- Joined
- Aug 9, 2004
- RO Number
- 14793
- Messages
- 230
I've been polishing my boat for the last 5 years, ever since I purchased my 2007 Carver 466. Each year my tools, technique and products have improved. I do all the work over the winter while it's stored in a heated building on Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada.
I had used products from Sea-Shield.com for the last few years with great success and their owner, Francisco, has been a tremendous help. Last year we had a lot of rain and my wax didn't last the season, which irritated me considering how much time I'd put into it to polishing.
I bought a new car last fall and the dealer recommended CQuartz or Opticoat, so I researched them. I couldn't believe the claims of coatings lasting years! I tried to find people who use this stuff on boats and have found very few and none who I can talk to, but the results seem pretty promising.
I started applying CQuartz UK to my hardtop last weekend, after polishing it and wiping it down with Carpro's Erasor (an IPA type wipe). I applied the first coat pretty thin, probably too thin, but it shines pretty good already. I'm planning 3 coats, primarily because of the thin first coat. I'll only do 2 coats for the rest of the boat.
The recommended practice is to use their product “Reload" after CQuartz. It's a wipe on and off product and is supposed to last up to 4 months. I'm not excepting it to last 4 months, but since it's so easy to apply I'd be happy to apply it ever 6-8 weeks. There is another product they sell, called Hydro2, which is similar in performance to Reload and is simply applied by spraying it on and then rinsing off that I want to try.
I think the Reload and Hydro2 products would be great protection throughout the summer. I've got some pieces of Stamoid and Strataglass coated to test. I hope to use Hydro2 to get into those small spaces on the boat that trap dirt and cause black streaks, including the metal on the rub rail, around corners, etc. The places I can't get wax into.
I thought I'd share my experiences as I'm doing them in case other people were interested, or there are people who have tried this before.
I do understand that this type of coating will cost more, at least initially. If it works as I hope, it could save me considerable time buffing each winter, and cleaning time in the summer. If I take that into account, the costs could be worth it.
I had used products from Sea-Shield.com for the last few years with great success and their owner, Francisco, has been a tremendous help. Last year we had a lot of rain and my wax didn't last the season, which irritated me considering how much time I'd put into it to polishing.
I bought a new car last fall and the dealer recommended CQuartz or Opticoat, so I researched them. I couldn't believe the claims of coatings lasting years! I tried to find people who use this stuff on boats and have found very few and none who I can talk to, but the results seem pretty promising.
I started applying CQuartz UK to my hardtop last weekend, after polishing it and wiping it down with Carpro's Erasor (an IPA type wipe). I applied the first coat pretty thin, probably too thin, but it shines pretty good already. I'm planning 3 coats, primarily because of the thin first coat. I'll only do 2 coats for the rest of the boat.
The recommended practice is to use their product “Reload" after CQuartz. It's a wipe on and off product and is supposed to last up to 4 months. I'm not excepting it to last 4 months, but since it's so easy to apply I'd be happy to apply it ever 6-8 weeks. There is another product they sell, called Hydro2, which is similar in performance to Reload and is simply applied by spraying it on and then rinsing off that I want to try.
I think the Reload and Hydro2 products would be great protection throughout the summer. I've got some pieces of Stamoid and Strataglass coated to test. I hope to use Hydro2 to get into those small spaces on the boat that trap dirt and cause black streaks, including the metal on the rub rail, around corners, etc. The places I can't get wax into.
I thought I'd share my experiences as I'm doing them in case other people were interested, or there are people who have tried this before.
I do understand that this type of coating will cost more, at least initially. If it works as I hope, it could save me considerable time buffing each winter, and cleaning time in the summer. If I take that into account, the costs could be worth it.