Long Live the Fiberglass
by Erin McNiff
Protect your boat's sensitive 'skin'
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The only thing defending the surface of most boats is a layer of wax that's just 1/5,000 of an inch thick -- and it usually gets applied only once a season. It's the only thing protecting your boat's delicate gelcoat from sun, moisture, salt, oil, gasoline, exhaust, bird droppings and fish blood.
The best way to keep these contaminants from turning into stains, scratches, scuffs, water spots and oxidation that mar the surface of your boat is regular hull maintenance.
"The more often you take care of your boat, the easier it will be to maintain," said Mike Pennington, director of training for Meguiar's Inc., a company based in Irvine, California that manufactures surface care products.
Gelcoat is more porous than paint, which is why it is more difficult to remove stains from it and why it can oxidize without proper care.
According to Pennington, there are three steps to maintaining the surface of your boat: evaluating the surface, choosing the right product and using that product with the right technique.
First, you should evaluate the surface of your boat to determine the condition of the surface. This will help you to decide which product you should use.
If your boat is fairly new and/or is in good condition, you can opt for a simple three-step method of cleaning. However, if oxidation has already formed, or contaminants have permeated the surface of the gelcoat, a more extensive five-step method -- including wash, clean, polish, wax and maintenance steps -- should be used.
For a boat that has been regularly maintained, first wash the boat with a gentle, biodegradable cleaner and a clean 100 percent cotton towel.
"A lot of people use a diaper on their boat because they say, 'If it's soft enough for a baby, then it's soft enough for my boat,'" said Bob Jimenez of Western Marine Marketing, a Meguiar's distributor.
"But, if you are rubbing one smooth surface against another and you get a contaminant like dirt or salt between them, it can scratch the surface. You need something with a nap to prevent that from happening."
Next, apply a thin, even layer of wax to protect the surface. Wax protects the boat's surface much like sunscreen protects your skin.
Pennington recommends applying the wax with a foam pad that will not scratch or burn the boat's surface. Be sure to use a different pad for each different product used.
After it has thoroughly dried, buff the wax off with a clean 100 percent cotton towel.
"Fold the towel into quarters instead of just bunching it up, so you can keep track of the clean surfaces," Pennington said. "And remove the manufacturer's tag from the towel, so it won't scratch the boat's surface.
"A good test to tell if the wax is dry is to run your finger through it," Pennington said. "If the surface is clean, the wax is dry. If it is smeared, the wax is still wet."
The final step is to maintain the surface on a regular basis, which will give it a high-gloss shine. This can be done with a sealer, applied with a clean 100 percent cotton towel.
However, if your boat is several years old or hasn't been regularly maintained and has oxidized, a five-step method should be used.
First, wash the boat with a gentle, biodegradable cleaner to remove loose contaminants. Then, use a cleaner to remove bonded contaminants, like oxidation, stains, hard water spots and scratches.
Next, it is important to use a polish to revitalize the surface, restore its glossy finish and seal the surface.
"Once you clean the boat, you open a cavity (in the gelcoat) and you need to close that with the polish," Jimenez said.
Then, protect the surface with a thin coat of wax.
"Multiple thin coats of wax work more effectively than one thick coat," Pennington said.
Finally, follow a regular maintenance schedule to preserve the look and the life of the boat's gelcoat.
A regular boat maintenance schedule that is followed throughout the seasons is important -- and it will help a boat retain its shine and value. It will also require less of your effort in the long run.
For more information, contact Meguiar's, 17991 Mitchell S., Irvine, CA 92714; (800) 545-3321.
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This article first appeared in the October 1, 1996 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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