Practical Sailor Launches Long-term Liquid Boat Wax Test

Testers apply 25 liquid boat waxes and rate them for initial gloss and water-beading

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In the February 2009 issue of Practical Sailor, we reviewed paste waxes, those harder compounds normally sold in cans or tubs. In our perennial quest for a glossy boat exterior, we have expanded our tests to include a long list of waxes and polishes now sold in bottles.

In choosing which product is best for your boat, first decide what result you are looking for. A bright showroom shine or long-term protection? What is your location, and how is the boat used? A formula high in carnauba wax may be best for a short-term brilliant shine, but one with a hard polymer or glass-like coat and UV inhibitors may have the best long-term protection.

Even brand new boats need to have the gelcoat sealed and protected from the elements. Start with a good marine sealant and polish, preferably one of the new synthetic polymer-based types. (If oxidation has already started, you will need a rubbing compound, but all this will be covered in a future article.)

In this issue, we are addressing liquid waxes and sealants to use for the final step in obtaining the ultimate hard, glossy finish after the rubbing compound, fillers and polishes have been applied.

Liquid Wax

What We Tested

With an ever-growing number of products on the market, Practical Sailor settled on 26 liquid products from 21 manufacturers that were advertised or recommended as boat and car waxes, polishes, or finish applications. We left out some that rated poorly in previous tests.

We intended to test only finish waxes, but several are multi-purpose polishes with cleaning agents. All claim to provide a high gloss or the surface ability to reflect light.

We looked for products that were easy to apply and create that sought-after mirror finish on the sides and decks of our sailboats.

Liquid Wax

In general, as with the paste waxes, these liquid products are meant to be applied after the compounding and buffing steps, if needed. These are for the finishing step and are for surfaces that are in good shape.

Some waxes do contain UV-protection agents, but the amount of UV protection that a microscopically thin layer of wax can provide is limited. The primary goal of a wax is to protect the top layers of gelcoat that already contain UV-protection agents. Practical Sailor tested UVA and UVB absorption among a handful of waxes claiming UV protection and no product, even when applied in a thick film, absorbed a significant percentage of these rays.

In many ways they all look, feel, and smell the same. Their differences may be in the labeling and what market application the manufacturers are seeking.

The Value Guide on page 26 shows a wide range of prices for these products. Car waxes and polishes are available through a variety of automotive and hardware retailers and tend to be less expensive. Some products are sold through marine dealers and distributors such as West Marine, and the newer specialty products are mostly sold direct and online.

How We Tested

The products were marked, tested, and listed in random order.

Two white fiberglass hatch covers were washed, dried, and prepared by machine buffing with 3M Perfect-It rubbing compound and 3M Finesse-It II Restorer to remove dirt and scratches. A grid was laid out on the covers with masking tape. One coat of each wax or coating was applied to an area about 6 by 8 inches, following maker instructions, and then buffed off by hand.

Testers observed and rated each finish in the sunlight, then sprayed them with a mist of water and rated the relative beading. In a dark room, testers held a multi-bulb LED flashlight over each polished square. The degree of clarity of the reflected LEDs in each determined the finishs degree of gloss; testers rated them accordingly.

Liquid Wax

For this test, there were no significant differences in the ease of application from one product to the next. All were easy to apply and easy to buff off, so we left that factor out of the Value Guide on page 26.

Post application, testers mounted the hatch covers face-up in an unobstructed spot on the roof of our workshop in Sarasota, Fla., basking in the hot sun, wind, and summer rains. Well check in on the hatches regularly and will publish updates on the products long-term performances.

What We Found

Star brite Premium Marine Polish No. 85716: This Star brite polish boasts PTFE (Polytetraflouroethylene), the companys registered formula it claims produces an extremely slick, UV-protected, non-stick and durable finish. Not a cleaner, Premium Marine Polish can be applied over old wax and polish. The thick, white liquid produced a nice shine and was best on the water-beading test.

Star brite Marine Polish, No. 80116: This is a thick, blue liquid multipurpose cleaner/polish. It is designed to remove light chalking from gelcoat and aluminum and to restore luster. It contains kerosene, has a very strong kerosene smell, and did well on the water-beading test.

Cajun Shine All: The kit comes with two polishing cloths made of a unique ultra-microfiber. The instructions are very specific that these cloths must be used, one to apply and one to buff. Cajun is a very thin water-based, eco-friendly product with no petroleum distillates. It is designed as a one-step cleaner and detailer and rated average for shine.

Collinite No. 870: Shake the Special Heavy-duty Fleetwax well as the white liquid can separate over time. This has a definite cleaning action, is easily applied, and leaves a hard protective wax coating and a good shine.

Collinite No. 845: The Insulator Wax formula is now also sold as Collinite No. 925 Fiberglass Boat Wax. This thick goo has a good reputation, produced a great shine, and rated highly in the initial water-beading test. Historically, its been a top-rated product.

3M Scotchgard No. 09061:Marine Liquid Wax is a thick white liquid. Initial results showed it to be a Fair performer.

Liquid Wax

Mothers No. 91556: Marine Synthetic Wax, a very thick white liquid, seemed to lay on in a thick coating. It produced an average shine.

Re-Structure Professional Marine Polish. A thick tan goo, this is one of the newer, non-wax, nanotechnology polishes designed to seal the pores in gelcoat and paint, leaving a hard, high-gloss, glass-like finish. It produced a high-gloss shine, but did not bead water well. Since our test was launched, Re-Structure has reformulated its product, adding more UV inhibitors. Look for a report on the new product in a test update.

Interlux Premium: Teflon Marine Wax: This is a semi-thick, white liquid cleaner/wax that leaves a slick Teflon coating. Its initial gloss and beading was average.

Interlux UV Protectant & Teflon Wax Sealer: This is a very thin, almost clear liquid with a strong smell that goes on easily and dries quickly. Its shine was average, but if it truly seals and provides good sunscreen, it would be easy to apply every few months since it does not require buffing. Our long-term test will help determine this.

Nu Finish: “The Once a Year Car Polish” is a white liquid is relatively easy to apply and buff off. It gives a fairly good shine for a reasonable price and for reasonably long time, according to past tests. It also touts a money-back guarantee.

Rejex Soil Barrier & Anti-Stain Protectant: A true final coat product, Rejex is an advanced polymer treatment designed to provide an impervious ultra-slick coating to seal and protect gelcoat, paint, Plexiglass, and other surfaces. It does not contain any silicones, oils, or waxes. Application directions require it to cure for 12 hours before use. They recommend washing and re-applying in four to six months. It is a good sealant, but it did not bead water as well as others in our test.

Imar No. 402: Yacht Polish cleans, shines, and protects gelcoat. It is a blend of polymers that will remove light oxidation without abrasives, provide a UV sunscreen, create a protective barrier, and leaves a reasonable shine. This liquid did well in vinyl tests (Practical Sailor, March 2009) but did not bead water in this one.

Flitz Waxx: Super Gloss Wax Protectant is another water-based, eco-friendly, multipurpose wax that contains no silicones but includes a UV protectant and is a white carnauba and natural beeswax formula. It comes with a pump applicator, and is easy to apply and easy to remove without any residue. It produced a nice shine.

Yacht Brite Pro Polish:Fiberglass Seal & Polish is a very thick white goop. It is one of the newer polymer-based products that produce a hard coating, UV protection, and a high-gloss shine. It goes on quickly, buffs out easily, and beads water nicely.

Liquid Wax

Woody Wax: Carnauba Glass Coat, which comes with a spray nozzle, is a very thin liquid that easily separates and must be shaken well. The maker suggests multiple applications for best results. It has a strong petroleum smell; be careful of overspray or getting it in your eyes on a windy day. Woody Wax suggests users repeat spray and buff “as necessary,” and claims three coats will last six months. It rated well in our water-beading test.

Marine Shield: This fairly new petroleum distillates finishing formula is a light-blue liquid that can be applied in direct sunlight and is designed to provide a defensive shield against the harmful effects of salt water, rain, and UV rays. It produced a fairly good high-gloss shine in our test.

Meguiars No. 56: Marine/RV Pure Carnauba & Polymer Blend is a yellow, moderately thick liquid that has the familiar sweet scent of carnauba wax. Like many of the waxes, it rated high on the initial water-beading test.

Meguiars Flagship: Premium Marine Wax is a cream-colored liquid wax that has done well in past tests and did a nice job of beading water in this test.

Glare Professional Polish: Another fairly new product, Glare is not a wax, has no polymers or resins, but has the ability to prepare, polish, seal, protect, and shine paint, fiberglass, and gelcoat finishes. The company calls the formula “Glassplexin.” It includes silicates, which flow like liquid glass to seal pores and leave an ultra-hard, glass-like coating. Practical Sailortested this by itself and with the maker-recommended Glare Micro Finish formula preparation, which contains fine abrasives to remove oxidation and small scratches. The combined result looks good.

Liquid Wax

West Marine Pure Oceans: This nanotech fiberglass polish with PTFE is an eco-friendly, natural citrus formula, with no petroleum distillates. It produced an average shine in our test.

TurtleWax No. 21: Another nanotech formula car polish, No. 21 also has a UV protectant and urethane enrichment for long-lasting hardness. As with the Turtle Wax paste wax, No. 21 produced a good gloss and beaded water well. It also was the most economical of the liquids.

Island Girl: Testers applied the Mirror Hard Superglaze, following the instructions on the 12-ounce bottle. We opted to not use the supplied drying catalyst as it was a hot day and our test panel was clean, dry, and in good shape. The clear, oily liquid was applied with a paper towel, leaving a thin coating. After a half-hour, this was wiped with a clean micro-fiber cloth to remove any excess film and allowed to cure for another hour. Wiping it again with a cloth produced a high-gloss shine. Spraying with fresh water produced exceptional water beading. The instructions claim that after a day or two, the finish cures even more to a hard mirror finish. It can be used on gelcoat, plastic, chrome, stainless, paint, and varnish

Prism Polish: Made in the USA, Mirage Sealant and Protectant is a wax-free cleaner, polish, and sealant. It uses polymers to create a hard coat for protection from UV and acid rain. Using a clean damp cloth, we rubbed in the creamy liquid. It was allowed to dry to a haze for about 30 minutes and was buffed out to a nice shine with average water beading.

Zaino Bros.: Created for show cars,
Z-3 Car Polish can be layered for added protection. The synthetic formula also contains a blend of emulsifiers and a UV-40 sun protectant. Its gloss and water-beading were very good.

Conclusions

Most of the two-dozen products in this test did a good job of producing a nice shine. In our initial testing, the difference in gloss, water beading, and reflection was minimal, making it difficult to tap any real winners or losers in this initial report. The reflection test was virtually a 26-way tie.

However, it was obvious that the best finishes for initial water beading were those with a slightly oily wax formula. Both Star brite polishes beaded water best, followed by Island Girl and Zaino Bros. Z-3, Collinite No. 845/925, and both Meguiars carnauba waxes. The Turtle Wax No. 21 was our choice for Budget Buy.

Water beading and initial gloss are not a definitive test to determine the best protective coating. Stay tuned for follow-up reports on protection longevity.

For more on gelcoat care, check out “Offshore Log: Gelcoat Maintenance” and at www.practical-sailor.com, in the “Tools & Techniques” section.

 

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.