Wax Your New Boat

Revised by BoatUS editors in April 2012

The idea behind wax is to prolong the shine, not to restore it. Don't wait until your boat starts looking dull to wax it. If you keep gelcoat protected with a once or twice a year coat of wax, that new-boat shine will last nearly forever. Use paste wax. Liquid waxes are easier to apply and actually have higher gloss initially, but they do not have the staying power of a good paste.

In a consumer magazine comparison, of the waxes tested the longest lasting were Collinite #885, Meguiar's Professional Paste Wax, 3M Ultra Performance, and West Marine Carnauba. To make this job easier, invest in an electric buffer.