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Best Compound, Polish, and/or Wax?


Hurricane Bubba

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Hi All,

 

So many products out there and trying to get some personal experience and comments, without all of the advertising hype. Getting ready to polish and wax the boat and non-skid and looking at Collinite, Marine 31, 3M, Meguiars, etc. What do you think the best products are and why?

 

Thanks,

Bubba

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Went the Zaino route about 5 years ago and am sold on it for the hull and non deck areas. I use it on the cars as well. There is a process to get started but once you do the initial work it's easy to maintain and looks good. Our boats are on lifts so they are outside but under roof. They get waxed twice a year, maybe. Someone did post that Zaino didn't do well in tannic water but I have not found that. I use Woodies on the non skid and have for years as well.

i know there will be spirited debate on this and it's all good stuff.

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Meguiar's Flagship Premium Marine Wax. Easy on and easy off. I use the liquid and do it by hand, no buffer.  One bottle does the entire boat at least three time. Woody wax on the nonskid. A bottle does the boat at least 6/8 times. I wax twice a year and do nonskid 3/4 times per year. Boat is stored inside (dry stack). As stated above all are good, just get it done.

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+1 on the 3M stuff - very pleased, though I did use West Marine's store brand of compound first.  My boat was heavily oxidized and now looks pretty darned new.  Sharkhide on the hull afterwards has been a nice addition, especially in water up here that stains like crazy.

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8 hours ago, Hurricane Bubba said:

Hi All,

 

So many products out there and trying to get some personal experience and comments, without all of the advertising hype. Getting ready to polish and wax the boat and non-skid and looking at Collinite, Marine 31, 3M, Meguiars, etc. What do you think the best products are and why?

 

Thanks,

Bubba

 I've been using  Collinite on the hull and Woody's Wax on the non-skid and metal for years and have always been pleased.

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Yeah Todd, this "over the top" article got me to try the Presta products. I had serious oxidation issues on the PF when I bought it and this article got me pointed in the right direction. I already had the 3M rubbing compound so I just bought the Presta polishing compound to give it a try, very good product. Then two quick coats of Collinite and good for a year. I noticed while in FGCI in St. Pete buying epoxy resin a few weeks ago they now have Presta in stock, I got mine on ebay.

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had the boat prof. detailed about a year ago. thrilled to hear my detailer was going to use Collinite because of what I have read on this forum, needed no compounding so I was told. results were disappointing at best, even areas out of the sun with a console cover.  I will stick with  3M or Starbrite as I have used them in the past with expected results. I am likely on the short list of those who do not like Collinate.

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I have used 3M, Collinites, Woodys and Zaino. I still use all 4 but for different applications.

 

I have had great results bringing gelcoat back from the dead with the 3M Finesse-it and Finesse-it II compound with a 9" wool pad on an orbital machine. I think the 3M wax and Collinites are equally good. I switched to Collinites wax a couple of years ago and have been pleased with the durability and finish.

 

Big fan of Woodys for the non-skid. I re-apply every couple of months and makes cleaning the decks much easier.

 

I tried Zaino but as mentioned above it did not seem to have much ability to protect from the tannin stains. I gave it a second try by stripping the boat with Dawn, using hull cleaner to get the stains off, and going back with the Z-AOI and a couple of coats of Z3 but came home with a brown hull after one trip. Switched to Collinites and have not had any stain issues since. I will say that the Zaino finish is superior to anything I have seen so I do use it on my car.

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chiming in...

No silver bullet in any of the products listed....

They key is consistent re-application and then maint after each use....

I've used them all....Maguires, Aurora, Collonite, 3M products, etc....they all work...it just just elbow grease.

Zaino is a speciality product and is only for those with way too much time and money :)  when they are cleaning their boats (LOL)...great stuff, but, you can't get it at any of the local boat outlets...I have used Zaino, and it provides an incredible shine..but, IMHO, not worth it for a boat application that is a fishing vessel....

For fishing, I'd say get something local, quick to re-apply, and go....unless you enjoy shining and cleaning....

 

DC

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thank you to all for your help. I would like to add a hefty thanks to Hurricane for his help with most of the supplies needed for this project. Unfortunately I didn't have the where-with-all to take before pics but do have some mediocre after pics. The hull wasn't oxidized too badly just need to clean some stains and ensure there was a good layer of protection, to keep future scum lines off of the hull. The inside however was a different story. After installing the larger splashwell hatch I had a few stains on the aft deck and the nonskid needed a little attention.

I gave the boat a light compounding, polish, and wax. The nonskid got a little love from a DA polisher, scrub brush attachment, and some 3M compound for highly oxidized surfaces.

  1. thorough wash with Bar Keeper's Friend and FSR treatment
  2. Rotary polisher with 3M wool cutting pad, 3M Finesse It and Meguiar's Ultimate Compound; working 2x2 section and wiping with microfiber cloth
  3. DA polisher, Shurhold carpet brush attachment, 3M Heavy Cutting Compound worked in small areas and wiped up with normal terry cloth towel. The terry cloth towel tended to get in the nonskid a little better than a microfiber
  4. DA polisher, foam pad, and 3M polish. For my hull this was the step with the most visible results. When finished the hull was literally like a mirror.
  5. Collinite 925 and foam applicator.  A little Collinite goes a long ways. The Collinite is pretty runny and goes on really easy. Took the wax off with a microfiber cloth (probably the easiest wax that I've ever removed)

The entire process was relatively easy and took around 5-6 hours. Can't wait to get back to Fl and start using the ole MA17 like she should be used. If y'all have any questions feel free to ask. I realize that there are quite a few techniques and products out there and I think it all depends on how much time you may have and how much you want to invest in knocking this out. 

Thanks to everyone again for your help!

R,

Bubba

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