Best way to polish a boat

The last step for any boater worth his salt. Polish is a mild abrasive that gently removes.

Buffing simply refers to the act of applying and spreading polish on the boat rubbing it in so that the polish can do its work.

Best way to polish a boat. When you polish your boat you will want to start at the back and work towards the bow. Things to keep in mind when polishing your boat include. You can apply polish or wax using an electric buffer or by hand.

Use circular motions to avoid streaks. Work in sections of about 2 feet. Buff until the surface looks glassy.

The owners of lucky boats have long understood that routine preventative maintenance including regular polishing is the most cost-effective solution to maintaining their boat year round. A fibreglass boat thats nice and clean and impregnated with wax will see the water and grime just bead or blow off. But even if you have the right product in mind youll want a quick and effective way of applying it.

Thats where the buffing comes in. Buff Your Aluminum to a High Shine. Buffing simply refers to the act of applying and spreading polish on the boat rubbing it in so that the polish can do its work.

At this stage boat owners go different routes. An orbital buffer is safer because it vibrates only back and forth but Pennington cautions it is only good for applying a thin layer of wax. For the at-home DIY enthusiast Pennington recommends a dual-action boat polisher for boats which both oscillates and rotates making it a lot safer and easier to operate.

Hilton applies his polish with a 1-inch paintbrush in three horizontal strips in a 1- by 3-foot area. He then goes to work with a wool pad on a slower speed setting on his buffer. Try to carry the compound down the side of the boat using a side-to-side motion he says.

The best place to start is a general wash down with a pressure washer and an environmentally friendly marine shampoo along the decks and hull. This can be done with the boat in or out of the water. To do this spray your boat with fresh water through the pressure washer being careful around windows and hatches not to damage the seals and force water inside the boat.

Select a rubbing compound formulated for fiberglass and use it exactly like polish rubbing it with a circular motion until the surface turns glassy. The gelcoat on your boat is about 10 times as thick as the paint on your car so compound shouldnt cut all the way through it as long as you are careful not to rub in one place too long. Fuel treatments and additives can go a long way towards keeping your boating season trouble-free.

But when you get into diesel-powered vessels that are 40 feet or more the best way to remove waterand the nasty stuff that comes with itfrom your fuel tank or tanks is to add a fuel-polishing system to your engine room. Wash with a proper detergent. Finish washing the surface with a sponge and special boat soap or a mild solution of dishwashing detergent and warm water.

If the surface of your boat is stained its sometimes common to use a small amount of. Good job but youre not done rubbing and buffing just yet. To get things really gleaming give the boat a coat of polish like Shurhold Serious Shine Quick Detailer.

This stuff is an aerosol that leaves a mirror-like finish in its wake. Now stand next to your boat with your head about six inches from the hull. To polish the boat it is essential to prep it.

For preparing your boat before polishing it is important to clean your boat thoroughly. For cleaning you can use a wet sponge a mild liquid detergent and water. Start cleaning the boat by first spraying the boat with water and get rid of all the debris on the ship.

The end of each boating season is a good time to thoroughly polish a boat. By removing oxidation and algae stains and then sealing the boat with wax youll ensure that its ready to go next year. FLEX PE14-2-150 Rotary Polisher.

Spray the boat with the power wash sprayer from the bottom to the top. Let the soap soak for five minutes but be sure it doesnt dry on the boat as this only adds another layer of grime. Spray the boat down from top to bottom to wash off all of the detergent.

Dont miss any part of the boat including an outboard on some smaller fishing boats. The best way to clean a boat depends on the hull material that your boat is made of. Only clean fibreglass and aluminium boats with specialised products and the correct cleaning technique.

Dont be tempted to use any household cleaning products - they could etch the surface and strip wax because they are highly alkaline. Restoring a Boats Finish. To restore shine to a fiberglass boat its necessary to remove the oxidized portion of the gelcoat and return the outer surface to the glassy reflective finish it once had.

Its necessary to polish or compound first and then polish the boat to restore the finish. Polish is a mild abrasive that gently removes. The process is somewhat labor-intensive but it only has to be done a few times a season and takes about two hours for a 22-foot boat.

Working in small sections use a circular motion or s-curve to polish the tubes with your hand-held machine after cleaning then clean once again to remove residue. The last step for any boater worth his salt. Really the best way to wax a fiberglass boat is to start with the polish and work up.

Now if you dont want to pull off the last coat of wax remember that a lot of boat soaps have a mild formula that will not strip wax but if you really want to get a good shine on then youll want to take it all off. Simple Green has been a crowd favorite it will strip old wax and let you make.