Boat Wax vs. Auto Wax

[83Esprit]

What is the difference between the formula's for car and boat wax? I mean after reading about the great results of collinite I stumbled on Meg's #56. Has anyone tried that on their vehicle?



Kelly

 

[JasonC8301]

I think the waxes should be similar. I (well NYd and I) have used Meguiar's #20 and #26 on a boat before with great results. Would hesitate to put boat wax on a car though.



While on this topic of cross over waxes, my godfather has a singe stage paint system on his 1990 Mazda MX-6 in black (hood is totally chaulk and failed, trunk and roof failing, but the car runs great after 250K or so.) I will try some Minwax Finishing paste wax on the front fender and Finish First on the rest of the car. I will wash with dawn prior to this. The Minwax finishing paste wax is for finished wood and such, but it smells just like Blitz, or is it me? Pictures and reviews to come.



Jason

 

[We're Here]

In my limited experience (over a number of years though) tells me that you'd have a hard time finding a carnauba that lasts longer than Collinite Insulator Wax.



That out of the way, deciding what's best for a boat depends on the exposure the boat receives. Is it covered, on the trailer except when used or is it dumped in during Spring and hauled during the Fall only to spend the entire season tied to a float or underway?



I would think almost any wax/sealant would do for the former but, for the latter, I can't imagine anything receiving more UV exposure (it comes from above and is reflected from below). In this situation, I'd use Zaino - no less than three coats with maybe a Collinite topper too. I'd bet this would protect the finish for the entire season (that is if you don't go nuts scrubbing the boat to death after each use).



BTW, in an earlier life I was a boat builder and am now a commercial fisherman.

 

[madman59]

YO;

I spent some time in a boat yard, polisher in hand.Does a gel-

coat or Imron,Awlgrip, Interlux finish act differently from auto fin-

ishes?

GH

 

[stuart hicks]

The big difference in car wax vs. boat wax is that boat wax is supposed to not make surfaces slippery. This is so you don't slip and fall on you boat.

 

[We're Here]

YO;

I spent some time in a boat yard, polisher in hand.Does a gel-

coat or Imron,Awlgrip, Interlux finish act differently from auto fin-

ishes?GH

For those that don't know, gelcoat is the catalyzed color coat that is sprayed onto the bare surface of a female mold - it possesses little strength, goes on in a thickness of about 0.015" and becomes the surface you see when the piece is popped from the mold. Awlgrip and Imron are catalyzed (two-part) polyurethane paints needing to be put on in a clean, climate-controlled environment - on fiberglass these are typically used as a restorative finish. They are very tough (and expensive). On steel or aluminum, they could be the primary color finish coat. Interlux I recall as being a brand of marine paints only.



I think that in time the sun will beat the life out of them all with gelcoat likely being the first to go. Eventually, Awlgrip and Imron will also oxidize as the oils or (probably) plasticizers leach away. This is what my suggested appls were intended to deal with and delay.

 

[We're Here]

The big difference in car wax vs. boat wax is that boat wax is supposed to not make surfaces slippery. This is so you don't slip and fall on you boat.

I would not recommend applying wax to any surface on a working boat that will be walked on.