We won’t steer you wrong
I have been told by some friends that I need to be very careful about things that I endorse on this blog as it’s almost assured that whatever I say to get or do, they will do just that. With that in mind, I’ll do my best to not steer you in the wrong direction.
Even though we have hired two people to come onboard One Love to help with cleaning today, Rebecca, Michael and I spent the majority of yesterday doing other miscellaneous cleaning and polishing jobs. It is a big boat after all. We have countless products on board for cleaning from expensive marine stuff to homemade solutions. Sometimes we resort to using only vinegar and baking soda.
One marine product that I really do like though is 3M Marine Restorer and Wax. I mentioned it a few months ago in this post about ZTC. It is the only product that I have found that will remove the dirt and scuffs from our boat’s rub rails, perhaps because it contains a slight abrasive. While Rebecca tended to the boat’s stainless steel and Michael cleaned Bob, our tender, I used the 3M product to improve the look of the white rub rail running around the cockpit and helm station. All three of those areas now look much better!
You going to offer money back guarantees as well? 😉
Seriously though, seems kinda sad to have to remind folks that a personal recommendation is one persons opinion of a product, service, or process that works for them and it is up to the reader to determine suitability for themselves. Isn’t this common sense? Everyone has an opinion and they aren’t all the same.
I, for one, really appreciate hearing about the things you have tried that have worked *for you*. Given the condition of the boats I’ve been looking at buying, I may have to give the 3m stuff a try.
Keep doing what you are doing!
-Mike
ThisRatSailed.blogspot.com
I do feel honored that at least a few people actually care about what we have to say. 🙂
I’ve been doing more studies for Practical Sailor, you know, most recently on canvas treatments, vinyl window treatments (3 years) and scratch removers. I decided I would like my PDQ windows to last longer!
Any disasters or lessons to share?
* NEVER let canvas treatments or bug spray get on vinyl windows. Some of them (specifically Aqua Tech and any bug spray) will ruin the vinyl in minutes. So don’t treat the canvas near the windows!
* Never use 3M cleaner wax on vinyl windows. Yeah, I know better, but it was an experiment on a test panel regarding scratch removal. Like many things, it looks good at first… and then shortens the life of the window dramatically. Same with all scratch removers. Live with the scratch.
* Imar really is best. A lot.
* Strataglass really isn’t best. A new product, O’Sea (by the makers of Regalite) is more flexible, haze resistant, chemical resistant and scratch resistant.
—
And yeah, I use 3M cleaner wax on a lot of stuff. +1. But -2 on polishing in general (I’d feel differently if I had guests)!
Good advice as always. I fully agree with your final statements. 🙂
Though my wife works at West Marine and we get one hell of a price on the West Marine brand restorer wax, the 3m brand has it beat hands down.
Good review.
I use Prism Polish for many of the same reasons: gentle abrasive and waxes all in one, cleans and waxes lightly soiled stainless steel and I had great success cleaning the windows on our Lagoon 380—–they are still crazed of course but it took the cloudiness away and now they sparkle! I always appreciate hearing what other real world sailors use for products, thanks.
I have not tried that. Thanks.