Waxing

[07RINKER250]

Hey everyone,

I am curious to how often do you all recommend having a boat waxed.  I'm in Florida so it is ran in the salt water and for now is being stored outside until I can get a spot in covered dry dock.  I rinse it everytime I come back from being out, but I know I'm going to have to have it thoroughly washed and waxed every so often.

Phil

[Dream 'Inn]

Well, in Florida you will probably use it a bit more than here.  But, for me, I usually give it 2 good waxes.  One at the beginning of the season and one near the end.  I give it a good rinsing of just water after each outing.  That seems to be enough to keep its shine .  With sun being a bit more harsh, and using it year round, I would guess 4 times/year would work well for you.  Of course, everyone will have their own responses, some less, some more.  Give it a good waxing, and see how long it shine for you.  The important thing , especially down there, is to have a good protectant from the sun.

[chesbay]

Phil,

Based upon the boaters I know in Florida...I would say about every 3 months is a good baseline.

Also, leaving camper canvas with isenglass up is a MAJOR no no with me.  The UV damage it inflicts on the cockpit is scary....not to mention the wear & tear on the canvas.  Have a cockpit cover made if you don't have one...better yet, use a mooring cover to protect the topsides from bow to stern.

[Dream 'Inn]

Finally something Chessie and I disagree on.   I leave my camper canvas up all year.  On my prior boat, did it for 7 years, never any issues if you use the right protectants and keep it clean.  Now, down in Florida, the sun is much much harsher, I wouldn't do it there.  I guess for me, I leave it all up because I would not want to install every time we use the boat.  I may actually try this summer to remove the eisenglass, leave the top on, and install my cockpit cover...thus only having to remove the cockpit canvas and not all the isenglass when I know we aren't going to need the isenglasss.

[chesbay]

Dream Inn,
Ok...let's fight it out!  LOL!  I realize that the convenience of a cockpit cover is relative to the size of the boat...gets tougher on the big boats.

However, I cringe when I see my slip neighbors put up their camper canvas on Sunday night...then they cover everything (dash, electronics, seats, etc.) with beach towels to protect it from the sun. The next Friday they are wringing out the beach towels because camper canvas tends to leak...alot.  

To me the cockpit cover protects the cockpit from UV damage...is easier to put on...provides less windage in storms...keeps the boat dry...and is much less expensive to replace when it finally wears out.  My $.02

[Dream 'Inn]

Dream Inn,
Ok...let's fight it out!  LOL!  I realize that the convenience of a cockpit cover is relative to the size of the boat...gets tougher on the big boats.

   I agree it helps with UV, but I routinely use 303 with no issues.  The only thing I put a towel over is the dash.  I've never had anything, nothing, wet with leaving the cover up.  I'm not saying it doesn't leak at all, but not to the point I would have any towels, if I desired to put them over the seats, get wet.

When the weather gets to the point where I know I won't be using the isenglass, I think I'm gonna try using the cockpit cover, still leaving the biminis up.  That's what I see done a lot in my marina.

[ParkRode360]

Last year I kept the camper canvas up full-time -- got some good solar heat in the Sept / Oct / Nov timeframe.  Needed it to go up the Hudson this year as well -- it got chilly out on the water!

I've tried the cockpit cover exactly once, and boy, it gives you a nice workout!  But I might try it this year once it gets warm!

[Dan&Darci]

We leave the camper canvas up all the time as well.  Of course it helps to be in a covered slip & not have to worry about sun damage!  One other benefit to us of leaving the camper canvas up is that when we arrive at the boat on a Friday night after a 2 1/2 hour drive, it's ready to go.  We don't have to take off the cockpit cover, set up the camper top with our friends the mosquitoes,  and then capture all of the mosquitoes inside it.  

We just unzip the access panel, bring a few bags on board, and pop the top on a few beers!

[chesbay]

Good points all.  

[Greg]

A lot of good points being made....

I'm in Florida, in salt water and wax 3 times a year.  Rinsing after use is critical....I watch far too many boats deteriorate simply because the owner does not take 15 minutes to rinse off.  That's when the salt buildup really takes its toll.

As for the camper canvas....we leave it up.

Greg

[WBII]

We leave the camper canvas up all season, (unless there is a forcast of strong storms). Never have a problem. We cover the dash and seats with old sheets.

WBII

[07RINKER250]

Well, thankfully my marina has finally found a covered spot for my boat.  However, I think I am still going to buy a cover for it.  I plan on keeping this one for a long time and want to keep it looking new.  

[rdlegacy]

07RINKER250

As you can tell, there are varied opinions on this subject.  I do not boat in FL, but I can guess that the sun there is brutal on boats.  I have taken our boat to FL for a week or so, but its not like being there all year.

Waxing: I wax a few times throughout the year as well as cleaning the upper 1/2 almost each time I go to the boat.  I just don't like a dirty boat (black streaks).  I also touch up various areas on the upper 1/2 as needed.

Our boat is a 2000, and the gel coat started looking a little chaulky.  So I had the shop buff out the lower and upper a month ago....what a difference ( I didn't have the time).

Covers:   Now this is where a lot of folks differ!  I don't like to leave the camper covers on when I'm not there.  I put the cockpit cover on when we leave.  I think the sun, even up north, is pretty harsh on windows.  Even though many do this all year long.

I had a guy ask me last weekend if my covers were new....they came with the boat and are 7/8 years old.  Point is, I try to keep them as nice as possible, clean them and use Plexas on them twice a year as well....and I guess is shows since they look new at least to him.  I have seen boats much newer than ours and their covers/windows look terrible.

I think this is more personal preference.  If you want to keep her looking shiny and new, then do it!  I'm always tinkering anyway!

Bob

[07RINKER250]

Hey Bob,

Unfortunately my boat did not come with a cockpit cover.  I guess I'm asking about all this because I am new to Florida.  My previous boat was in the Detroit area on Lake St. CLair, so being down here is a different animal in taking care of boats.  I agree that I really shouldn't be leaving the camper canvas up.  I have seen some nasty isenglass down here from boats that have been kept outside with that being left up, not too mention the actual cockpit was beat up by the UV rays.  I have found some deals that I can get a custom cover done for around $600.  Not too bad to protect this investment.   I hate to wax so hopefully I can find someone that is reasonably priced to do it for me.

Phil

[rdlegacy]

Hey Phil....roger that, I'm not to fond of waxing either.  I like the price on your cover, seems like a very good price.  I remember spending between 800 and 900 for ours!

Bob