Waxing a boat

[vettnman]

Well, I threw the first coat of wax on the boat today. Learned a couple of things. (1) My ass is way too big to be crawling up under a boat trailer. (2) I need to get a buffer. It did get me to thinking. How many of you guys crawl up under the boat to wax the running surface? Do you use a buffer up under there? I'm definitly getting one for the hull sides. Just curious about what you guys do with the under part of your boats.

[blueh20pc]

I just bought a 7" from Northern hydraulics... 52$ shipped.

My underside is bottom painted, so that adds a whole new level to crawing under the trailer.

I once spent the better part of a week under the trailer stripping paint and repainting.

[Domino Effect]

I take it to the car detail shop. $150 bucks well spent

[offshore]

Dont worry about the bottom. It will need rewaxing after the first trip out!! Water line and above only for me...Mark

[Garett]

Unofficially speaking here, it is said that waxing the underside of a haul slows a boat down .......but the boat sure would look pretty sitting on a trailer.
I would have to second "the first trip out on the water all your wax would be gone from the underside". But look at the bright side of things here, you did get good exercise!

[vettnman]

Originally Posted by Garett

Unofficially speaking here, it is said that waxing the underside of a haul slows a boat down .......but the boat sure would look pretty sitting on a trailer.
I would have to second "the first trip out on the water all your wax would be gone from the underside". But look at the bright side of things here, you did get good exercise!

Man, I hope it won't all be gone from the underside. Trying to do what I can to keep the hull from staining when I leave the boat in the water in a couple of weeks. Oh well, that's what they make on/off for. And it does look good sittn on the trailer!!

[glen e]

don't wax what sits in the water - just keep it clean
for hullsides - wash with dawn dishwashing detergent
use a random orbital with CCS pads - do a coat of collonite cleaner - buff off
use rejex or collonite - 2 coats with the buffer - hand buff off - rejex is alot easier - collonite must come off as soon as it goes on, rejex can dry - I use rejex - rejex must be applied 12 hours between coats...Nu-finish sold at auto parts store is also VERY close to rejex....

look for the tutorials on buffers and pads at autogeek.net - the porter cable 7424 is the ticket...

[Newmoon]

You are wasting your time waxing below the waterline. A few high speed runs in salt water will strip off the wax.

[fishfighter]

Harbor Freighrt sells a sander/buffer for $39 and if you catch it on sale,the cost is $29.You can buy wool pads there too on the cheap.3M cleaner/wax works great on color gelcoats.As always when waxing something,try any wax/cleaner in a spot that is out of the way.