ok - maybe a dumb question about waxing your boat

[rob_and_trish]

My buddy and I got into a discussion yesterday about boat waxing.
When I wax my boat - I start at the top and wax the entire thing all the way to the bottom (including hull and all) I have to go around the skid plates on the trailer - but otherwise the entire outside gel coat gets waxed.

He saying that he only does his top 1/2 - the part not in the water. We went on w/ a lengthy explanation something to do w/ amount of friction the wax will decrease on the hull. Anyways... I think hes just a lazy **** and doesnt want to get under the boat.

What is the correct answer. When you wax - what do you wax?

Thanks

[chpthril]

I only wax from the water line up.

Theory is, there will be more friction created between surfaces of dis-similar materials. So, water on wax will create more friction then water on water (a wet hull)

[Jason B]

I waxed the entire thing....cause I'm a tad anile. Couldn't care less about the friction, I'm not on the clock in competition. Seems to me that it is just good for it to have some sort of barrier against the water. Of course, I could be completely wrong.

[hoopykat]

I wash as much of the bottom of the hull as I can, to get all the mud/sand/algae off, but I don't wax it. I do all the top and vertical surfaces I can reach with wax, including the back...I remove the swim platform and make sure I get all the surfaces clean and waxed...makes it easier to get the black exhaust gunk off when cleaning.

Mike

[spharis]

I know for a fact on bass boats that if you wax the below waterline hull, you will loose top speed. Granted the boat ran about 80, but when the hull was waxed, the speed dropped 5MPH. The wax was stripped soon after.

[third timer]

so I've heard

It's my understanding that if you can disturb the water as it goes over the surface the foamie water has less adhesion than the smooth water. Or something like that. Anyway, I have always waxed my boat waterline up once a year and used vinegar on all fiberglass surfaces to remove waterspots through out the summer. I theorize that the less frction I apply to the fiberglass surface the longer the gelcoat surface will stay new. My old boat looked good for about the first 9 years and was in the sun 365 days a year. A light rub out and a polish job fixed it right up in the 10th year.

[David Baker]

I've heard that an unwaxed hull is like the dimples on a golf ball. The dimples reduce friction and allow the ball to travel farther. Waxing the hull is like removing the dimples. Great excuse for me not to wax

[jsz]

Interesting discusion here. I thought the benefit of waxing the bottom for the longevity of the fiberglass would outweigh the gain in speed. Then again I wonder how long the wax even stays on under there and how much speed you would gain in a boat that maxes about 45 MPH.

[anhaney]

Here is the answer

Here is what I have found. Wax does reduce speed and increase friction. I have found a product that the hydrofoils race boats use called Flitz. It will be on automarinecare.com for sale soon. I have used it on my boat and that stuff was awesome. It took out stains from my gel coat and left it looking and feeling brand new. It has no waxes or anything in it to seal the gel coat it just cleans and polishes it.

[mtnsmith]

A lot of sailor's use Flitz to get out the streaks left on the gelcoat from the stainless steel rigging (lifeline stanchions, mast stays...). It also gets the green off the hull that is left from brass/bronze thru hulls.

[spharis]

Infomercials FTW!

[anhaney]

Here is what I have found. Wax does reduce speed and increase friction. I have found a product that the hydrofoils race boats use called Flitz. It will be on automarinecare.com for sale soon. I have used it on my boat and that stuff was awesome. It took out stains from my gel coat and left it looking and feeling brand new. It has no waxes or anything in it to seal the gel coat it just cleans and polishes it.

With this boat I really don't care about speed. I am usually running only at about 22mph or 11.5 mph for boarding and surfing. Once in a while I will push it and it maxes out at 45 mph. If I really wanted speed I would own a different class of boats.

[dogbert]

With this boat I really don't care about speed. I am usually running only at about 22mph or 11.5 mph for boarding and surfing. Once in a while I will push it and it maxes out at 45 mph. If I really wanted speed I would own a different class of boats.

Agreed. The whole speed thing on a wakeboard boat is like comparing a diesel pickup truck to a sports car. Yes, you could make the truck more aerodynamic, but what's the point?

[Wake Bandits]

We use 3M VU resistant boat wax.
Very easy on and off. I mean super easy.

The only thing it slows down are the suns damaging rays.