Practical Sailorvideo
How to Wax and Polish Your Boat
10 June 2024 · 9 min · 38K views
What this video covers
Maintaining a gel coat finish involves three distinct stages: cleaning, polishing, and waxing.2:18 Cleaning requires removing salt, dirt, and grease; Simple Green effectively strips old wax, while specialized boat soaps handle general grime.5:32 Polishing acts as an ultra-fine sanding process to remove oxidation and surface imperfections.1:43 Users should start with the mildest abrasive compound necessary to avoid excessive removal of the gel coat, only resorting to wet sanding with 800-grit paper for severely neglected hulls.6:26 Waxing provides the final protective seal, with paste waxes generally offering superior durability over liquid polymers, though liquids apply more easily.7:49 Recommended tools include variable-speed polishers like the DeWalt DW849 or budget-friendly options from Chicago Electric, paired with wool or microfiber buffing pads.4:08 Always wear a P95 respirator and goggles during the compounding process.5:53 Frequent, aggressive polishing can prematurely thin the gel coat, so maintenance should prioritize cleaning and only polish when oxidation is visible.0:51
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