Wax ? Cleaner ? Polish ?

[Basscat7]

Wax ? Cleaner ? Polish ?   Which one to use.

Waxes, cleaners and polish are different chemical make ups, each do a specific job for the gelcoat.

When detailing your boat to look new:

Cleaners should be used first to remove stains, pollution build up, scum, etc.
Any of the light compounds should do a good job cleaning the gelcoat with a buffer or hand scrubbing.

For dull gelcoat without much oxidation Meguiars Ultra Cut Compound will being the gel back to new :

http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-mirror-glaze-105-ultra-cut-compound.html

For gelcoat that is starting to fade with a light milky white, cloudy appearance, a heavier cut compound used with a buffer or orbital buffer will help remove most light oxidation without wet sanding.

Meguiars heavy duty gel coat cleaner is a good one for light to medium oxidation removal.

http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-oxidation-remover-49.html

Polish should be used next, it will remove almost all of the little swirl and scratch marks from the gel left behind from the cleaning compounds and leave a glossy, glass like finish.

Meguiars Polish :

http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-finishing-polish.html

Wax goes on last to protect and seal the glossy finish the polish put on. A good High caranuba wax will protect the gel from everyday pollution, make scum lines easier to remove after a day on the water, etc.

Collonite heavy Duty Fleetwax is one of the best:


http://www.waxbytes.com/marine.html


Not many of the combo wax / cleaners will work well as the cleaner part is usually a compound type to remove stains, etc while the wax is their to protect the gel.

Kind of like an oxymoron, trying to remove dirt / stains and leave a coat of wax at the same time. Something isn't going to work right.

To really do it right, all 3 should be a separate step.

Stan H