How much time to Wax your boat?

[water rat]

Thanks. He's a great kid. He actually WANTS to help and doesn't whine about it. Unless he gets hungry, LOL... Yes, I'd say about 8 hours of labor is fair. We don't do all of the steps that you do. We wash it really well then wax it. Our boat is onlly 2 years old and stored in a shaded, covered area. No oxidation on it. If it was in full sun all of time, it might be a different story.

What year is your 280? We looked at the 08's and I didn't like port side seating on the deck. They changed it from years past and it's not as nice, IMHO.

 

[dpvandy01]

Read your Starbrite bottle carefully. A lot of people mistake their polish for wax. You'll find there is NO wax in the Starbrite product. It is only a polish.

Noted but my previous boat looked better than the day I bought it when it was sold in 2007....But I'm always open to suggestions for improvement

 

[280 SeaRay]

a good wax will protect all that goodness you did with the polish

 

[Fishnut]

Each boat owner has his own opinion about the proper level of surface care. Some ... a couple of hours with a can of wax.... other like myself are a little more particular.

I personally have spent as little as 65 hours and as much as 78 hours detailing the 280DA (this does not include the wash which is required directly before detailing. The process is completed twice per year.

Let me set the stage:

- The boat is kept outside uncovered on the trailer with full camper canvas on.
- The boat is washed weekly unless I am travelling for work.... but completed as soon as I return.


The detailing process starts with a wash (all washes are full washes... I have no quick wash) and dry then I bag the boat (very large 1 mil plastic 25'x40' and blue painters tape) to keep dust off the boat until the detail process is completed. Then I inspect the boat for any problem areas and guage gel coat condition (already have a great idea as I hand wash the boat weekly).... (i.e. dock rub, etc that will require additional attention) and mark with bright yellow grease pencil. Then I begin the process.
1. Tape off boat (metal, plastics, bottom painted area, etc)
2. Clay bar the boat (remember to re-mark any special attention areas with grease pencil)
3. Address special attention areas with appropriate action.
4. Clean the gel coat (if required) using Meguiars color restorer
5. Polish the boat using Meguiar's boat polish
6. Wax the boat with 3 thin coats of Meguiars Flagship (apply, let haze remove x3)

Metal Work

1. Polish with buff magic
2. Polish with Meguiars NXT Metal
3. 3 thin coats of Meguiars Flagship Wax


Each owner has to decide for himself the level of involvement and importance he/she places on surface care. I personally enjoy caring for the boat.... it gets me away from the computer.... and outside in the fresh air.... and frankly produces a fantastic result that makes me happy (and tired). Who needs a gym membership when you own a boat

My 2 pennies

Sea Ray recommends the yacht brite polish, so is it a wax or a polish? And does it make a difference? If so why wouldn't sea ray recommend a wax for the top coat.

BTW, don't ever try to wax those rough surfaces inside your searay cockpit. it is impossible to remove and it looks like crap forever!

 

[JV II]

Are you waxing ON and waxing OFF? Watch this for the correct way to do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b59ts2l8E3s

 

[Fishnut]

Are you waxing ON and waxing OFF? Watch this for the correct way to do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b59ts2l8E3s

You may have too much time on your hands. :smt043

 

[280 SeaRay]

Sea Ray recommends the yacht brite polish, so is it a wax or a polish? And does it make a difference? If so why wouldn't sea ray recommend a wax for the top coat.

BTW, don't ever try to wax those rough surfaces inside your searay cockpit. it is impossible to remove and it looks like crap forever!

SeaRay seems to change wax/polish partners every few years.... before yacht brite it was Meguiars..... before Meguiars it was 3M. I am not sure the SeaRay endorsement is anything more than that. Find a product you like and use it often.

The non-slip receives the same surface care as the rest of the boat. To remove product from the non-slip use a terry cloth bonnet over a rigid pad (I use the meguiars 7006 as base pad) with the PC 7424. The product can be removed from the gel coat with little effort in this manner.

 

[VTSeaRay]

Are you waxing ON and waxing OFF? Watch this for the correct way to do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b59ts2l8E3s

LOL Wax on, Wax off Kiyogi san... to funny!