First Time Buffing/Waxing Blue Hull - need advice please

The Dark Side

The Dark Side

Active Member
Oct 16, 2020
145
Middle River, MD
Boat Info
2008 Larson 370
Engines
Volvo 8.1's
Boat was purchased in the fall of 2020 and probably has not been waxed for several years. This is my first blue gelcoat hull. Boat is being pulled next month to redo the bottom and to buff/wax.

Hard to tell in the photo, but the blue hull definitely needs some love.

Any advice on products / process? Will be purchasing a new buffer as well, not sure which is the best for the job (light weight, orbital?, etc..)

Cheers,
TDS
pic 2ab.jpg
 
I use the harbor freight buffer and 3M Super duty rubbing compound and Finesse it II. It brought the color back, but made my back and shoulder sore!
 
This is my process for a blue hull. Dont waste your money on the harbor freight buffer specifically this one https://www.harborfreight.com/power...mp-digital-variable-speed-polisher-62297.html
I purchased this one and it is night and day...and you know rpm DeWalt DWP849X 7”/9” Variable Speed Rotary Polisher, rotary buffer, circular polisher (pinnaclewax.com)
Only use 3M wool pads... a cutting white pad for compounding, A yellow 3M wool pad for polishing. You can orbital with a sponge pad to wax or do by hand.

Products are a debate and everyone has their favorites. Whats important is the compounding... when you are compounding thats what it is going to look like after waxing...so put the effort in compounding...try a different product if needed... just dont go to polishing and hope

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I use this orbital:
https://www.harborfreight.com/20mm-long-throw-random-orbit-6-in-da-polisher-56367.html

But I would HIGHLY suggest you consider getting a dewalt instead. I just purchased the H.F. tool to use on my blue Sea Hunt, which is about a 1/4 of the work area that you're looking at polishing. By the time I was finished, I was exhausted from the vibrations. I know this is slinging a head in an orbital pattern, but The dewalt tools run a lot smoother than the Harbor Freight tools. You're looking at several hours of work, and using a smooth running tool will make that time much more tolerable. Even at more than double the cost, it's still cheaper than paying someone else to do it.
 
There is a difference between compounding and polishing.
Different machines and pads will bring out the deep shine you're looking for.

The dewalt rotary is GREAT for compounding, but a rotary will leave swirl marks/holograms to varying degrees regardless of the pad used. To get rid of the holograms you'll need a DA polisher, preferably a forced rotation.
 
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The blue hull on my 205 was cloudy I removed all the decals that where damaged and started wet sanding the entire boat.worked my way up to 2000 grit then using my makita and 3m compound then McGuire’s polish with a polishing pad, onto collinite wax I’m finishing up with a yellow accent boot stripe.
I did try compound first but I wasn’t getting the results I wanted.
first picture is when I went to look at the boat then decal removal then wet sanded and so on.
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Over the past few years I’ve been exposed to the Mirka Golden Finish and Polarshine products and would never go back to conventional automotive systems.

There are many videos online.

Check it out.
 
Espos4 said:
What issues did you have with the Harbor Freight unit? I have that exact one and have great results for 4 years now.
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Click to expand...
I have had the HF model probably 4 years now as well....The small yellow buttons that control speed are right where you hold it... I was griping it and inadvertently hitting the speed up button often. It is very loud, torque is not that strong, velcro pad would come unglued, if you have ever got the cord caught you have to turn it off...doesn’t have a dead man.... I never got hurt but close. This year lost half digital display.
The Dewalt is slightly heavier but no where near the fatigue using it... it runs smoother very little noise...dead man switch. And torque is better with pressure
 
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jmauld said:
I use this orbital:
https://www.harborfreight.com/20mm-long-throw-random-orbit-6-in-da-polisher-56367.html

But I would HIGHLY suggest you consider getting a dewalt instead. I just purchased the H.F. tool to use on my blue Sea Hunt, which is about a 1/4 of the work area that you're looking at polishing. By the time I was finished, I was exhausted from the vibrations. I know this is slinging a head in an orbital pattern, but The dewalt tools run a lot smoother than the Harbor Freight tools. You're looking at several hours of work, and using a smooth running tool will make that time much more tolerable. Even at more than double the cost, it's still cheaper than paying someone else to do it.
Click to expand...

A few years ago we were involved with Dewalt to develop the table top of their current Contractors table saw. The amount of time, effort and money that went into prototyping, testing and evaluating was impressive. Its original table top was cast iron and we created a new method to grind the surface. We made 50 of them...Dewalt assembled them and sent them out to their group of testers. Dewalt for all their products has a group of everyday users that put the product thru its paces and evaluates them. Most came back and said they didnt like the surface finish/texture...it was too smooth, so it didnt give them the resistance they wanted when cutting. Dewalt scrapped our grinding idea and eventually went away from cast iron which took us out of being the supplier.
It was a very interesting experience and I gained alot of respect for the Dewalt brand going through that with them.
 
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The dewalt is a nice tool no doubt but if your are just getting started, the $50 rotary HF is fine. Spend the money on good wool pads for each stage and good cutting compound and polishes. Like they said, the shine after a good cut compound is going to be what it looks like after wax. If it’s not shiney do it again or get more aggressive compound. Don’t even buy a DA. Waste of money. Good polish and the right pad will take out the holograms. I like the presta products but there are others just as good. Make certain the products do not contain any silicone. That’s the shine devil! Looks great and then looks horrible in a month or two. Good carnuba wax is your friend with that colored hull. It will last all season here in the north.
FYI I really do want a dewalt now that I’ve been doing this for 6 years but the damn HF won’t die lol. You can buy the dewalt on Amazon for $185 btw
 
I'm with @Almightys. I can't kill the HF so it lives on... and mine isn't the fancy one stuff the display.
 
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