Buff, Polish and Wax Your Boat: Gelcoat Oxidation Removal, How to Step by Step

Gelcoat Oxidation? Let's Buff it out! Buff, Polish and Wax Your Boat, Step by Step in this How To Video.
Products Used: Dewalt Buffer (THE BEST) - amzn.to/3gXJCMV
Meguiars 49 Oxidation Remover (step 1)- amzn.to/2PQQyiZ
Meguiars 45 Polishing Wax (step 2) - amzn.to/3411WRC
Meguairs Flagship Premium Finishing Wax (step 3) - amzn.to/31XlbIW
Wool Pads ( I switched out the first 3M pads for these ones that worked better with the Dewalt - set of 3 ) - amzn.to/2Fnz9fD
Polishing Pad - amzn.to/2DN9nkK
Microfiber Buffer Cloths (These are Great and Necessary) - amzn.to/3eqyhpx
Chemical Guys Polishing Pad Cleaner - amzn.to/3fViX1L
Baby Oil (Step 2) - amzn.to/3ap3xBX
Neutral pH Dish Soap For Cleaning the Surface First (pack of 6, couldn't find individual unless bought through pantry or at store) - amzn.to/3gXcAMI
Gelcoat oxidation? If you've got some gelcoat that needs buffing, whether it's heavy oxidation or just needs a little love; the same process I use will work great. I highly recommend all of the products I used, and I wouldn't steer you wrong like others did to me. I learned the hard way, and if you use all these things combined, you won't need anything more. For instance, I used a different wool pad at first and it didn't have the arbor in the middle, and the core of the buffer cracked some of my gelcoat as I couldn't lay the pad flat. The list above works in tandem perfectly. I researched, and researched, and researched to bring you this video and products, in order to help get the job done with minimal costs, and at or close to a professional level. If you have any questions, comment and I'll do my best to answer. Again, I researched a ton, and after working the entirety of a 40 ft boat, I learned even more along the way. If I'm in your area, maybe I'll swing by and help. Thanks for watching and Happy Buffing! (2021). (Don't forget to Subscribe, More Videos to Come and it's a free way to support the little guys).
CHECK OUT MY SAILBOAT / SAILING / CRUISING CHANNEL - (SUB PLEASE) : / landoleavesland
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You pay the same as always.
Music in this video:
Up Above | KZbin Audio Library
Oxidation Removal

[@rx7dude2006]

Been a detailer for 25 years and this is my 2 cents.With such an oxidized gelcoat I would have wet sanded first with 1000 grit then 2000, compound to remove any fine scratches and then finish with a fine polish.If you only compound you will never remove enough if the oxidation to have the finish stay glossy.After all that use a prep spray (IPA) to remove any oils from the surface otherwise any product you apply over the surface will not last.

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks for your comment and suggestions! … I actually did a bit of wet sanding on some deep scratches , but other than that the job I did in this video has held up really well for a long time (if you look at the date of when this video was published and this comment.) It’s still shining beautifully… I like what you said about the IPA though ….

[@keytomlinson1091]

Where do you detail boats?

[@rx7dude2006]

@@yachtworks370 Nice, yes wet sanding really evens out the surface so it gets rid of any orange peeling and can really make the surface glass like if finished correctly.It does take a lot of time but can bring back old boats and really surprise customers.

[@yachtworks370]

Up and down east coast but mostly Florida

[@nickolelobdell7009]

what is "Wet sand"?

[@jasonwilson5020]

Looks Great ! Can't wait to do this on my boat. Thanks for the links below the video. So helpful.

[@yachtworks370]

Have fun!

[@russbolton947]

Just ordered everything on your list. Looking forward to trying this process on my Contender when I pull it in a couple of weeks. Thank you for putting out this video, and for the product links!

[@yachtworks370]

Hey that’s great… I love Contenders.. you’ll have her shining soon I’m sure! Best of luck.

[@Hoonigan82]

Any luck?

[@CD-uh7vs]

Perfect vid and description. Really appreciate all the info, thank you!

[@billsboat4261]

I did this process and it turned out beautiful ! Also if you look at his other video where he’s painting the bottom you can see how gorgeous his gel coat looks after he did it all.

[@yachtworks370]

Awesome ! Glad it turned out great for you as well !

[@mikesobera5204]

Very helpful video. Thanks for posting the products and links in the comments.

[@tbauer9651]

I'm giving ya a thumbs up and a sub just for the baby oil trick alone! Dude that's genius.

[@howardpittman883]

Just got through Polishing a highly oxidated Boat with the method and materials that you used in this video. The boat came great- customer was very very happy. Finding out that material makes all the difference in the world. I used to use car material on boats. Just wanted to thank you for this video. It helped me out a lot. Now I can do boats with confidence now. Thank you so much!!!!!!

[@howardpittman883]

Pittman and Sons Mobile Auto Detailing. San Diego

[@yachtworks370]

Great to hear! Nice Work.

[@Hoonigan82]

How long did it take and how many pads did you go through? Im about to do my First boat and it looks like the one in the video, its a 20ft.

[@timsalinas9320]

My gelcoat has similar oxidation - just wanna say thank you for taking the time and posting the vid. I'm gonna give this a go on my Regal!

[@yachtworks370]

Hey that’s awesome I’m sure you’ll do great !

[@VinnyWithaV]

I'm a HUGE fan of Star Brite Marine Polish , works better than anything I've tried. It was recommended by a fellow boater. Also the Star Bright vinyl cleaner and magic erasers do miracles to the interior .

[@scottbrandonisio1724]

Love the video, thank you! Question for you, would this buffing method work on the boat's top deck as well? (Excluding the non-skid parts of course)

[@offset24]

I bought everything you recommended and “Oh my Gosh” my boat has NEVER shined like it does, NEVER! My gel coat stripes were terrible oxidized and now they look like a mirror, thank you so much you definitely know what your doing your the MAN!!👍👍👍😊😊

[@yachtworks370]

Awesome Jeff... Love to hear that !

[@Sceneyour]

Repost here when it wears off. I want to know if it lasts longer than a few days, like other polishing appkications.

[@offset24]

It’s been 3 weeks since I did the boat and still looks awesome!!

[@asaelramirez24]

@@offset24 did it hold up good? Did my jetski wondering how long will last

[@marke1652]

@@asaelramirez24 how long did it last?

[@brushbros]

Standing on a short step ladder makes your work so much easier. And a much lighter tool will preform the same work. Painter retired after 35 miserable years knows these things. But very nice video thank you so much.

[@yachtworks370]

Hey thanks Rick ... I learned from a man that worked. these jobs for 50 years ... experience goes a long ways and bless you for doing all the work you have done. You made a lot of boat owners happy ! ... Have a blessed year Rick !

[@buddymartin7923]

Good job my man. Looks good

[@wanderinglifeforever]

Thanks for posting. Its great to see the process

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks for watching!

[@thomasyoung1887]

Thank you for the information bro

[@vandettabuilds6641]

Thank you. Terrific video!!!

[@yachtworks370]

Thank you ! Glad you liked it. Good luck !

[@toregonmikkelsen8255]

Thank you for the video perfect for us 😊

[@thedoctorsgarage]

Brilliant video, thanks!

[@WillN2Go1]

Good video. Thanks I've just ordered all the stuff I need. I have a 7" polisher, but it's 2000/3800 RPM. It's very old. It's too fast. So I ordered a variable speed.

[@robertmartin265]

Awesome. Ty for sharing

[@faylenestearns8858]

Thank you. Our boat is yellow hull

[@truckstopmedia]

How do you deal with name / hailing port decals, pin stripe tape, etc.? I haven't seen anyone address this and it definitely seems like it's easy to burn / buff them off with a rotary tool.

[@FullThrottleGarage69]

Great video brother 👍

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks 👍

[@themobileboatguys6186]

Nice work

[@dfinn0103]

Great video, Thank you! Two quick questions.. Did you use the baby oil just with the polish or with the wax too? Secondly, did you switch pads after the polish to a fresh one with the waxing or can you use same pad?

[@yachtworks370]

Baby oil just with polish, … you can use same pad but I would polish everything first then wax after. A different pad would be preferred though. Good luck !

[@chrisbryant58]

Thanx bro. 👍

[@charlestonsasha]

WOW. I've used Synthetic motor oil insted of baby oil and this even gave me additional hp. This is upgraded formula and it work!!!

[@benpitts8073]

Try M105 and M205, ive found the M105 cuts gel really well and following up with the M205 does a better job than most gel coat specific products

[@yachtworks370]

I've only seen that used on cars. Did you use it on a saltwater boat ? Thanks for your comment Ben.

[@SirPhilMcCrackinVonBeggington]

Dude, I stopped using M105 due to the dusting and how finicky it is. M105 was great until about 5 plus years ago. Nowadays there are tons of compounds that are lightyears beyond M105. M205 is still a great polish though.

[@user-on3jp2ct4c]

Use a buffer arbor extender so your pad doesn’t rub on your buffer.I use presta compound.That stuff doesn’t play.Its water based as well for easy cleanup

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks ! Ya , I did put a spacer in just not on the video … it comes with the buffer. Presta I have found to be a bit too wet sometimes and not enough grit. I think it’s better for mild oxidation and very large projects as it doesn’t gunk up as much. However if I want a job done quicker I like the meguiars and I just get another pad when necessary or clean it out. Presta is also twice the price or so. Anyways… Thanks for your comment !

[@Flippin_Crazy]

Good job.

[@user-qm4ie6iy8u]

Great video. Like the way you layout everything that we need. I'm doing inside the cabin, still very shiny in there, should I go straight to wax? Or polish first? Thanks.

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks ! Sorry , not sure what you mean ? Do you mean in the cockpit? If in the cabin what type of surface?

[@Devast8r34]

Thank you

[@tonymarshall3162]

Awesome info ! Will this process work with the vinyl lettering and stripes on an older Mastercraft Stars and Stripes ! Or does the process wear into the vinyl material ? Thanks again for this great info !

[@yachtworks370]

ya it will make it look better initially but if you are in salt water the elements will take their toll

[@raycampion2976]

Great video - thanks. Two quick questions. how much coverage should I expect from each bottle you've used. I'm about to renovate a 40ft boat, and will use your recommendations. Second question - the cloth you used to take off the wax - can that be any cloth, or something specific?

[@yachtworks370]

The bottles are plenty enough... give me a second and I’ll show you the cloths that I got...

[@yachtworks370]

Ya so you want microfiber buffer cloths

[@yachtworks370]

I put the link for those in the description

[@peeinginthewind]

👍use wool pad for cutting compounds and foam for high speed polish .. then hand wax.and remove with cheese cloth

[@theodorecarbajal2975]

Can this be done on a faded rv cap?? The color is grey, faded from the top then towards the bottom still has the gel coat

[@rileyfeuerstein]

300 subscriber 👌🏼

[@jaimejensen7797]

Awesome , helpful video. Thanks !

[@yachtworks370]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mikewhitlock1849]

What do you recommend for skis? Don't feel this big buffer will get in tight spots in footwell area, etc. Maybe I'm wrong?

[@yachtworks370]

Hey thanks for your question. This rotary polisher is commonly used by the pros for jet skis : amzn.to/44pZW0V

[@cwmarine]

can i use the same process on an aluminum hull?

[@yakinwithbigfoot3832]

Got all my stuff. Going to give it a shot this weekend. So when you apply the Polish you keep going with the machine till all the material is gone?

[@yachtworks370]

Great ! You just want to apply light pressure working it in evenly over each section for a little while and then wipe the polish off really good with a clean microfiber towel so the wax can seal the deal in the next step. Don’t let the polish dry. You got this !

[@chappy6817]

thanks for the tips mate, how do you apply the wax?

[@yachtworks370]

Hey, in this video I put it on the polishing pad, but you can just put it on a microfiber cloth... cover the area really well that youre working on and leave it for 5-10 minutes (depending on the temperature) before wiping off. Gluck luck !

[@yakinwithbigfoot3832]

Great video man! My father recently passed and we inherited his 28’ down east boat. It’s going on its 24 season and we have the same oxidation issue. I would love to try and restore the hull like this. Being a 28’ boat would you suggest a gallon of each bottle? Or do you use more of on than the other?

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks man! So sorry to hear of your fathers passing, I hope you got to spend time with him. Glad to hear he was a boater and you’re continuing on. I’d recommend having a gallon of the oxidation remover 49 but maybe not necessary to have as much polish. Make sure you wipe off all the polish with clean microfiber towels and then apply the wax and let it sit for 10 mins or so before wiping that off. Best of luck to you !

[@yakinwithbigfoot3832]

@@yachtworks370 thanks man! I really appreciate it! One last question ha. Do you think a cloudy over cast day with no rain in the future is good to do the buffing ? I have one side of the boat that is always in direct sun light so im hoping the cloud coverage will be enough to allow me to do the buffing. What do you think?

[@rohusker]

My boat looks amazing now! I purchased all materials listed except the buffer. I tried buffer pad with the orbital polisher, but the adhesive on the Velcro doesn’t last very long, so I used the foam pads instead… I did follow all of your steps otherwise and she now shines. I wish I could submit a pic. Thanks for the video!

[@yachtworks370]

Hey that’s great to hear! Thanks for your comment and have fun out on the water looking good.

[@kathycurtiss9391]

We’re moving into Winter here in the Puget Sound….talk to us about weather/temperature needs for this process. Obviously not rain…but is there a moisture factor or temperature factor that will impact the detailing? I’m following all your recommendations with products and so on.

[@yachtworks370]

Hi Kathy, there really shouldn’t be much problems in colder weather … the compound will heat up as you use it as well .. wax might be a little harder but not much. Cold is better than a really hot surface for the products. I’d just keep the products inside until you are ready to use them. Biggest problem might just be staying comfortable yourself 😬… best of luck on your boat

[@jcsully24]

How many buffer pads would you use for a 20 foot center console - in particular the stripping portion? Since all that gel coat came off do you need multiple pads?

[@yachtworks370]

Maybe a couple ... if you clean them with a hard brush and pad cleaner after, you can reuse them another day. You can use them again the same day as long as you keep them fresh... like don’t sit them in the sun or dry out and let them get all crusty. But if it’s really a particular job fresher pads are always better.

[@DialedInAutoDetailing]

What does the baby oil do with the polish? Why not just polish?

[@RafaelJaureguiCaball]

Why the baby oil? I thought before protection you would need ipa whipe down to remove oils to prep surface before applying protection. Of course I say do to cars but this is a boat so I’m curious to know. Thanks

[@yachtworks370]

I pinned a comment to the top of the comments about the baby oil etc. Before doing anything, I actually cleaned the area with a neutral ph dish soap (7th generation) .FYI... also if you want to go green more, you can go with apple cider vinegar and baking soda

[@goldenthepot6361]

were parts of that video speeded up or does this guy really work that fast ?

[@GameOver321]

Thanks for the tips! Question, can I use the same compound pad for the whole boat? Thanks

[@yachtworks370]

Good question ... It depends on the size of your boat and size of area you are buffing, and if you want to clean out your pad daily or not. You will most likely need more than one pad. On the boat in this video (40 ft sailboat with large buffing area) I used about 4 or 5 pads. Try to do as much buffing before polishing and waxing.... that way your compounding pad wont dry up and be difficult to work with as fast. It will gunk up if you use the same pad a lot and there are tools you can use to get the gunk out. Like this one : amzn.to/3vmH97c

[@yachtworks370]

Also the chemical guys cleaner which I linked in the description works for at the end of the day to clean out your pads... just don't breathe it in too much... thats why it works.

[@GameOver321]

Ok thanks for the response. My boat is 21.5' so 2 or 3 pads? I'm just cleaning it once to sell it unfortunately

[@bobbylovett4392]

What setting do you use when you went to polishing and waxing? I have the same buffer! Thanks

[@yachtworks370]

Cool man … usually a little slower than compounding

[@outdoorsgamerTv]

Just leaving this comment for any fiberglass workers or boat detailers to discuss and share ideas and processes ive been working on boats, rvs, and jetskis for 2 years plus off and on for 6 im more than happy to share information

[@sonofmoris]

Looking to do this on my wakeboard boat. I have one blue stripe around the boat that I want to fix. How can you confirm its just Gelcoat Oxidation? When the blue stripe gets wet it looks good, only when its dry does it look oxidized.

[@yachtworks370]

it could just be a sticker stripe (depending on how big this stripe is) ...if you can feel it really layered on top then it's probably that, but if it's more flush with the rest it's probably gel coat. Sounds to me like it is gelcoat oxidation though since it's chalky out of the water. I can't be for sure without seeing it.

[@martijnjansen170]

Hi, how long does the gloss hold in your case ? I had several times the oxidation came back in a couple of weeks when the boat was back on the water. Any tips ? Thanks.

[@yachtworks370]

Hey Martijn, I've had my boat on the water for a couple months now and it is still shining... What does happen though is salt from the salt water will stick to the Wax a bit when it splashes up. This can be confused for oxidation sometimes. What I'm going to do soon though is get in my dinghy / tinder and go along side the boat wiping it down and adding a fresh coat of wax. This can be done at a dock as well if youre in a place where the water isn't calm enough. Best of luck!

[@bido8176]

I have a black hulled boat. I compound, Polish, and wax for the past few years before putting it in the water. It looks great when I’m done. But the oxidation returns very fast now. It doesn’t matter what product I use. I’ve used them all. 3M, Meguiars. Most recently Smoove Pro Cut 1000, which I find is the best. I keep my boat in the water from May 1 to December 1 usually and by December it’s really bad again. Chalky and faded. It sucks.

[@paulglass3773]

The products that you recommended do you think it would be enough for a 34 foot cruiser? That also includes the pads.

[@yachtworks370]

Yeah should be good… I’d just do all the buffing first , cleaning out the pads as you go when they get gunked up, and then when done with all the buffing move onto polishing and then waxing … use a tool like this to clean pad when it gets gunked up : amzn.to/3Hg6t5N

[@paulglass3773]

@@yachtworks370 Thank you

[@poppabear9279]

Rumor has it, that till this day, a blue boat is still roaming around the ocean, with one beautiful square in the hull but the rest is completely oxidized and looking kinda shoddy.

[@yachtworks370]

haha ... look out people, we've got a comedian on our hands. ; ).

[@lionellbradford3684]

funny

[@masterspin7796]

@@yachtworks370 40,000 comedians out of work and he's trying to be funny?

[@johnimm9513]

Made me laugh

[@gregmsnow]

That’s looks a ton better. What method for for a polish job on a boat without a highly oxidized finish?

[@yachtworks370]

Hello, Same method … buff a little If needed and if not just polish and wax it after cleaning the hull good with some neutral dish soap and water.

[@gm1937]

A tip and a few questions. Soak the pads overnight in soap & water and put in a washing machine (extended clean). They will look like new. My gelcoat is heavily (heavily) oxidized, more than the video. Should I go with a heavier compound, like Supercut compound? (it feels gritty/sandy to the touch). 2) your thoughts on 3M Imperial Compound and Finishing Material 3) when and for what do you suggest using a foam (sponge type) applicator, which you did not use on your machine in the video. Thanks and greetings from New York City!

[@chadwilliams6437]

Start with 500 abralon then 1000 abralon, follow with heavy cut pad + compound, then medium cut pad + compound, then orange foam with medium cut = mirror finish

[@gm1937]

@@chadwilliams6437 much appreciated

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks for contributing

[@yachtworks370]

Sorry I didn’t get back to you , if you still have questions let me know … I’m just here to help

[@norshema15jak54]

can its do to car ?

[@jeremys8360]

Good video. How you liking the marine wax? Holding up?

[@yachtworks370]

Hey Jeremy thanks. Yeah... it's doing great so far. Just make sure you wait about 10 minutes (not in the sun) before wiping it off. Water just beads off the gelcoat now.

[@jeremys8360]

@@yachtworks370 nice. I’m probably going to end up using it on cars because my dad sold his boat so nothing to wax now

[@Local_Boydidgood]

@@jeremys8360 marine waxes are specifically for marine surfaces and car products are the same. If you're an amazing detailing guru, use anything but there's a reason we don't mix the two products up.

[@LandoLeavesLand]

If you’re gonna do multiple cars get the buffer I got ... it’s great. Once you get good , you could charge for your work. That buffer will last.

[@lionellbradford3684]

I just wanted to add on to local boy did goods comment... if your car is near salt water then you might as well do the same thing

[@BARSSTUDIO]

Nice video. So the first step oxidation removal is restoring the boat color and shine???

[@yachtworks370]

Unless you have some scratches , then you’d want to wet sand first

[@cynthiaenglish2736]

Regarding the baby oil, doesn’t that affect how the wax bonds to the boat?

[@yachtworks370]

A lot of people have been saying that but the boat is still shining after 2 years... if you don't want to use the baby oil, then don't.

[@gregroberts6396]

will this process help get some of the hairline cracks that are showing in my fiberglass gelcoat?

[@yachtworks370]

Hey Greg, It's possible, but you will most likely need to wet sand those cracks first. I might make a video on this in the future, but you can probably find other videos on it. Good Luck

[@TurnerMobileDetailing]

Thanks for this!! How much of the compound and the polish respectively would you say you would need for a 26’ boat?

[@yachtworks370]

Maybe the next size down from what I used on the compound. And same sizes on polish and wax. You can always use excess in future.

[@d.j.robinson9424]

do you have a recommendation for hull paint removal on our sailboat..? ⛵💚👍, air sander, random orbital..?

[@yachtworks370]

Awww yes , probably the most tedious job on a boat. So, I actually use a fairly new designed wet / sand blaster on bigger jobs that I would highly recommend. I will get you the name when I am able to. The designer is actually a friend of the family. Then I use an orbital sander on parts that are hard to get with the blaster , and to go over the whole thing again one time with 80 grit in preparation for the primer. Get back to you.

[@d.j.robinson9424]

@@yachtworks370 hey that's awesome man, thank you. 👍👍⛵

[@yachtworks370]

@@d.j.robinson9424 Clearblast CB150- you need an air compressor with it.... you can rent these machines ... it will save you so much time. Let me know if you have more questions.

[@d.j.robinson9424]

@@yachtworks370 cool, thanks man 👍👍💛⛵

[@ny1sport]

Yellow polishing pad is 9 inch did it fit ok consIdering the white wool pads were 7 INCH. Going to be my first time doing it so what to make sure i order properly . Thanks

[@yachtworks370]

Yeah they stick on good to the Dewalt buffer , good luck

[@barrytimm5497]

Looks great. Question! You mention not polishing in the sun. Is that because it's hot, hard work, or the sun does something bad to the actual surface/polish? Is that a problem only with Step 2 (polishing), or also with Oxidation removal and waxing? Thanks!

[@yachtworks370]

Hey Barry. Abrasives and Polishes don't work well on hot surfaces. I also don't like to work in the heat though : )

[@user-vc7es9hz8n]

would you recommend sanding

[@yachtworks370]

Wet sanding with a fine grit works yes … depends on your particular coat if you want to or not … if you’re here I’m sure you will figure it out … best of luck

[@BNtrenching]

Would you recomend these materials if the boat is only slightly oxidated?

[@yachtworks370]

Yes !

[@joshemory7930]

How many hours do you estimate it took you to do the whole 40' boat including washing first?

[@yachtworks370]

I'd say around 5 working days ... it would go faster in a less sunny environment.

[@yachtworks370]

If you really wanted to knock it out you could get it done much faster

[@MessianicJudaism]

What marine wax would you recommend that has a high UV protection for the gelcoat?

[@yachtworks370]

Hey Kelly, if you don't want to use the Flagship that I used in this video, other people have found success with the Scotchgard : amzn.to/3vLLi31

[@MessianicJudaism]

@@yachtworks370 I tried your method and wow, the red on my boat really pops out. I wish there was a way to show you my results.

[@yachtworks370]

@@MessianicJudaism Hey that's Great ! Glad you got it shining. Nice work !

[@enginepy]

CSI Q7 is a really great wax. Easy to apply and gives a really buttery finish. CSI is pretty amazing and used by pros.

[@yachtworks370]

@@enginepy Thanks for your input !

[@renravvarn8858]

What if I just have a regular fiberglass Hall with no color or anything on it what do I do then?

[@yachtworks370]

I’m guessing you might want to paint it … here is a great video on topside paint for you to decide what topside paint to choose. : kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIWzppSKe6p6fNEsi=nfPkd84o1d92Z8S8

[@mcgrath274]

Why the baby oil? What's the advantage

[@MrDete49]

what pad do you use for the first step? thanks

[@yachtworks370]

Buffing pad … if you look in the description below the video, everything is listed to get on Amazon. You have to open the description box for the links. Thanks for stopping by the vid and good luck with your projects.

[@randallgayman6639]

Fantastic job! My boat is in Kent Narrows, MD. Can you come here???

[@yachtworks370]

Aww wish I could... I’m pretty busy back and forth between Florida and California... might be having hernia surgery. I’ll send a message your way if I’m ever up there on the boat. Wishing you the best.

[@randallgayman6639]

Yacht Works good luck to you too

[@randallgayman6639]

Zero Boy can you wax my boat?

[@randallgayman6639]

Zero Boy both

[@lionellbradford3684]

@@randallgayman6639 ... zero boy thought you were hitting on him lol .... he peaced out

[@jeffwoolyhand9759]

How many buffing pads did you use 🤔 thank you ❗

[@yachtworks370]

tell me the size of your boat or what job and I will tell you how many you probably need

[@yachtworks370]

I used about 4 or 5 compounding pads for this large 40 ft sailboat and cleaned pads with chemical brothers pad cleaner after buffing for the day... I recommend buffing everything first so you go through less pads as aposed to polishing and waxing right after.

[@joewaz100]

I've done air planes and bass boats but I'm in TN.. No big boats here lol.. That's some good money there.. I'd say in the range of 7k if I had to guess

[@yachtworks370]

ya, boat work aint cheap : ) Pretty cool you worked on planes! Thanks for watching and for your comment.

[@K_M_M_G]

May be a silly question but what is the difference between polishing wax and finishing wax?

[@yachtworks370]

There’s no silly questions… polish has oils that feed into the porous gel coat and give it a nice glossy shine … wax then seals the deal by literally sealing everything in and providing protection from the elements.. best of luck

[@K_M_M_G]

@@yachtworks370 thank you!!!

[@user-hq6ud2om1z]

Hi what does the baby oil do. ?

[@yachtworks370]

Gel coats are porous… it’s will give it more shine in the pores basically. Just make sure you wipe off really good so the wax will seal better.

[@andyyen2076]

Is there anyway I can send you a private e-mail about product review ? Thank you.

[@ratniksnowmaking3473]

Hi! Great video, just ordered the products from your links. A question: I have a 21 foot waterski boat. I'm thinking of attempting to buff, polish and wax by hand instead of buying a variable speed polisher. Thoughts? Would I just use a microfiber cloth for each process? Cheers!

[@TanManFixes]

no sir. you need a rotary buffer to remove the oxidation. Wool pad with compound, then synthetic pad with polish, last step is wax, by hand. Rotary buffer at harbor freight for about $50 to $80, worth it for sure. Boat compound and boat polish on Amazon. Finish with any wax that you like.

[@yachtworks370]

Hey..if your boat has the level of oxidation similar to the one in this video, buffing by hand probably won't work... a buffer gets up to high speeds to break down the oxidation. Your arms would be dead in a minute if you tried to emulate that. If you are trying to save on money, I'd advise at least look for a cheaper buffer with a warranty. If you don't have much oxidation, you could try it by hand, but you'd need to figure out how to use a wool pad for the buffing because the wool works in tandem with the compound. Microfiber towels are used to wipe off after each process. Best of luck with your boat!

[@ratniksnowmaking3473]

@@yachtworks370 Thank you for your reply! Monika

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks for your input 00vortech !

[@jimramus9296]

Ive been detailing for 30years. I did cars for 20yrs and this is my 10th season in boats. I started with a company that used Mequires products but foam pad everything. It works but the depth of the shine it was lacking and the durability. I mean i get it. But i found a compound called gel coat compound made by "Presta" you dont have to be in the shade. I wheel most of my boats in the sun. My process has a 16month durability. I live in Michigan and the spring is almost here. Anyways im detailing boats before they get shrink wrapped because its holds thru our harsh winters. I Have Never Sanded any Gel coat EVER! The restores i do(some as old as 15yrs since last detail)come back looking like they were fresh out of the mold. Brand new! Also do you know why your baby oil worked? Gel coat is porous...its not like clear coat. That you need the shade. Gel coat is a different animal. I use olive oil with colinite 845 mixed in with Mequires 67. Thats my "polish" then i hand wax with colinite double coat auto wax. Those 3 steps work great together in the hottest of summer days

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks for your input … ya I have explained that gel coat is porous in other comments. I do like Presta for some projects as it stays wetter but for heavier oxidation I prefer the meguiars because it’s a bit grittier and gets the oxidation off faster in my experience, even if I have to add a bit more I don’t have to buff as long. Thanks for the working in sun tips. Might try it out sometime. Keep up the good work!

[@gavinhendriks1900]

Are you gonna go back over and get the swirls out ?

[@yachtworks370]

This was done months ago, and yes, I cleaned it up a bit. Thanks for your comment Gavin.

[@andrewbrown9157]

Will an orbital buffer work for this?

[@frazsch3744]

No orbital buff us supposed to be used for waxing high speed the only way to get long lasting results

[@francisdrelling4060]

Hey! how about a view of the end product?

[@yachtworks370]

If you check out my other video you can see it mostly done minus a couple places on port side which were done a little later after bottom paint

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks for your comment

[@crushed_karma7305]

Hi there! I just recently got a boat from a guy who sanded the hull because he was going to paint it. He ended up not painting it and sold it to me :). Could I use this oxidation method to restore the shine??

[@yachtworks370]

I don't know if you are talking about the bottom of the hull where you would apply bottom paint or if you are talking about gel coat. Is there paint on it ? Or is it completely sanded down? What kind of boat? Would need to know more information sorry.

[@yachtworks370]

this tutorial is for buffing gel coat... if its just paint, then you should just sand it , clean it, and repaint.

[@yachtworks370]

Congrats on getting a boat by the way : )

[@crushed_karma7305]

Thanks!! It’s a laser dinghy. It’s from the 70s and original color is orange. The guy I got it from sanded it because he wanted to repaint it white but ended up not painting it

[@crushed_karma7305]

Yes it’s the bottom of the hull

[@Lalog22]

How much did you or would you charge for something like this?

[@yachtworks370]

There are a ton of variables , but for a boat like this , $40-50 per foot (40 ft boat = $1600-$2000)

[@jmo6722]

Baby oil will keep wax from sticking - also up down and side to side. I would wash after compound yo remove oils.

[@yachtworks370]

thanks JMorgan, I disagree with the wax not sticking as it has stayed on for a year and a half now , and just as shiny as it used to be except for the salt water laying on top a bit..... however, YES, you should go side to side, as well, when buffing! Not seen in the video but it was done over the whole boat. Thanks for your comment and helping the community ! Take care.

[@brandonleesanders]

Do both vertical and horizontal passes so you don’t have visible ghost streaking

[@andrefrank6659]

Anytime you run a rotary your going to have holograms. That's why you should finish down with a polisher. If not your just covering the holograms with wax usually. Will be revealed after wax is removed

[@yachtworks370]

Hey Guys, Make sure you clean the surface first with a neutral ph Soap. I just use seventh generation dish soap. I've listed that in the description along with the other products used. Also, I'm getting a few questions about the BABY OIL... heres the thing guys, believe it or not, gel coat is actually a little bit pourous, and that's why it oxidizes... so when you buff out the oxidation you can then fill the tiny pourous holes with polish which has nutritous oils for the gel coat in itself and baby oil is just another oil that allows it to shine a bit more... make sure you give a good wipe down after polishing with a good microfiber cloth (link in the description) so all of the oil is absorbed into the tiny holes of the gel coat and there is no extra polish/oil on top.... because when you put the wax on after it has to settle on top and seal the deal. If you're on the fence about the baby oil, don't use it. Best of luck guys. #Boatlife

[@larrycassidy7274]

It's been two years now, how did that boat turn out?

[@yachtworks370]

It’s actually been longer than that as this video was not put out right away… some mild oxidation coming back…. About to hit it again, but won’t take near as much effort as in this video as it’s still shining pretty good. Might just polish and wax it. Boats been up the Gulf Stream and seen some crazy seas.

[@gaelmartinezj5496]

Help my friend, how much can I charge for a 21 foot boat?

[@yachtworks370]

Hello, there are many variables... like what is your location , how much oxidation is there, what kind of boat? I’m traveling at the moment. Get back to you when I can.

[@frandanco6289]

How much experience in Years do you have Detailing boats??? How many boats is that total number that you have done completely, top to bottom??

[@KcKing777]

Hows all my seasoned detailers low back doing?

[@yachtworks370]

Shoulders strong ya ?

[@bobbygeneperry2589]

I would like to see what it looks like after an alcohol wipe down before you apply wax. Wouldn't the baby oil cause the wax not to adhere to the gel coat? My guess is after about 3 to 4 washes the oxidation will bleed back through. Most people think it's just fading again. But it's because the oxidation was just hidden by the chemicals and oils . always do a alcohol wipe down after each step to see what's really going on with the gel coat. But this video is great if you are not looking for longevity and just want it to shine. Like what you said at the end of the video about having glass work and getting it redone. I understand why you did it this way. But for people who dont want to detail their boats 2 to 4 times a year I recommend a professional that uses a an alcohol wipe down after each step and inspects the gel coat for hidden oxidation and cleans the surface before applying wax.

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks for chiming in... these are great things to raise questions about so people can do further research. However, I will say that I worked alongside a guy that has done this for 50 plus years and the boat that I performed the job on in this video is STILL looking great. No oxidation whatsoever and this job was done in July of 2020. The only thing thats been done is a little more of the flagship wax was applied one time. Shes still looking great and been in all the elements for sometime now. .. thanks again for your comments.... I find it interesting that the designer of the boat in the video is Bob Perry... and your name is Bobby Perry. ; ) Take care!

[@trkonkal]

What does the baby oil do?

[@yachtworks370]

Gel Coat is Porous, so after buffing , baby oil works along with the polish to fill in the holes and give it more of a shine. It’s not necessary, but I find it gives a bit more shine. Just make sure you wipe it down good with a clean microfiber towel and then wax it after , and leave the wax on for a bit to seal the deal. Good luck !

[@hullhealersboatworksrestor4377]

Looks good, but I can tell you from 15 years experience, if you only ever compound up and down like that and you don’t evenly cross hatch, you will unevenly remove the gelcoat. I’ve never seen the baby oil, I’m not really sold but I’ll have to try it. I don’t think using baby oil is good idea when applying wax as the paraffin and the oils in the compounds and polishes are supposed to be removed via an isopropyl alcohol wash prior to applying the wax. I’ll definitely try it next time I polish though. Also, don’t fall for the 3M bs of using their wax, it’s all carnuba based, and lasts a month tops. Use a polymer sealant like Jescar Power Lock Plus or a similar SiO2 polymer. That oxidation came off great. Also, huge fan of the Chem guys pad cleaner, just wish I could buy it in gallons. It’s so expensive for how little you get and they don’t sell that product in bulk for some reason. I’ve since moved to a different pad washing chemical and a grit guard bucket inserted pad washer that my employees love. Good video man.

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks for your input and info to the community here. You are right about going up. and down and side to side.., I didn't show everything as I cut out some shots and sped up in this video and went side to side more as I went along. I don't believe the flagship uses carnauba. 3M bought out Meguiars back in 2008, but I don't think they changed the ingredients. This was done back in August or so and the wax is still holding good. Thanks for the tip on polymer. I'll try that next time. I like the chem guys too.... Its powerful stuff... so much that I got sick first time using it. I don't recommend breathing it in. I'd like to see your grit guard bucket washer system. Thanks again for watching the video and for your great comments. Take care.

[@the-real-chaosaffe]

I've always washed my pads using woolite in the washing machine, or on-site using lots of water and just a touch of Dawn... Also important is spurring the pads to remove the buildup of excess compound and abraded gelcoat

[@Local_Boydidgood]

Where was your spacer nut on the spindle? #45 uses caranuba (breaks down fast) Adding baby oil would be appropriate if you just want to add oil to your gelcoat. Covering all that with flagship is 3 steps too far and doesn't help you. Just use the flagship and your compound. A foundation of caranuba and oil can't support a polymer for long. Just an opinion from a guy who did over 100 boats a year for 14 years.

[@yachtworks370]

Thanks for your input and tips. I get all my info usually from researching cruiserforums. I'll remember what you said for next time and give it a shot.... sounds like less work : )

[@rowekmr]

So what are you suggestion to not use?

[@yachtworks370]

So, I'm not seeing the carnauba listed in the #45 , however I do see it in #56 Wax , which I did not use in this video. After further research, I believe the #45 should be used ... "This polish is designed to penetrate the pores and remove contamination while depositing nourishing oils."

[@frandanco6289]

Local boydidgood --- Yes, this is absolutely the Truth.. No foundation of any wax or oil is going to be on the gelcoat long, and then it will fall off, taking whatever you applied on top of it with it.. This is why you really wash down the gelcoat and then apply your Polymer, etc., product on top of the clean gelcoat.. Putting anything on top of a wax, the same thing... The wax is the weakest link because - its just a wax... It will last a very short time, and its going to be gone along with everything else you put on top of the wax..

[@jeffreyallen208]

Shines nice....how about holograms?

[@yachtworks370]

Just wipe it off really good with fresh, clean microfiber towels … can’t get enough of those. This was obviously just a quick video… I wasn’t finished …. Check out my bottom paint video where I had more of it done. Thanks for stopping by !

[@jeffreyallen208]

@@yachtworks370 so you're telling me holograms are prevented by wiping with fresh towels? Who do you think you're lying to? Towles have nothing to do with holograms. You're dodging my question.......

[@whatchugado648]

Man your arms dont get tired? Did my first boat the other day and my arms and back were killing me

[@LandonChristian]

Yes of course they do, but after you do it for a while you build up those muscles and it gets easier.... the next time it will be a little easier and so on .... stay hydrated... it helps : )