My Vaseline Opinion.

[md-lucky]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

I was hoping the Vaseline would allow the boat to slip through the water easier... Increasing my top speed.

In all seriousness, I guess I thought of an analogy for the Vaseline trick. (which is very dangerious to do, especially considering the potential this thread has to go overboard. )

To me, using the vaseline is like taking your car through the automatic car wash. It helps, but it just doesn't detail the car like taking out the clay bar and wax.

The Vaseline does a good job of helping the boat shine, but it just doesn't do as good of a job as taking a buffer and wax to it.

I'm glad many folks are happy with the results. They are by no means "bad" results (so far). But, it just isn't in the same ball park as doing it correctly. My humble .0841123 cents (after tax).

 

[Adjuster]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

Has anyone ever tried this with natural 'lanolin'. There was a lot of talk for awhile about using lanolin on the outdrive and bottom for growth. Some claimed it worked great, others saw no results.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Mueller-PETROLE...0?hash=item518650740c&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116


http://cgi.ebay.com/1-lb-100-Pure-Premium-Lanolin-USP-Awesome-Product_W0QQitemZ220326253030QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item334c77d1e6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1205|293%3A1|294%3A50

 

[FBPirate95]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

The whole question about weather Vaseline will cause any damage is bogus in my opinion. And here's why:

Oxidation of paint occurs when the protective layer on the paint, weather is the clear coat or a wax, is depleated and oxygen is allowed to attack the free radicals in the chemical structure of the paint mixture. This gives you the dull and chalky look. Adding a wax coat every so often replentishes the protective coat on the paint keeping the oxygen out. The point here is that you have to keep a protective coat on the paint. If you don't periodically re-apply wax or vaseline, the protective coat wears away and oxidation will begin occuring.

As for the chemical differences in a store bought boat wax or vaseline there's not much. Most store bought waxes contain any or all of the following in varrying proportions:

carnuba wax (derived from leaves)
bees wax (you can guess where that comes from)
kaolin (clay/filler)
isoparaffinic hydrocarbons (basically paraffin wax)


Carnuba wax itself is a very hard wax once it is fully extracted from the carnuba leaves. Therfore in order to make it into a "workable" wax, a paraffin wax or bees wax must be mixed into it.

So what is paraffin wax? Well it is a petroleum based long chain hydrocarbon with chain lengths anywhere from the C20H42 to the C40H82 range. (basically that's the number of Carbons in the molecule) Having said that, Vaseline or petroleum jelly, is a petroleum based long chain hydrocarbon with a chain length in the C25H54 range. What does that mean? Vaseline is a paraffinic wax.

So why the differing results from a carnuba type wax versus Vaseline. Like I said earlier it is because carnuba is a harder wax. As you buff it, the wax plasticizes giving it a glassy look. The softer paraffin wax like vaseline won't plasticize in the same way.

Now with all the technical crap out of the way, what's the point? The point is to keep oxidation off of you boat, periodically put some protectant on your hull. If this means you enjoy and have the time to spend hours buffing and polishing a store bought name brand wax on your boat to get a high gloss shine, do it. If you don't want to spend the time or effort buffing and polishing and you don't need to see that glossy shine, use the Vaseline. Just do something and don't let the oxidation start in the first place.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

Thanks Mark42!! I am going start a new thread for every ones opinion on what is the best method and products to remove the oxidation, I will definitly take pics before. to get every ones opinion, great input every one and good job ThunderChicken

 

[skargo]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

I'm a fan of using Vaseline, only been on the boat a month, but it indeed did remove the little oxidation I had, and it cleaned all kinds of stuff off of my hull.

I am going to polish over it, should really shine then.

 

[slongholio]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

Oil, Transmission fluid? Do you swim in or eat fish you catch out of that lake?

 

[MikDee]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

Oil, & tranny fluid doesn't hold up for very long, I tried it 35yrs ago on a boat I was selling, it worked, I got top dollar for it back then, but after a few days, or a week it's gone!

I'm the guy who started this whole vaseline idea, and it is not a polish, it works more like a cleaner, and finish restorer, it soaks into the dry faded gelcoat, to restore the color, whatever shine was there, it is now more pronounced, and whoever doesn't leave it on long enough will not see much results, 10mins, 45mins, or overnight may not do it! When you put it on do it liberally, and once you get done with the whole boat, then wipe off the excess which now has chalked gelcoat in it, and then let it soak in until it gets to it's deepest color, however long that takes, preferably in the sun, or heat. Only then, go back, & wipe off the excess, you'll notice it cleans, as well as bringing the color back, if put on too heavy, & left on too long, it is a bit hard to get off because it has the oxidized gelcoat powder in it. If you want more shine, wax, or polish once the vaseline has completed it's job

 

[Powder Head]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

I agree with everything MikDee said, and he has to be a very knowledgable guy because we have the same boat. 89 Capri, I vasilined mine up and it looks great, up for sale since I just bought a Maxum. Probably wouldn't do it on a newer boat because of not knowing the long term effects if any. But I like what it did.

 

[jriegle04]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

my wife just gave me a funny look when i was walking to the garage with the vaseline..... she knew it would come to this sooner or later.

 

[skargo]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

I followed MikDee's directions and am very please.

my wife just gave me a funny look when i was walking to the garage with the vaseline..... she knew it would come to this sooner or later.

HAHA

 

[78 GT-150]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

Any idea what to do when the gelcoat feels and looks like cement? I have an old Glastron with tons of silver 'flake in the gelcoat.

The previous owner decided to "Apply" a coat of rattle can clear. I'm sure you can figure what that looks like!

Time for the paint booth?

Any hope?

Thanks,
Chad..

 

[dkorzun21]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

Work Awesome Miked Has To Bottle Up Some Of This Stuff And Start Selling It Off And Make Alot Of Money Even If You Sold It For 30 Bucks A Bottle Or Jar People Would Love It Because It Works.....

 

[marine4003]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

Any idea what to do when the gelcoat feels and looks like cement? I have an old Glastron with tons of silver 'flake in the gelcoat.

The previous owner decided to "Apply" a coat of rattle can clear. I'm sure you can figure what that looks like!

Time for the paint booth?

Any hope?

Thanks,
Chad..

If its that bad then the factory clear is gone...no point in attempting to bring back a shine..it needs to be sanded then re-cleared. or sanded and repainted.

 

[78 GT-150]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

If its that bad then the factory clear is gone...no point in attempting to bring back a shine..it needs to be sanded then re-cleared. or sanded and repainted.

That's what I was afraid of!

Thanks for the input!

Chad..

 

[MikDee]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

Any idea what to do when the gelcoat feels and looks like cement? I have an old Glastron with tons of silver 'flake in the gelcoat.

The previous owner decided to "Apply" a coat of rattle can clear. I'm sure you can figure what that looks like!

Time for the paint booth?

Any hope?

Thanks,
Chad..

Sand it all off, then clean, & apply vaseline, it will soak in, and bring back the color, & sparkle, and whatever shine is left. Then once the vaseline is completely dry (this may take a few days) just wax or polish to your hearts content.

 

[Les Robb]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

After reading all the posts I will volunteer my boat for testing to anyone wanting to cut wax buff or other methods to bring back the shine and I'll be happy to grade you on results. Seriously what little color I have I'll probably do it the hard way. Glutton for punishment you know.

Thanks ya'll
PS: NO charge even

 

[78 GT-150]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

Sand it all off, then clean, & apply vaseline, it will soak in, and bring back the color, & sparkle, and whatever shine is left. Then once the vaseline is completely dry (this may take a few days) just wax or polish to your hearts content.

OK Great! Do you have a suggestion for sandpaper grit? 1000, 2000?

Thanks,
Chad..

 

[MikDee]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

OK Great! Do you have a suggestion for sandpaper grit? 1000, 2000?

Thanks,
Chad..

I'm really not sure? I hope someone with more experience will chime in
You may need 320 grit, wet or dry, or heavier to remove it, but I've used 400, or 600, grit wet, as a finisher over primer, following with spray paint, and it's perfect on a car. This my leave you smooth enough so if you put vaseline on it, you may not have to do anything but buff with polish, or wax, down the road.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

My boat was extremely oxidized when i bought it.Some areas were rough to the touch.
It looked really bad!

Here it is after about 3 hours of washing with a cleaning solution and using a product called Poli-Glow.
It comes in a kit with the pre cleaner that cuts the oxidation then you apply the clear liquid.
Its been on 2 years now and still looks like the picture...

 

[78 GT-150]

Re: My Vaseline Opinion.

The problem is though, my boat has about as much gloss as your Lawn!! Think the Poli Glo will help?