Waxing my boat after one year in the sun....... help, sore elbows.

[thegoat86]

Anyone have a helpful tip or a product I might be able to use to save me some time? Summer is here. I used a quality wash and started waxing with turtle wax. But seems like I am only getting a couple of feet every hour to shine. This may take all summer. I will be sure to cover it from now on. There is this whitish powder that is taking forever to rub down to glossy again. Tried a power waxer rotary machine I have, with same results.

 

[ondarvr]

Other than using a buffer and some compound there's not much can you do. The rotary waxers don't do much on gel coat.

 

[gm280]

Sounds like you have gel coat deterioration go on. That is usually obvious with the chalky finish that takes a lot of effort to make shine again.

Personally I would stop with the wax, and switch to something a little more aggressive. Look at 3M polishing compounds or even cutting/buffing compounds. You will need a variable speed polisher like a Makita #9237C or even a Harbor Freight equivalent unit.

Read the compound bottle(s) to set the proper speed and use that. You will make a lot more quality results doing it that way and the results will look very nice. And your arms and shoulders will thank you as well.

This is what I use, but here are other models and a lot cheaper versions as well. I just bought this at such a good price I couldn't turn it down. But Harbor Freight sells something similar that would suffice. Get that or whatever you like in this type tool, and the liquid compounds and have a go at it.

I think this would solve your problems. JMHO

 

[Second Chance 248]

https://shurhold.com/buff-magic/

By far the best product I've personally ever used.

 

[thegoat86]

Thanks. Saw some cutting/buffing compound that states the grid decomposes with use. From 15 down to 500 as its used. I bought a 10" rotary buffer at auto parts store. I will try today.

 

[Bayou Dave]

Depending on how much oxidation there is you may have to wet sand the hull first. I had to use 400#, then 600# and finally 1000# to get all the oxidation off. After each sanding I let it dry to see if all the white chalk was off. Then I went with the compound, polish and finally wax.

 

[thegoat86]

See my GIF? I'm too fat and old for all that hard work. Too much money invested in this belly....... I actually hired a kid to clean it. He did a great job. He works at a marina in st pete. $200 and I got my Saturday back. :chuncky: