FAQ's ABOUT BOAT BUFFING AND POLISHING
The following are common questions we get from our customers about our own buffing and waxing/polishing process or general questions about boat buffing and waxing.
Q: Do you prefer to wax a boat in it’s slip or have it hauled out at a boatyard?
A: We prefer to polish ski boats on a trailer because we can reach a lot more of the hull that way. For all other boats, it really doesn’t matter to us as long as we can easily reach the hull either on a low dock if your boat is in the water or on a sturdy ladder or scaffolding if your boat is at the boatyard.
Q: My dock seems fairly high. Will you be able to reach the hull?
A: If your slip has a high dock, we may need you to move your boat to a lower dock (one that is level with the waterline) so we can more easily reach and wax the hull. We can still wax everything from the rub or toe rail up at the high dock. You can either have your boat hauled out at a yard if you need other work done as well or you can reserve a slip at Fisherman's Terminal for a couple of days if you're in the Seattle area. They charge $1.12/ft per day. Their number is 206-787-3395. If you belong to the Seattle Yacht Club, you can reserve the SYC paint dock.
Q: How do you get to the other side? Do you have a raft?
A: Working on a floating raft is very difficult and can be dangerous for us because the electric cord of our buffer is most likely going to be draped over water. Also, it’s hard to hold and use a buffer with one hand while you’re trying to balance or hold yourself in one spot with the other hand. We'll let you know when we're ready to work on the other side of the hull so you can turn the boat for us.
Q: How long will it take?
A: That depends on the weather, the condition of your gel coat and the size of your boat. As long as we have dry weather, it usually takes us between two and four days to polish a boat that is between 30 and 50 ft long. It will take longer if the gel coat is more oxidized, the weather is rainy or very cold or your boat has a lot of nooks and crannies (which is why sailboats can take longer than power boats).
Q: Where do you get power for your buffer?
A: We can only get power from the dock or from a building (if your boat is in a storage area or at your house). We can’t plug our buffers into your boat because they will trip the switch every time.
Q: How does weather affect waxing my boat?
A: We can’t polish in the rain, even if it’s raining very lightly or just misting. The problem isn’t so much with applying the polish in the rain, but there can’t be any water on the gel coat when we buff the polish off or it will cause a hazy mess and we’ll have to re-do it. Most polishes and compounds work well in temperatures of 38 to 80 degrees. Any colder or hotter than that and some polishes and compounds become difficult to work with, especially if your gel coat is heavily oxidized. Thank goodness for Seattle, heat isn’t something we have to worry about much. It’s mostly those rainy days that slow us down.
Q: Do you polish boats by hand or do you use a power buffer?
A: We always use a buffer for compounds and the best boat polishes because they require even pressure and flat contact. Using compound or polish by hand always results in an uneven, splotchy finish.
Q: Does my boat need to be washed before you polish it?
A: Yes, if it hasn’t been washed in a while and is showing visible dirt, bird droppings and mildew on the gel coat. If you’re on our recurring wash list or your boat is only lightly dusty and was washed fairly recently, then we’ll be able to start buffing and polishing without having to wash it. This is because the compound we’re using is stronger than dust, so it won’t scratch the gel coat.
Q: I’m trying to sell my boat, so I don’t want to spend a lot of money, but the gel coat is looking dull. What do you suggest?
A: Polish just the topside (rub or toe rail up) and the transom. It’s what potential buyers will see first and will spend the most time in and around those areas.
Q: I want my boat waxed by a certain date for a trip we’re taking. Can you do that?
A: Our busy season is between March and September, so if you want to make sure it’s done by a certain date, you’ll want to get on our wax list as soon as possible. Most customers start signing up in December or January and we typically can’t start waxing until March because of the weather. When you contact us to get on the wax list, let us know what date it needs to be done by and we’ll do our best to make it happen. Rainy weather is the one thing that slows us down and pushes out the schedule.
Q: Do you wax non-skid?
A: Not usually because it would make it too slippery. However, there are a few products on the market that are meant for non-skid, so just let us know. This service is an additional cost.
Q: My boat hasn’t been waxed in a long time and has no gloss left. Can you make it look new again?
A: We will do our best to cut through the oxidation and bring back a glossy finish. Most oxidized gel coat that we come across comes back quite nicely. However, if it’s been a long time and the gel coat is chalky to the touch or if the gel coat is old and thinning or has blisters, then having your boat painted may be a better option.
Q: You polished my boat and now it’s a mess! What’s going on?
A: When we buff and wax a boat, especially when we use compound, we end up making quite a mess! There will be fine compound dust on everything, as well as “fuzzies” floating all around from the wool buffing pads we use. If you know that we’re done waxing your boat and you come down to find it a mess, do not fear. It just means we haven’t washed it yet. Which leads me to our next question…
Q: Do you wash the boat after?
A: When we wax a boat, I send out my wax crew to do the buffing and polishing and when they’re done, we send out our wash crew to wash the boat. There may be a day or two gap of when the wax crew is finished and when the wash crew can do the wash, but we’ll try to get it washed as soon after the wax job is finished. Sometimes there is so much fine compound dust that it might take two washes to get it all out of the nooks and crannies. If you feel your boat needs another wash after our initial wash, please just let us know and we’ll come out to do a follow-up wash at a discounted price.
A: We prefer to polish ski boats on a trailer because we can reach a lot more of the hull that way. For all other boats, it really doesn’t matter to us as long as we can easily reach the hull either on a low dock if your boat is in the water or on a sturdy ladder or scaffolding if your boat is at the boatyard.
Q: My dock seems fairly high. Will you be able to reach the hull?
A: If your slip has a high dock, we may need you to move your boat to a lower dock (one that is level with the waterline) so we can more easily reach and wax the hull. We can still wax everything from the rub or toe rail up at the high dock. You can either have your boat hauled out at a yard if you need other work done as well or you can reserve a slip at Fisherman's Terminal for a couple of days if you're in the Seattle area. They charge $1.12/ft per day. Their number is 206-787-3395. If you belong to the Seattle Yacht Club, you can reserve the SYC paint dock.
Q: How do you get to the other side? Do you have a raft?
A: Working on a floating raft is very difficult and can be dangerous for us because the electric cord of our buffer is most likely going to be draped over water. Also, it’s hard to hold and use a buffer with one hand while you’re trying to balance or hold yourself in one spot with the other hand. We'll let you know when we're ready to work on the other side of the hull so you can turn the boat for us.
Q: How long will it take?
A: That depends on the weather, the condition of your gel coat and the size of your boat. As long as we have dry weather, it usually takes us between two and four days to polish a boat that is between 30 and 50 ft long. It will take longer if the gel coat is more oxidized, the weather is rainy or very cold or your boat has a lot of nooks and crannies (which is why sailboats can take longer than power boats).
Q: Where do you get power for your buffer?
A: We can only get power from the dock or from a building (if your boat is in a storage area or at your house). We can’t plug our buffers into your boat because they will trip the switch every time.
Q: How does weather affect waxing my boat?
A: We can’t polish in the rain, even if it’s raining very lightly or just misting. The problem isn’t so much with applying the polish in the rain, but there can’t be any water on the gel coat when we buff the polish off or it will cause a hazy mess and we’ll have to re-do it. Most polishes and compounds work well in temperatures of 38 to 80 degrees. Any colder or hotter than that and some polishes and compounds become difficult to work with, especially if your gel coat is heavily oxidized. Thank goodness for Seattle, heat isn’t something we have to worry about much. It’s mostly those rainy days that slow us down.
Q: Do you polish boats by hand or do you use a power buffer?
A: We always use a buffer for compounds and the best boat polishes because they require even pressure and flat contact. Using compound or polish by hand always results in an uneven, splotchy finish.
Q: Does my boat need to be washed before you polish it?
A: Yes, if it hasn’t been washed in a while and is showing visible dirt, bird droppings and mildew on the gel coat. If you’re on our recurring wash list or your boat is only lightly dusty and was washed fairly recently, then we’ll be able to start buffing and polishing without having to wash it. This is because the compound we’re using is stronger than dust, so it won’t scratch the gel coat.
Q: I’m trying to sell my boat, so I don’t want to spend a lot of money, but the gel coat is looking dull. What do you suggest?
A: Polish just the topside (rub or toe rail up) and the transom. It’s what potential buyers will see first and will spend the most time in and around those areas.
Q: I want my boat waxed by a certain date for a trip we’re taking. Can you do that?
A: Our busy season is between March and September, so if you want to make sure it’s done by a certain date, you’ll want to get on our wax list as soon as possible. Most customers start signing up in December or January and we typically can’t start waxing until March because of the weather. When you contact us to get on the wax list, let us know what date it needs to be done by and we’ll do our best to make it happen. Rainy weather is the one thing that slows us down and pushes out the schedule.
Q: Do you wax non-skid?
A: Not usually because it would make it too slippery. However, there are a few products on the market that are meant for non-skid, so just let us know. This service is an additional cost.
Q: My boat hasn’t been waxed in a long time and has no gloss left. Can you make it look new again?
A: We will do our best to cut through the oxidation and bring back a glossy finish. Most oxidized gel coat that we come across comes back quite nicely. However, if it’s been a long time and the gel coat is chalky to the touch or if the gel coat is old and thinning or has blisters, then having your boat painted may be a better option.
Q: You polished my boat and now it’s a mess! What’s going on?
A: When we buff and wax a boat, especially when we use compound, we end up making quite a mess! There will be fine compound dust on everything, as well as “fuzzies” floating all around from the wool buffing pads we use. If you know that we’re done waxing your boat and you come down to find it a mess, do not fear. It just means we haven’t washed it yet. Which leads me to our next question…
Q: Do you wash the boat after?
A: When we wax a boat, I send out my wax crew to do the buffing and polishing and when they’re done, we send out our wash crew to wash the boat. There may be a day or two gap of when the wax crew is finished and when the wash crew can do the wash, but we’ll try to get it washed as soon after the wax job is finished. Sometimes there is so much fine compound dust that it might take two washes to get it all out of the nooks and crannies. If you feel your boat needs another wash after our initial wash, please just let us know and we’ll come out to do a follow-up wash at a discounted price.
