Waxing how to / frequency

[DeepBlue]

Hey guys. Thanks for all the great info on this site. In the short time I have owned my current boat this site has been a huge source of answers. I got my 370 DA a couple of months ago. It was fully waxed before putting it in. I am wondering how often I should be waxing it and what is the best way to do it? It stays in the water 24 x 7 in salt water. Do I have to pull it to wax it? I think I could pull it up at my marina to an area I could wax it one side at a time, would that work? It would save a lot of time and money. I do plan on pulling it out this fall and could do it then, if I can wait that long... Suggestions?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[GrandMaster]

In Florida we do wax about 4 times a year if the boat is out in the sun full time.

You may be able to get away with three a little further north.

The "best" way to do it in my opinion is to pay a professional boat detailer, but that doesn't work for everyone.

 

[Gofirstclass]

I'm going to grab another cup of coffee, kick back and watch the fun on this thread. Everyone has their own "secret recipe" for how to wax a boat and get good results, and they're quick to share their recipe.

Me? I wax mine every 3 years (instead of 3 times a year) because it's under cover and protected from the sun. I use West Marine's combination cleaner/wax and a Makita buffer. I put the wax on with a wooly pad, squirting some wax on the pad then smearing it on about a 3' section of hull. Then I run the buffer over that area until the wax has just about dried to a powdery finish. After doing a couple more sections like that, I take a clean towel and go back and wipe off the powdery residue that remains on the first section.

The secret for me is to buff the waxed area until the wax is just about dry. That ensures the wax is spread evenly and completely. Wiping off the dry residue is easy, but keep turning the towel over so you don't get a big wax buildup on the towel.

 

[Nehalennia]

It's a long thread but has great info in it.

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/12535-Polishing-Before-and-After?highlight=Polishing

 

[pvan]

a good detailer would likely not just wax a boat. For a top notch job he would hand sand the entire boat with 1200 grit then machine polish and finish by hand waxing. This process is not cheap but the results speak for themselves.

 

[tdgard]

I'm in a covered slip on a lift in Georgia so it takes about a year before it gets ashy. While I have the Porter Cable and all the many bottles of stripper/ polish/ waxes-I must admit I normally detail my boat with a phone call and checkbook.

 

[Tonka Boater]

I'm going to grab another cup of coffee, kick back and watch the fun on this thread.

+1 ... I wax/seal/protect annually here in the midwest at the beginning of the season. The particular method depends on what is needed...sometimes it's a deep buff and wax and sometimes it just needs to be topped off with sealer to make it shine.

 

[Gofirstclass]

I think a lot of the answer depends on three things....(1) the size of the boat, (2) is it kept under cover, and (3) whether you're on salt water or fresh water.

I'm waxing my boat now, from the rub rail down, and it has taken 4 days working about 3-4 hours a day. I wouldn't want to do that 3 times a year, but I'm lucky because we're in fresh water and the boat is kept under cover.

It also depends on whether you're waxing to protect the gelcoat or if you're waxing to get a mirror-like shine. Me? I just want to protect the gelcoat. If I had a 20' boat I'd probably take the time to get a mirror-like shine.

 

[JimFromMD]

For my green hull that is not under cover, it gets Meguires Flagship cleaner wax and a coat of Collinte liquid wax top coat 2-3x a year. Just completed it this weekend in fact.

Dont know why I never thought of it before, but because my boat is on a lift, I have to wax sections of the bow from a float. Usually have rigged up some lines and have someone hold me close so that my pressure on the boat doesnt push me away. I happened to pass thoguh bed bath and beyond and saw these $12 suction cup safety handle / grab bar for getting in and out of the shower. On a whim I bought one, and that is the best $12 boat dollars I've spent. Is sucks on to the hull strongly and makes it really easy to push and pull against. Only wish I bought two so that I could use them to move around even eaiser from the float. Give it a shot.


http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/sto...-handle/1040083926?Keyword=suction+cup+handle