how many times should I wax

W

wetbar

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Hey we have a 1996 Carver 500 cockpit yacht.
it is in great shape and we have had her waxed twice a year since we bought her last year. The waxing company was bought by another company a few months ago. Now this new company is telling us that it should be waxed with two coats twice a year and want 2500.00 to do a two part wax. Sounds like a scam to me, but I dont want to end up with a boat the looks bad 5 years from now. So, my question is should you do a 2 part wax twice a year, or is one part good enough, and how does 2500.00 sound? We are in the Wilmington area of NC if anyone live near by can help.

Thanks
 
Mine is half the size and I do it myself once per year for about $25. It is all labor but $2500 might be the going rate if it takes say 25 hours ($100 per hour). What were you charged by the old company?
 
Wow....detailers make more than marine mechanics??? If I wasn't so old, I'd quit my job in management and make twice what I do spending time with what I enjoy being around the most in this world. I think you need to get a couple of competitive bids-that price seems to be just a little steep.
 
Seems about the going rate. I pay $25 per linear foot for above and below the rubrail although I only have it done once a year up here in Michigan. This is from a large reputable company that works with the marina and does a great job. I'm sure you could get it a little cheaper from a one man show if you can find someone that knows what they are doing.
 
I polish with a machine below the rubrails, then apply two coats of wax in the Fall when my boat comes out of the water. When I unwrap it in the Spring I touch up any areas that might need a spot machine polish below the rubrails and then apply two more coats of wax before launch.
Above the rubrails I maintain with wax and polish throughout the season while the boat is in the water. I’d say that all areas get done at least three times, and the areas where the sun hits it get done more often.
I use wax, not “cleaner wax” for the tasks described above.
I only use cleaner wax to spot clean areas that become stained during the season.
 
$2500 for a 50 footer is $50 a foot... only for wax???

In miami the going rate is $40 to compound and wax ($20 topside, $20 hull)
 
How much did you pay the previous company? Is the $2500 the total for both waxings? I don't believe you need two coats each time if you are doing it twice a season.
 
Two coats of wax is more for 100% coverage than anything else. That’s why I do two coats. But it also adds a bit to protection to layer wax.
If they’re using a “cleaner wax” then there is no layering because cleaner wax usually contains some kind of solvent and going over a first coat with it will only loosen or remove that coat.
 
In CT when I had my bridge boat it was $20/ft for the hull and $35/ft for the super structure, which included the cockpit and bridge. Did it once a year.
 
That sounds like a price for full compound and wax. I'm in Ontario and where I am that sounds about right.

The normal practice here is to do this in the spring. I've found that many boats are looking rough by August or sooner. Not everybody does a good job, or uses a good wax. I've seen "pro's" using cleaner wax, and it lasts only a few weeks. I started doing it myself because I'd paid over $4k for a job and the boat looked worse than when they started.

I use CQuartz, a silica product for cars, now. Pricey to apply the first time, but lasts better than anything I've used before.
 
quote:
Originally posted by praetorian

That sounds like a price for full compound and wax. I'm in Ontario and where I am that sounds about right.

The normal practice here is to do this in the spring. I've found that many boats are looking rough by August or sooner. Not everybody does a good job, or uses a good wax. I've seen "pro's" using cleaner wax, and it lasts only a few weeks. I started doing it myself because I'd paid over $4k for a job and the boat looked worse than when they started.

I use CQuartz, a silica product for cars, now. Pricey to apply the first time, but lasts better than anything I've used before.

Click to expand...


CQuartz is one of the more modern sealants and not a wax. I prefer these sealants as they last longer, resist black streaking, can be multicoated and apply and remove easily. Many seasons back we tested a sealant (Gel Coat Labs) against a few waxes (Mequires , Insulator, and 3M) by applying each one to a specific area of our hull at the start of the season - the Gel Coat labs easily out lasted the others. Applying multiple coats of wax does not really add to the layering or protection, adding multiple layers of sealants does increase the protection, adding sealant over wax is not really doable, adding a wax over a sealant is doable but has limited improvements on a boat.
We ended up using sealants these past dozen years or so with great results.
 
Exactly, Smitty. I avoid wax when I can for those reasons, plus it attracts dirt and yellows over time. I see lots of people applying two coats of wax and always felt like the second coat was removing all or part of the first. Polymer sealants are the way to go.
 
I got a second guy to come out and take a look, he was at 18.00 per foot for a cleaner wax first and then a 3M wax. He said the boat looked good and did not need compounding or anything like that.

He did the back of the boat so I could see it, looks good now but it is hard to tell what looks good today and may look like crap in 2 months. But my question is- is that what I want - A cleaner wax then a 3m wax?
 
I had a '93, 37' convertible. Never had more than one (1) coat of wax per year for 25 years. There is a method of measuring shine/gloss by putting a ruler or yardstick perpendicular to your hull and see how many inches u can read on the ruler. Never had less than 12". I will try to post pix of what I speak.
BOB J
 
Has anyone ever tried this new 9H ceramic coating?
Just got a estimate and may do it.
Suppose to last longer than wax.
 
That's not another Poliglow is it? How long does it last? How does it wear? How do you remove it?
 
No. It’s the new nano technology. Gets removed with compound
Giving it a try.
Will report results
 
Ceramic coating is the new big thing at auto detailing shops- The get anywhere from $500 to $2500+ depending on type/size of auto and how many coats- The more coats the more years they guarantee the finish
 
It worked out to $5 more per foot. For $200 I think I will try it.
Extra cost is the material as it is like $99 a bottle.
 
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