Rain X

[SJI Sailor]

I keep reading about how great Rain X has been for Tugnutters ... but I tried it with poor results. Am wondering what if anything I did wrong.

My use is for 100% saltwater in the PNW, C30, esp. for occasional full bow splashes that innundate the windshield (and general lighter spray).

I used RainX Xtreme Clean windshield treatment. Carefully cleaned first, then applied, let dry, buffed per the instructions. On a moderate warm day (maybe 70 -- warm for PNW!)

The result when we out out a few days later was substantial smearing, much worse than having no treatment at all! Am wondering whether it was the wrong RainX, needed multiple applications, or maybe it's not so good for saltwater, or the benefits are less than expected, or ... ?

 

[SJI Sailor]

Reading some other forums, I found one note that might apply: that Salt Away may make it a smearing mess.

I'm not sure if that happened in our case, but it might have. We use Salt Away regularly. OTOH that was just one person's report.

 

[BradOwens]

Rain X worked great on my car, but I got a smeared mess on my boat. I also use Salt-Away after every trip, so that may be the problem.

 

[TwoFootitis]

Hello Brad,

We recently had our R23 ceramic coated but have not put it to the test yet, stored undercover till spring. I did find the following YouTube link for you about the process.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... e7NGIcAGHj

best of luck to you!

Doug

 

[Chimo]

Have used RainX now for about 3 years. I’ve renewed it once in that time. I use Salt Away on the complete boat after each trip. The spray runs off fine but the drops that remain do have salt in them and will dry leaving it on the glass. Using wipers then smears that across the window. I have a spray bottle with a Salt Away/water mix handy that I use as a manual windshield washer out of the side window. Only needed to use that a couple of times a year.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

My experience is similar to Chimo. I never use my wipers. Regular RainX and I use Salt-A-Way in a spray bottle to knock down the salt droplets. Works like a champ. Rinse Salt-A-Way with a cup of water.

 

[Headlee]

I had poor results with RainX on my C28 before I ever used Salt Off. Lots of smearing.

 

[Mike and Sarah]

I have used Adams Polish glass sealant for the last year. I applied a 2nd coat after about 5 months. I never have to use the wipers (wiper on the r27 outboard is poor anyway). It doesn’t matter if it’s salt water or rain it runs off nicely. I have used salt away on the windows a few times and it has not affected the shedding of water on the windows. I applied the treatment to all the window.
Good product IMO

 

[Red Raven]

Rain-X extreme clean is a cleaning product to use as prep for rain-x original treatment. The rain-x original is needed to be applied after to shed the water. I have had good luck with rain-x original and have no issues using salt-off as well.

Curt

 

[SJI Sailor]

Thank you everyone for the comments. I think I misspoke about the RainX Xtreme clean. I have some of that but believe I used regular RainX per my Amazon orders https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0792GKV84. Or maybe I confused them :-/

The Adams Polish sounds like a good option, Mike & Sarah.

FWIW, the one thing that has worked very well for us is leaning out just enough to spray a light vinegar solution onto the windshield! Now I need a better spray bottle ...

 

[Cutwater28GG]

curious does the rainx extreme clean, take off the wax on the fiberglass (if it runs down from the windscreen) like a number of detergents do?