[C320-list] Buffing and polishing

[Joe Luciano]

The key is removing the oxidation (chalkiness) before applying any choice of wax or other surface finish.  I’m a fan of Polarshine compound material to remove the oxidation.  I use the Polarshine 10 product which is on the fine side of the products they make.  I find it to be non-gritty and fairly gentle on the gelcoat.  I use a DeWalt circular polisher on the hull to apply the material, but I don’t find it helpful on the topsides becasuse of the various obstacles and corners involved, so I end up doing the topsides by hand, which takes a while……  I tried an orbital originally on the hull and I didn’t find it to work very well at all.  I see many people in the boat yard just put wax on over the top of an oxidized gelcoat.  Total waste of time IMO and within a month or two it doesn’t look any better than when they started.  As far as waxes go, there are many good ones out there.  The Collinite waxes have always had good reviews in Practical Sailor and I have used them, but there are many others that will work just as well.  You may want to check what PS says relativ eto their latest reviews.  And again, the key is removing the oxidation first.  Best of luck…..

Joe Luciano
C-320 #1044

> On Mar 7, 2021, at 3:32 PM, Brian McLamb <bjcnmclamb at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I really like Meguars Marine wax. It is  liquid that is easy to work with
> and lasts well. I have used it for several years on salon exterior and for
> the cockpit. Never tried it with a buffer as I use micro cloth by hand.
> 
> On Sun, Mar 7, 2021 at 6:16 PM nibj <nibj at mac.com> wrote:
> 
>> Last year I escaped polishing our (new to us in 2019) C320 due to
>> lockdown.  This year I have to do it.  The hull looks pretty good but the
>> cabin and cockpit sides are a bit chalky.    I have a Porter-Cable random
>> orbital polisher (but have never used it!).  So help please….
>> 
>> a) What compound and polish do you like?
>> b) How many pads and of what type should I buy for the polisher?
>> 
>> Any advice would be much appreciated.  I hope the boat will look tip-top
>> this year :-)
>> 
>> Thanks
>> Peter
>> Tangled #226
> 
> -- 
> Brian McLamb