My boat has a few nics,scratches ect... from debris in the river we run in alot. I want to use polish, then wax(Meguires). Wondering which method any of you guys have used to get best results. I know if I use electric variable speeed polisher I will have to be careful not to burn the the clear coat but wondering if any of you have any tips. IE: wet vs. "dry" ect... 94'MC205 BL/Off WH Colors, the black shows everything and I want to clean it up best I can.

Brian, I could be wrong but I don't think your boat has a clear coat. It's not like a car, your MC should have a gel coat finish. Tell your local professional gel coat person what you've got going on and get his advice on what to do. Or have him do it. My guess would be a rubbing compound followed be a nice wax, use a buffer.

I use a poter cable polisher. I use a color restorer from Driven first. Next step I spray some showtime detailer on and then use the Driven Marine Polish. After the polish I follow it up with the buffing pad. Key is not to burn the gel. <BR> <BR>If you have many scratches then I would look to do a color sand with 1500 Wet sand paper. It will get the light scratches out and help bring the color back.

Coach, what is a color sand? Also, where do u get the Driven products? Do u think they are better than Meguires? If so why? TKS

Hey Coach, where do you get your Driven products and the wet sand paper?

Color Sanding is what is done to your boat right after it comes out of the mold. You use 1500 grit sand paper and a bucket of water. You soak the sand paper and I also use a spray bottle and spray the boat with some water and do a light sanding on the gel. I do this in areas where I have noticeable scratches. After you wipe it down you take a wet sponge and clean the surface again then use a detailer like Showtime from Mothers. The gel will look very dull when you are done. The next step is one that varies but I have a neighbor with a Shiada and he is very anal about cleaning it. He turned me on to using Mothers Wheel cleaner polish as the next step. It is not as course as a rubbing compound and a bit more course than a color restorer. Next step is color restorer, then polish, then buff. Gel on a boat much like paint on a car will look faded because of many little scratches all over the surface causing the light to reflect all over the place. Once you eliminate the little scratches you start to get the color and shine back. The color sanding helps with this process. Someone one here posted another product that many Corvette and fiberglass car guys use. I was thinking about using the system on my new boat when I get it. I will do a search and see what I come up with. <BR> <BR>As for polish I like the driven line. It really brings the color out and the water will bead up and not stick to the boat. I get less water spots when I use it. I don't know the technical mumbo jumbo I just know that my boat look its best after using it. BTW I have 1992 boat. <BR> <BR>Here is the Driven Link <BR><a href="http://www.driventoperfection.com/shop/index.php?action=item&amp;id=5&amp;subid=&amp;PHPS ESSID=3b2858b8e4172c0e44e321f5312794f1" target="_blank">http://www.driventoperfection.com/shop/index.php?action=item&amp;id=5&amp;subid=&amp;PHPS ESSID=3b2858b8e4172c0e44e321f5312794f1</a> <BR> <BR>Here is a link to some pics of my boat <BR><a href="http://www2.hotboat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121447" target="_blank">http://www2.hotboat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121447</a> <BR> <BR>Sorry guys it is a Jet not a wakeboard boat. It is for sale so I can buy my next boat. If you know someone who is interested pass it on.

Found the product I was thinking of Zaino <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc" target="_blank">http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc</a> <BR> <BR>Check out this link from WW the pics are amazing <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/332439.html" target="_blank">http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/332439.html</a>

Zaino is the shiz. My boat loves it - I have 5 coats on right now, and doing another 2 this week. The shine gets deeper and deeper.

Thanks Coach, I will be checkin out all the links and gettin busy on the gel coat. I want to take care of the boat without goin crazy so when comes time for resale I get the best $$ I can out of it.Don't get me wrong, want to be in a nice lookin ride along the way as well. Thanks again, this info should help alot of people. BTW- your boat is beautiful inside &amp; out- very nice. Hope mine turns out as well.

David in your previous post last month telling how u used Zaino , did you do it by hand or buffer? <BR> <BR>(Message edited by ghostrider_2 on July 28, 2006)

It was all done by hand. Zaino doesn't "require" a buffer since it's so easy to remove anyways... That's what their website says and I agree.

Some added info from Grant. <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/285649.html" target="_blank">http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/285649.html</a> <BR> <BR>(Message edited by doug2 on July 28, 2006)