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Now that spring is hopefully approaching and many of us are taking possession of our new boats, what are you guys using to protect your gelcoat from the elements?
Looking for recommendations for a good sealant or wax thats good for UV.
Used to use collinite but that is a wax. Started looking at things like Rejex which is more of a sealant and on some of my other boats, seems to work well.
i am NOT into ceramic coating at this point. For me the jury is still out on that.
I will give you feed back on IGL Marine ceramic this spring.
Polishing the boat and prepping for it now with Rupes UHS and carpro essence. Need 60f+ to start applying IGL Marine.
My buddy is a pro and the IGL is bad ass. One of the lakes I go to is pretty hard water and this should leave zero water spotting and no towel drying.
I used a ceramic kit I had laying around on my trailer last year and also spot free and sheets dry within a couple minutes of pulling out of the lake.
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I have always used meguires wax in the spring and then their quick detailer after each outing. has worked for me in the past.
having a light/white colored boat makes a difference. my perception is if your boat is or has black on it there's more work involved.
boater4life used boat candy speed gloss and some kind of microfiber towels I have not seen before at the ramp and his boat always looked good. that stuff worked well and cleaning after an outing was pretty easy.
not mentioned but I have used both 303 and babes seat saver on the interior and given a choice, babes 100% of the time. smells amazing and works great. 1x ayear if you have a stubborn spot malco to remove it and follow up with uv protectant(babes).
that's been my regiment since 07 and always kept the boats looking good but know there's a lot of good products out there and to me the most important regiment is a good cleaning after every outing.
I'm a second on Performance Boat Candy. That stuff is great one good wax in spring then PBC all year and your set. Our 14 looks as good if not better than factory.
Every bit of feedback I have seen is that the clear drying is a myth. There will be water spots, drying down will be needed, and it supposedly is “easier” for whatever that means. I have never really thought a post lake dry was too hard...Quote:
Originally Posted by larry_arizona
Excited to hear your feedback.
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So far the ceramic/nano coated trailer has dried spot free, hopefully the IGL marine does the same for the gel coat.Quote:
Originally Posted by dakota4ce
Good or bad, I will post actual results. I don’t blindly follow product claims, but willing to experiment. There are only a couple gelcoat specific nano coatings on the market and IGL is
one of the best in automotive.
I was anti nano until I tried it on my black car. Let’s just say maintenance is 10% of what it used to be. I keep black paint perfect and a mirror finish, it was a job with a DA polish and high end wax and sealants and using a minimal touch wash system including blow drying versus using towels.
Now it’s a breeze with a nano.
Hoping the boat is the same.
If results are good, I will likely be able to do local applications. IGL does not sell to the open market.
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There's so many great products on the market to keep the toys looking fantastic. I myself use and trust Boat Bling inside and out.Quote:
Originally Posted by jason1973
Their water spot remover is called Hotsauce and works amazing. Designed for Fiberglass, Plastic, Chrome, Glass and all painted surfaces so you know it's a safe and works. It doesn't strip your wax with a polymer wax it leaves behind and keeps the shine on. Sold by the quart or gallon for any job big or small. IMO for the best results you should use a triditional shammy and not a micro fiber cloth. This is persoanl opnion but I have found the shammy is key to this cleaning product for me.
Interior cleaner Boat Bling has Vinyl Sauce, not only a great cleaner but also a little UV protectant. Directions are a spray on wipe off application but I have found a mild scrubber used with the sauce really help deep clean the interior. I use this product after every outing and my interior has never looked so good all the time. Now twice a month i use the Condition Sauce which will give me 100% UV protection. Keeping your seats moist and protected means zero cracking down the road.
https://marine-products.com/search?t...q=boat*+bling*
Coated boat with IGL marine. By far nicer finish than any high end wax that I have used.
I understand why this is a pro only product, but I got the hang of it.
I am very happy and will report back on water spotting and maintenance
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I looked up the product you used and it rang up 10k for a 1L bottle. That correct? The finish looks excellent btw!Quote:
Originally Posted by larry_arizona
It’s $9999.00 because it’s not available to general public, you need to be IGL certified.
I have a 200ml size and it was plenty for a 23 foot boat, inside and out.
200 ml was $425
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$425 is completely insane. There's plenty of reputable marine waxes and sealants that will give you all the shine you need and have been around for years. Meguiars marine being one of them. All this new fancy coating material is just to steal some more money out of peoples pockets that have nothing better to spend it on.
***flame suit on ***
No flames coming, it’s not for everyone.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcjimmy33
I was a pinnacle souveran and Wolfgang Fusion wax fan for years on my black car. I switched to ceramic coating on my car this year and was a significant improvement. Black car that is so easy to keep clean with a perfect finish.
Ceramic Coating the boat was next and honestly without a professional walking me through it, I would pass.
But the boat looks better with ceramic than wax, it’s the look PLUS reduced maintenance I am after to truly tell me if it’s worth it.
I can be honest if reduced maintenance is legit. I will be the first to say not worth it. I have no issue admitting I wasted a few hundred dollars.
But based on ceramic coating my trailer last year and a black car this year, my confidence is high for the boat.
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Has anyone tried the boat juice stuff?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0783N72LH...e-814cf5dd9e62
Follow up on ceramic coating.
Went to a lake today known for hard water and severe spotting.
At least 50% reduction of spotting, but wipes off effortlessly with a basic waterless wash. Could not wipe them off before without using vinegar to dissolve hard water spots.
So not a miracle cure, but greatly reduces water spotting.
Next test is longevity versus wax.
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I use “hot sauce” same concept as that works great and removes water spots especially from the windshield with out any problemsQuote:
Originally Posted by Snowslydder
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I always used Turtle paste wax on my 2004 Mobius after each time out. Even last year (2018) people who didn't know boat styles would ask me how I liked the new boat. I think it's just keeping up with it.
I got a quote from a pro for $2500, 23' mojo. He said it should last six months. That's a season for me, but still ?
What is included for $2500 and 6 months doesn’t sound like a ceramic.Quote:
Originally Posted by strato
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I will tell you the sealant i use will last 6 months. 6 months, for $2500 is insane. I would walk away. I think ceramic is a scam at this point. It has more to prove before i would ever spend that kind of money on snake oil.
Guessing the majority of that $2500 is gelcoat correction. The labor in polishing a 23 foot boat it easily 20 hours.
Applying the coating takes 4-6 hours.
I am very happy with ceramic so far, the look is unbeatable, much easier clean up and IF it lasts 2 years will be well worth what I have into it especially if after 2 years I don’t need to repolish it and correct it.
I will say the gelcoat on SC’s is not the greatest out of the factory and needs polishing for sure.
Had I not done all the labor myself, it would easily be $2500+
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I looked up detailers online that did ceramic, and asked for a quote to do my boat, 23' Mojo. That's the quote he gave me. He asked if I used it in salt water, I replied ,no.
For $2500 that has to include polishing and not just coating your boat with ceramic.Quote:
Originally Posted by strato
Polishing is going to be required even for a new boat, there are plenty of flaws and scratches from the factory.
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Maybe, I have no experience with the process.
I use a dual action polisher on mine every spring and 2 coats of Rejex. The rejex is cheap and lasts all season. My all black LSV sits in the water from April till October. The scum line wipes off with a wet washcloth. Water spots wipe right off as will.
I will put a top coat of carnuba wax over the rejex for extra UV protection. But the carnuba wax only lasts a couple weeks.
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Just thought I’d add to this thread. This season I decided to give one of the “ceramic” protectants/sealants a try. I purchased a 32oz of Hydrosilex Marine @ $85. For the last 4-5 seasons I had had great results with $25 per bottle Rejex. The rejex worked for the entire season with the boat being moored from May-Oct. This year I got a late start and didn’t get the boat in until the end of June. So far I’m not impressed. With the rejex the scum line and hard water deposits wiped right off with a damp rag. The hydrosilex takes a hell of lot of elbow grease!
I’ll be going back to Rejex indefinitely!
Don’t waste your money on these “ceramic” gimmicks.
Just thought I’d share.
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IGL marine ceramic is working great. It’s definitely a time saver, especially on lakes with hard water.
I don’t think all ceramics are the same.
Big difference in a professional ceramic nano coating and a wax with some ceramic in it.
Hydrosilex marine is not a true ceramic nano coating, it’s a spray on wipe off sealer at best.
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Centurion is offering ceramic coating from the factory.
IGL marine is doing great still. Not spot free, but cleaning this boat is a breeze.
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Since this thread I have been certified in R1 Ceramic Coating. I'll start with it's very expensive depending how bad the gel is. My product if taken care of correctly is rated to last 5 years which makes the high price easier to swallow. The DIY coatings are fantastic but will only last a limited ammount of time mainly for the lack of education and produt to maintain it. Wax is fantastic but will have to be applied at least every 30 days if not more, sealants are a great way to go and will last much longer but again it's what products you use to maintain it. If I was to buy a boat and the person mentioned they use Viniger + Water for after lake I would want to see records of wax/sealant used frequently or I will pass. Most people miss it but service records should also include how you take care of the exterior.
You bet your ass it cost this customer a pretty penny to get this boat back. He bought it like this a couple of years ago, now it's perfect and he can't beleive he thought it was shiny before. Every stop now starts a conversation about his boat and nobody can beleive it's a 2007.
https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...19&oe=5DCB5F14
https://scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net...42&oe=5DE35836
Skiers Choice gel does require some polishing to say the least.
I also agree that pro grade ceramics are worth every penny.
The DIY grade is questionable.
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wax every 30 days??? I waxed my LSV once in the 7 years I had it. I have waxed the Mojo twice in 3 seasons lol.
Too funny. I sold my boat for the same price I bought it 16 years ago. I waxed it in the spring and wiped it down when I pulled it out of the water. Only records I kept was yearly hours on the engine and that was for my own use. I'd write the date and hours on the gas and oil filters for my own use as they didn't get changed each year. The boat was parked outside the entire time. The white and blue metalflake was easy to keep clean but the interior was the most work.