Sure Step: How much, How often, Use over Poliglow or Wax

Skipper April 19, 2011 Ask The Skipper

Ernie Bivona asked:

My boat is 33 feet long with a 10.8 beam. The questions are:

Can a second coat be applied multiple days after the first coat?
If I am concerned only with the non-skid deck area, could one can suffice? I was not planning on using this product where traction is less important and regular wax or Polliglow could be used –seating areas.
We have used Poliglow on the hull and in the cockpit area and no matter what happens, we get a scum on the cockpit surfaces where people’s clothing and body parts do not rub them clean (the boat is moored on the flight path to LaGuardia Airport and local lore suggests it is the airplane pollutants affecting the surface). We are trying different waxes this year to experiment so how different is this from a Carnauba wax aside from the non-slip properties?

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Answer:

Yes, the second coat can be applied more than 24 hours after the first but not before. The reason is that you need a minimum of 24 hours for the first coat to cure so that the second coat will layer on top for added protection instead of simply removing the first coat and replacing it with the second. The danger of leaving it too long between coats is that it may get dirty and require re-cleaning before applying the second coat. Be sure to clean and prep the surface with Boat Clean Plus and Boat Scrub before applying Sure Step. This is important because these two cleaners will deep clean the pores in the gelcoat, removing dirt, grime, bacteria, suntan oil etc., and the second cleaner will remove any traces of oxidized gelcoat, scuff marks and stains. Remember that Sure Step will seal the gelcoat so if you don’t get it pristine, you will seal the dirt, grime and stains, etc., into the finish.
Each jar of Sure Step will cover about 200 sq. ft. and you need 2 coats. It can not be used over wax or Poly Glow but can be used on all deck surfaces, including the seating area. It is not greasy or slippery like wax and will not transfer onto your cloths or yellow the gelcoat like carnauba wax.
Local lore may be correct. Poly Glow is a water based acrylic polymer and it will be degraded by petrochemical solvents or exhaust and unburned jet fuel that may rain down on your boat from the passing planes. You may also have difficulties with Carnauba wax in your location. In addition to yellowing your gelcoat when the sun gets at it, it remains greasy or oily which holds dirt, dust and pollutants, such as aircraft exhaust, against the gelcoat which can cause streaking and discoloration, usually an overall grey color. It will also transfer to clothing. Many boat manufacturers now recommend against using Carnauba wax on their boats for these reasons. I suggest using a synthetic polish like Premium Boat Shine. It does not contain Carnauba and gives you a diamond hard, anti-static finish that is far more resistant to the pollutants in your area. It also gives you better protection against UV from the sun and will not transfer onto clothing.