A severely oxidized hull calls for a powerfull hull cleaner. PS has tested several in the past.
Waxing your hull this weekend? Here’s a brief recap of our more-detailed gelcoat maintenance discussion that is posted in the public DIY section of the Practical Sailor website, “Tools and Techniques.” Results of our latest tests of the best marine paste waxes and best liquid waxes can be purchased online. If you’re not in a hurry, and are sure you want to use a liquid wax, you might want to wait for the liquid-wax test finale in the September 2010 issue.
The keys to gelcoat health are: keep it clean, keep it waxed, and repair dings in a timely fashion. Here’s a regimen we recommend to keep your topsides new-boat shiny.
• Get it clean: Wash the topsides with a powerful cleaner and then tackle any salt deposits with water and straight white vinegar. For rust stains or discoloration, try FSR, a gelled oxalic acid (but don’t get it on varnished or painted surfaces) that did very well in our past test of waterline stain cleaners.
• Repairs: Repair any dings, gouges, scrapes, or scratches using a gelcoat repair kit. If you have a gelcoat supplier nearby, you can save and get professional results by having them match the color for you.
• If there’s still oxidation on the hull, wet-sand the surface (starting with 600 grit and working to 1000, 1200, or 1600 grit) and/or use a good rubbing compound such as 3M’s Perfect-it series and a compounding-grade wool pad.
• Micro-polishing: The finest topsides finishing material we have used is 3M Finesse-it II. You can apply by hand or using a slow-speed electric or air-powered buffer. The polishing bonnet itself makes a big difference. The 3M Superbuff pad works well and comes in varying degrees of aggressiveness. Use separate pads for polishing and waxing, and be systematic in the application, marking off the work area with masking tape. Work from the top down, doing the area around the waterline last.
• Waxing: Polishing provides the gloss, wax provides the protection. We use a hard paste wax—Collinite Fleetwax 885 is our favorite—working in exactly the same systematic method as used in polishing. Use a damp sponge applicator, and cotton rags for the final buffing when doing the job by hand. A boat that is in year-round service in the tropics should be cleaned and waxed at least twice a year. If you keep the topsides waxed, you may go several years without micro-polishing. Look for the one-year results of our liquid wax test and our Collinite 885 vs. Meguiars long-term past wax test in a future issue.
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