Washing and waxing your boat should be a regular
part of any marine maintenance program.
Keeping a
vessel clean and waxed helps protect it from the
deteriorating effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays
and also helps with fuel efficiency because a slick
hull will glide through the water _ and less drag
means less fuel usage. Hose down the vessel and wash
it from top to bottom, then bow to stern with a
quality marine cleaning product before waxing.
Apply a premium liquid cream wax. Allow to dry,
then use an electric buffer to remove. You will get
the best results:
If you keep the buffer moving so it doesn't
heat and harm the gel coat finish.
Do not turn the buffer so that the edge harms
the gel coat.
Do not turn buffer on edge as the edges can cut
into the gel coat.
Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions
on the washing product. Thoroughly rinsing the vessel
with fresh water and drying all surfaces well will
prevent soap-scum buildup, water spotting and a dull
finish. If you are washing your vessel on a sunny
day, be sure to wash and dry as you move along ...
don't wash and rinse the entire surface. Washing your
boat in this way will will prevent water evaporation
spots. Don't forget to also clean and polish all
metal parts. A good metal
polish will help protect aluminum and stainless
steal hardware from corrosion.
The best boat wax to use is one that has a
premium, carnauba wax base … the hardest wax
surface known to man.
Most major boat product suppliers carry carnauba
waxes, including Meguiar's and 3M. When making your
selection, just make sure that the product contains a
top-grade carnauba wax. Heller Glanz Carnauba Cream
Wax, one of the best products available on the market
today, uses only the best grade carnauba wax to
ensure that your vessel is resistant to dirt, grime
and a further oxidation. Heller Glanz makes its
carnauba cream wax from a special liquid formula
designed to renew the luster of gel coat and
fiberglass, while leaving each surface with a smooth,
silky finish. It can be applied with a rag or buffer
and it is easily wiped from the surface. Quality
carnauba wax will restore your vessel's shine and
protect it from the harmful effects of ultraviolet
rays and salt water.
Top-grade carnauba is a coveted wax found only in
the leaves of the Carnauba Palm tree that grows in
northern Brazil. The Carnauba Palm tree (copernica
cerifera) does grow in other areas of Brazil and
South America as well as in parts of Africa and
Ceylon, but only the palm found in the northern
region produces the wax that is harvested during a
seven-month period each year.
The leaves of the tree leech the wax in a natural
effort to seal in moisture. Once removed, the palm
leaves are soaked to soften the wax and prepare it
for sale. The raw wax is graded according to its age
and the processing techniques used.
Carnauba
waxes possess natural protective systems. That
means the wax properties expand when exposed to water
while diffusing the sun's ultraviolet rays. These
natural attributes mean that once the wax is applied
to your boat it will protect it from further
oxidation and preserve a magnificent, rich brilliance
for the rest of the year.