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Boat Polish and Wax FAQs
Boats should be polished and/or waxed when they are out of the water, so you’ll likely be conducting the job when your boat is on a trailer or storage pad. Additionally, make sure you can freely move around all sides of the boat.
Before you do anything to your boat’s exterior, you need to first clean it. We recommend using lots of fresh water and soap intended for marine use. If you are in a saltwater environment, you will want to be sure that all salt is removed as it can interfere with and break down boat wax and boat polish products.
Also, be aware that salt is good at hiding in any cracks and crevices as well as overhangs such as T-Tops and/or hardtops. After a good lathering, make sure to give a thorough rinse using clean fresh water and a reasonable amount of water pressure. After you’ve finished cleaning off the salt and surface dirt, you can begin the compounding and waxing process.
We’ve created an article to help you to select the most effective boat cleaning and protecting products.
If your boat has any removable fittings, remove them. Removing fittings will help to prevent your buffer from getting caught. It can also be pretty tedious trying to hand wax around fittings. Of course, when you remove fitting make sure that you organize your hardware effectively so that reassembly is easy.
It is not necessary to polish your boat every time you wax it, but you will want to polish it anytime the finish looks dull, faded, pitted, or scratched. When polishing your boat, start at the back and work your way toward the bow.
Apply the wax either by hand or electric buffer using circular motions much in the same way you applied the polish. Wait until the wax is hazy, indicating that it is dry. Then buff the wax until it shines using a soft towel.
What are the best boat wax products?
Star Brite Premium Cleaner Wax – One Step Heavy Duty Cleaner Wax is formulated specifically to remove oxidation and hazing from fiberglass or painted surfaces. The special polymers seal the restored finish to keep it looking its best while providing unmatched protection against UV rays and a deep, long-lasting gloss. Application is simple, whether by hand or with a buffer; apply, let dry to a haze, and wipe off. For best results, protect the restored finish with a coat of Premium Marine Polish.
Star Brite Pre-softened Boat Wax – This easy-to-use pre-softened formula can even be applied in sunlight. It provides a deep shine and long-lasting protection against fading, chalking, oxidation, and UV rays.
3M Marine Liquid Wax – This wax is designed for the marine environment and is safe for use on gel coats, topside paints, as well as marine metals.
3M Perfect-It Gelcoat Light Cutting Polish + Wax Light Cutting Polish + Wax – This all-in-one formula combines a rubbing compound with a blend of waxes, so you can accomplish two tasks in just one step. If the gel coat is highly oxidized (faded) we recommend using a stronger compound first then wax.
3M Perfect-It Gelcoat Medium Cutting Compound + Wax – This product uses the same concept as the previous one, except it’s designed for heavier oxidation and blemishes.
Meguiar’s Premium Marine Wax- This wax works best to enrich the color and shine when used with Premium Paint Polish.
Meguiar’s Spray Quik Wax – This easy-to-use spray bottle product enables you to maintain gloss between waxings. This is PartsVu’s recommended quick touch-up after a weekend of boating.
Meguiar’s Cleaner Wax – This one-step liquid cleans your paint while you wax, removing light oxidation and haze.
Your boat will run just fine if you maintain your engine, even if you don’t maintain your gelcoat. However, if you don’t maintain it, your gelcoat will become porous. Porous gel coat stains much more easily, but of more concern, contributes to your boat’s fiberglass prematurely cracking. Generally speaking, staining is unpleasant—your boat will lose its luster, not look as nice, and could lose substantial resale value.
Fiberglass can and does suffer from age, elements, and wear and tear. This process of breakdown is the result of cracking.
Typically, the deterioration initially seems minor, with microscopic cracks in the formed fiberglass fabric. Over time, these cracks become more prominent, separating fibers and the resin that hold them together. The bigger the cracks get, the more stress occurs to the remaining material. Eventually, a significant break occurs when the integrity can no longer hold together.
Maintaining your gelcoat goes a long way toward protecting against premature fiberglass deterioration. The reality is, with regular gelcoat maintenance, both your gel coat and boat’s fiberglass will last a long, long time.
Thankfully, the marine industry offers many great products that make gelcoat care faster and easier than ever.
How do I maintain my boat’s gel coat?
Use a mild pH-balanced boat soap and avoid using dish soap. Dish soap typically includes heavy-duty degreasers that can strip the wax from your boat’s finish. A boat soap cleans but also preserves the wax. Also, avoid bleach or harsh detergents, which can also damage the gelcoat.
First, rinse your boat with fresh water to remove salt, dirt, and other debris from the surface. Rubbing the surface of your boat without removing these abrasive particles can scratch your gelcoat, which will, of course, reduce its luster. If you are a saltwater boater and there is a lot of salt debris on your boat’s surface, you’ll need to use a product like CRC Salt Terminator or Starbrite Salt Off.
Use a soft cloth like a wash mitt or a microfiber towel to wash, then rinse with fresh water. After rinsing, wipe down your boat with a fresh microfiber, soft cotton cloth, or chamois so that mineral deposits don’t form, which will happen if you let the water dry on its own.
If your boat’s finish is in great shape, you can likely skip this step. If you are trying to bring back the shine, you will probably need a cleaning step—more aggressive than a wash. However, we recommend using the least aggressive cleaner possible, then using a more aggressive product if necessary.
Starbrite Cleaner Wax, Mothers Cleaner Wax, Meguiars Cleaner Wax, and other products of this nature will remove light oxidation and restore your finish. These products also contain wax protection, which extends your wax’s life—reducing the number of times you need to wax your boat per year.
However, if you need to remove heavier oxidation, you will need to use a product like 3M’s rubbing compounds. Just like selecting a cleaner, start with the least aggressive rubbing compound possible.
Always follow the application directions on the product’s packaging, but generally, you will apply with a foam pad and buff out with a clean microfiber towel. If you would like to use a bit less elbow grease, use an electric applicator—we like the Shurhold Dual-Action Polisher.
