How heavily should I apply Premium Boat Shine and VS721?

Skipper January 4, 2021 Ask The Skipper

Mark A Minor asked:

How heavy a coat do I need to apply when using Premium Boat Shine and VS721? Do I need to apply a little extra to allow some to penetrate into the surface or it’s just enough to be visible sufficient?

Also, do you have an opinion on using an orbital polisher to apply these products? For example, there are automotive sealants that I’ve had good results applying them with a small orbital polisher and one of Lake Country’s wax application pads.

Thank you very much

Answer:

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Hi Mark,

Premium Boat Shine and VS721 are used and loved by boat owners around the world for the following reasons: they’re easier and faster to apply, they’re not greasy so they don’t attract and hold dirt like boat wax, they offer greater protection against UV, chalking and color fade, they last much longer than boat wax, they extend the life of the gelcoat on your boat, and for these reasons, they offer much greater value than boat waxes.

There is some confusion about the application of Premium Boat Shine and VS721 because old-time boat owners are used to using boat wax and assume that the application and use are similar, but that’s not the case. Learning about the differences can help you make an educated choice between wax and synthetics and understand why the application is different and much easier with synthetics.

Most boat waxes are based on carnauba wax, a natural product derived from the leaves of the carnauba palm trees in Brazil. The carnauba wax is hard and brittle and can not be used in its natural state as a boat or car polish, but needs to be cut with solvents and other ingredients to make it into a spreadable paste or even cream. Because of the large molecule size, it does not anchor or bond to the surface but slides around on the surface, that’s why it feels greasy and that’s why you apply a heavier coat.

When you apply it, it appears dull because the short polymer chains are disoriented. You need friction to warm it up so it can be spread around evenly, that’s why buffers are used, and then it needs even more friction and heat from the polishing wheel to orient the polymers in a flat or horizontal orientation in order to reflect the maximum amount of light and present you with a shine.

Synthetics like Premium Boat Shine and VS721 have smaller molecules so it gents into the microscopic pores of the gelcoat and anchors, plus it bods to the gelcoat. That’s why you get a diamond-hard, antistatic finish that repels dust and dirt instead of attracting it. The polymer chains are longer so they orient themselves in a flat or horizontal fashion in order to reflect the maximum amount of light. All this is done using chemistry instead of mechanical buffing.

So, to answer your question, a thinner coat is preferable. If the coating is too thick, the excess will only be wiped away with the haze and make wiping the haze away more difficult. As the haze appears, that’s an indication that the protective polish is beginning to cure and bond to the surface. That’s the ideal time to wipe away the haze and allow the remaining polymers to continue curing, which takes about 24 hours (depending on ambient temperature and humidity)

The reason for allowing 24 hours between coats is to allow the first coat to set up so the solvents in the second coat don’t remove it. That way the second coat layers on top of the first, increasing its durability.

As far as using a polishing machine, you can use one if you wish, or think that it’s easier, or need to impress your customer that’s paying you for putting a professional shine on his boat, but the difference is the final shine is imperceptible. Most of our customers, professional as well as do it yourselfers, just wipe it on with a damp sponge, pushing it into the pores of the gelcoat, and then wiping away the haze with an old terry towel or microfiber cloth. It’s the fastest and easiest way to get a long-lasting brilliant shine on your boat.

Thanks for your question,

Captain Aurora
Richard Kittar