Great cleaning and polishing product

[enufsed]

Okay, this is the closest I may come on these boards to shilling for a product, so please don't flame me! But once in a while I come across a product that is just so effective I can't help but tell folks.

I have tried a number of products over the years for cleaning and waxing my boat, sometimes paying a premium for stuff from a marine supply store. I was poised to use Poli-Glow this spring, but hesitated (thankfully) after reading mixed reviews on these forums.

A couple of weeks ago I was working on my boat on its trailer beside a good friend of mine (Greg, and a highly experienced sailor) who was prepping his boat. He cleaned his hull with soapy water and left; then a friend of his showed up who polishes his hull every year, in exchange for electrical and other jobs that Greg performs for him around his house. So I asked this guy -- who apparently does this for other friends too -- what product he uses.

He introduced me to a product line from 3M that is a one-step cleaner and wax/polish. I had a lot of oxidization and the black stripes on my hull were really dull and greyish. Normally I'm suspicious of "one step" products but this "restorer/polish" worked incredibly well. I followed the instructions on the bottle, which advised to rub the creamy goop with a cloth in areas about 12 square inches, rubbing until the product "disappears" (and don't allow hazing). The results were amazing! The hull now has a lustrous "mirror" finish, and the black lines are glossy and deep black, as though factory new. The whole thing took a few hours, and would have been faster if I'd used a machine.

I quickly got into a rhythm of using a polish-saturated cloth with my right hand and a clean cloth in my left, with which I would deliver a quick final buff to each completed area.

I bought the product from Canadian Tire for $19 and one bottle was enough to do the entire hull sides. I don't know where you'd find it in the US, but being 3M, I'm sure it's common. It's made specifically for boats, but would likely work on other fibreglass items.

As an aside, I noticed at the store that this is part of a whole product line that includes a milder version of surfaces that are only slight oxidized, and another version for "highly" oxidized surfaces (in which case it's a two step process). I plan to use the mild version on my upper deck and cockpit.

3M advises that once you complete the initial "restoration" with these products, you maintain in future years with a wax of theirs, and use the restorer/polish if and when necessary.

I hope folks here find this tip useful. I can't imagine using anything else on my boat now. And no, I don't work for 3M and they're not paying me to write this. LOL

[Scott]

I may have missed the part where you said what its name is unless its, "3M one-step cleaner and wax/polish"

[Relackson]

Yes, enufsed, can you please give us the name of the 3M product you used?

Sounds good

Relackson

[FinallySailing]

Ecover (prob only available on this side of the Atlantic ? ) worked a treat on my boat, fully biodegradable and non toxic to marine life at all. But yes, for those really nasty spots when the green conscience gives way to a sore arm and blisters on your hand ... what is the name of that magic 3M stuff ?

[Divecoz]

Hummm Maybe ? We're supposed to guess?
So I'll guess...3M™ Marine High Gloss Gelcoat Compound Contains no wax or silicone and leaves a high gloss finish without swirl/wheel marks. Paste compound is designed to quickly remove P600 dual action or 1000 wet sanding scratches from production gelcoat.

[enufsed]

Sorry, the names are as follows:

3M "Marine Restorer & Wax" (subtitle: For Heavily Oxidized Finishes) -- white 500 mL bottle with green label. (Note that in the fine print on the back the product is meant for heavy and medium oxidization, and there is another "two-step" set of 3M products for really badly oxidized surfaces, but I would try this first.)

3M "Marine Cleaner & Wax" (subtitle: For Lightly Oxidized Fiberglass Surfaces) -- white 500 mL bottle with blue label.

[vkmaynard]

West Marine. They will match prices.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... 4Aod6FOoCQ

[c130king]

3M "Marine Cleaner & Wax" (subtitle: For Lightly Oxidized Fiberglass Surfaces) -- white 500 mL bottle with blue label.

I used this stuff this year. It was okay on the hull but didn't really do much for the black. Maybe I need the heavier duty stuff as the horizontal deck areas are more oxidized.

Jim

[Québec 1]

This is a good tread for beautiful blue hulls!
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... =8&t=17929

Q1