Waxing on a hot day!

We are leaving for the Chesapeake in a couple of weeks. I had the boat hand waxed by a couple of kids in the Abacos in April, but by the time I got back Sonas had a nice ICW moustache. I want to get rid of that before we leave and put a couple of coats of wax on the hull.

So, although the hull should be done when cool and in the shade... I need to git her done now. Only light compounding required.

Problem is it will be 94 here today. 71 right now. The dock side hull stays in the shade until around 11. So I have three hours. Then I will turn her and do the other side tomorrow morning.

Or should I just put up with the 'tache!?

Look up Muriatic Acid hull cleaner it works in 30 seconds

To get the mustache off, I’d recommend oxalic acid. It’s not as aggressive or as dangerous as muriatic acid. It’s also what is in Bar Keepers Friend and StarBright Hull Cleaner.

EZ-ON EZ-OFF Hull & Bottom Cleaner

Waxing on a hot day? Get an early start?

Starting now.

Ad when it gets too hot I am washing and waterproofing the seat canvas!

The joys of boat ownership!

menzies said:

Starting now.

Ad when it gets too hot I am washing and waterproofing the seat canvas!

The joys of boat ownership!

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The stain is discolored wax so why rewax when the stain will re appear in a week or 2 ??

menzies said:

We are leaving for the Chesapeake in a couple of weeks. I had the boat hand waxed by a couple of kids in the Abacos in April, but by the time I got back Sonas had a nice ICW moustache. I want to get rid of that before we leave and put a couple of coats of wax on the hull.

So, although the hull should be done when cool and in the shade... I need to git her done now. Only light compounding required.

Problem is it will be 94 here today. 71 right now. The dock side hull stays in the shade until around 11. So I have three hours. Then I will turn her and do the other side tomorrow morning.

Or should I just put up with the 'tache!?

Click to expand...

FWIW - we stopped using 'wax' maybe 10 seasons back when we tested and favored a 'sealant'. We have found that sealants last longer, easier to apply, resists the 'tache' and are tolerant of heat when applying. They contain no wax but protect better than wax from sun and 'stuff' without the waxes tendency to 'hold' dirt when presented to it.
Our tests and use was with "gel Coat labs" sealant but there are others out there that are similar. On the first season we tested one half the stern and one half the bow about 5' back with the sealant vs the wax. Within a few weeks our decision for future care was made - have a great trip whatever you do.

I use toilet bowl cleaner. The stuff from Lysol looks, goes on and works exactly the same as the "FSR" sold in the marine stores at 10 to 20 x the price.
The stache comes back whenever I run through fresh water, and with time in salt water too.
A true cure was demonstrated to me by a friend who put an Awlgrip paint job on his hull, 25 yrs ago. He went from a regular stache cleaning to never having to do that again. His boat is still a frequent companion, so I see that reminder constantly. The difference is the porous nature of Gelcoat v totally non-porous Awlgrip.

Took about two hours to do the bow back to behind the second portlight.

BarKeepers friend. Rinse. Coat of Meguiar's marine/RV wax, buff. Rinse.

And yes, it will come back, but I don't like having it sit "dirty" at my dock, plus we have a yacht club trip coming up. And I like to start off the next cruise clean!

Diver coming to do the bottom around lunchtime today, then we will turn her and I will do the other side tomorrow.

I keep a spray bottle of lemon juice (Realemon or any private label), and spray down the water line stain. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, and rinse. Stain gone.

What does that do to your wax coat - anything?

menzies said:

What does that do to your wax coat - anything?

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Makes it taste better ??

For what its worth immediately before switching to sealants our wax of choice was Meguiar's flagship marine.

smitty477 said:

For what its worth immediately before switching to sealants our wax of choice was Meguiar's flagship marine.

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And what "sealant" are you using now ?

Cut and paste - post #6

FWIW - we stopped using 'wax' maybe 10 seasons back when we tested and favored a 'sealant'. We have found that sealants last longer, easier to apply, resists the 'tache' and are tolerant of heat when applying. They contain no wax but protect better than wax from sun and 'stuff' without the waxes tendency to 'hold' dirt when presented to it.
Our tests and use was with "gel Coat labs" sealant but there are others out there that are similar. On the first season we tested one half the stern and one half the bow about 5' back with the sealant vs the wax. Within a few weeks our decision for future care was made - have a great trip whatever you do.

When you say it lasts longer - is this still an annual application?

menzies said:

When you say it lasts longer - is this still an annual application?

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Hello Menzies - good questions....
It is not like the old (poor and troubling) floor polishes that were marketed as marine 'miracles' that are thick, harden, yellow and flake after a while. If you remember them removal would take a floor wax remover and a mess of time and effort.

Not similar in any way and these sealants have been available for both cars and marine for a while now.
These are thin coatings like wax but do not contain any waxes or paraffins - all synthetic - similar to the Meguairs #21 I use on my cars now.
In the NE where we boat we typically 'wax' (sealant) the boat 2X per year.
Does the sealant last a full year - no , not really.
Did waxes last us a full year - no , never.
Was the time between waxing/sealing and water beading longer with the sealant - yes , much longer.
Was the time between waxing/sealing and black steaking (mostly topsides) longer with the sealant - yes waxing often saw black streaking within a week, sealant almost never.

Again - my experiences. But you can test it the way we did - just pay for a quart bottle and do a few specific areas as a direct comparison. Never trust the 'internet' but do trust yourself.

I've tested NuFinish vs more ecpensive polymer polishes and can't tell a difference in initial shine / beading or any difference in longevity.
NuFinish actually works pretty well in the sun.
The brown stain IMHO is not fiscored wax... I get it fron canal cruising and splash on the unwaxed swim deck non.skid. Barkeepers Friend takes it off instantly.

Menzies,

The lemon juice doesn't do anything to a good wax job. Before launching, I clean and wax with Collinite products. During the course of the season, maybe every 6 weeks or so, I'll use a spray wax like "Woody Wax" on the bow section. Woody Wax is used around here to put wax down on non-slip in the cockpit of fishing boats. Makes for easier fish blood clean-up. You spray the area with water (surface should be clean), spray the wax, wipe it down with a soft yellow boat brush, let it dry, then a light buffing. Woody Wax is expensive, but any detailing spray Carnuba wax will work.

Bacchus said:

I've tested NuFinish vs more ecpensive polymer polishes and can't tell a difference in initial shine / beading or any difference in longevity.
NuFinish actually works pretty well in the sun.
The brown stain IMHO is not fiscored wax... I get it fron canal cruising and splash on the unwaxed swim deck non.skid. Barkeepers Friend takes it off instantly.

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I never did get good results with NuFinish - but I tried that many years back (20?) and others may have differing results.