
Also important is:
Effortless to keep clean
Adds layer of hardness above 9H that helps to resist scratches, dock rash, scuffs, etc.
Adds gloss & color depth unlike any other product
Bottom paint is not necessary, in some cases
Ceramic coating is a super hydrophobic product that repels water.

I’ve spent a great deal of time researching the market and have found the very best products available.
I’ve also learned there is a definite need for these products & service. The preparation process is critical even before the application of ceramic coating begins which is most effective when completed by a professional.

PM me for more info

 

[Redox Ranger]

First post! Brand new forum members! Thanks to all for great advice and community.

My wife and I just ordered a new R-27 OB. Production date is sometime June 2020. We can't wait! Been about two years now without a boat and we need to get back on the water!

This will be our first ever new boat purchase and I'm very interested in learning more about keeping our boat looking new. We will be placing our boat in a slip on Lake Michigan in St. Joseph, Michigan during the summer and then trailering wherever good friends and good water leads in the winter - like the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida (so we plan on using in salt water from time to time).When not in our slip at home, will be in a heated pole barn.

We are leaning toward Hero Red (with Midnight Blue a close second choice). After seeing what the sun can do to a white hulled boat in Southern California coastal waters, I can only imagine what our beautiful, deeply colored hull will look like in a few years...actually, I'm having nightmares about it!

Therefore, I'm responding to Kevinandcarol's post about ceramic coating the entire boat. I would also love to avoid bottom paint if that is even possible. I've also seen some post about vinyl wraps. I realize the fight against oxidation is a never ending battle, both for the gel coat and the rest of the boat. I just don't look forward to spending all my land time polishing and waxing.

I'll PM Kevin to learn more about ceramic coating, but I'm interested in others opinion of how best to stave off the inevitable aging process. Thanks, again, to all who contribute here on TugNuts. I hope to be able to share our learnings and joys in the months to come as we become members of this special community and take possession of our eagerly awaited R-27.
Kevin

 

[nboyer]

Sounds appealing. Since it's working so well for you, how about posting which product you're using for the benefit of fellow forum member? Cheers! -Norm

 

[Kevinandcarol]

Thanks for your interest, I coated a R27 blue and a R31 claret red for Ranger Tug that was in the Seattle boat show. We also had a booth at the Seattle boat show as well. If you P M me ill send you some info. Thanks Kevin

 

[NorthernFocus]

... but I'm interested in others opinion of how best to stave off the inevitable aging process. ...

Simply keeping the hull waxed is the bext protection against oxidation. Doesn't stop aging/fading but certainly slows it down. Once at the start of the season should last all summer in your northern location. And of course storing in the pole barn out of sun/weather will protect it. I'll let the folks in Florida speak to how often they apply wax down there.

Regarding coating/painting the hull when it's new, if you have unlimited funds painting with awlgrip or similar durable coating is certainly an option. It's expensive. Conventional wisdom would be to apply coating somewhere down the line when needed. If something happens and you end up selling the boat in a couple of years for whatever reason you won't get those thousands back in resale value.

 

[knotflying]

Our hull is Lorene Green. Looks pretty good after 9 years. Shows little salt, scratches and fading even though they are there. Clean and wax the hull twice a year. I am also fairly impressed with the Mylar applications. Even if you had to replace it every 5 years it is still less expensive than compound and wax twice a year. Roam did awlgrip going on two yeas now and the boat looks like it just came out of the showroom.