Bertram33 User Forum

When I first got the boat 2 years ago (1986 FBC) I used a machine to apply 3M Finesse It II polish and then hand applied Meguiar's Falgship wax. I was very pleased with the results. Last year I did the same thing. The hull is not oxidized at all so I'm wondering if I can get away with only waxing? Anyone have any thoughts? What do you guys do on a yearly basis? Thanks, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

Doug, I've been doing this for a long time. My boat & many others. We have a bunch of us that haul out at the same time, rent a lift and go at it. We use either the Finesse It or a light compound. We also have a couple of the big Makita commercial buffers. Buff it clean and then apply the Starbrite Teflon, with the buffer, polish and wipe excess with a clean towel. Next week we do it again, but this time I'm going to try the Kanuba Wax. When you use the Teflon you tend to get more black streaks when it rains. And you have to use the Black Streak remover, or that Teflon Polish will come off. So I'll let you know how that goes. E.W. Dugan

EW, Thanks for the reply. So you're saying that you use a polish every year? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

Thought I`d put in my 2 cents worth. My experience has been usually with older , badly faded boats, so I`ve actually sanded the gelcoat down to healthy stuff and then polished and waxed.Luckily , my Bertram doesn`t need this. It seems that most gelcoat finish restorers and polishes have kerosene in them or silicone to make the old glass shine.These never work for long . The products that have been mentioned by the other guys above are good quality products that will do a good job without the kero or silicone so I think will give good results. The only thing I might do a little differently than the other guys on your boat,is finish with Zymol wax. It costs a bit more but is really long lasting and is an honest wax, that is, it has no wierd chemicals to make it shine , just good stuff. It also smells fantastic. If anyone is interested, its ZYMOL.com . Some of their wax for cars actually gets VERY expensive. I swear by it. Frank Price `87 33 SF "Jeanne Claire"

Doug, I find the need to use Polish every time I do this. But remember my Boat is in Fla. and in the water 365 days a year. I get about 18 mo. between bottoms. So combine the salt the heat etc. I do need to buff all the build up. I agree with Frank on that Wax. But it takes a bunch of it $ to do this 33. E.W. Dugan

When I got my 33 FBC the gelcoat was about the only think that the previous owner neglected. It was quite oxidized and very dull. I'd always used 3M Finess It along with Starbright Teflon on my boats in the past with great results. A friend suggested using Starbright Glass Cote. He said he had used it for years and that it was super easy to use, long lasting and it cost about a third of the other Poly Glow type products. I tried it and am amazed how easy it was to use and how great the boat looks. I removed the oxidation with Soft Scrub and a stiff brush. I then applied 2 coats of the Glass Cote using a large foam brush covered with a cotton cloth. I finished the whole topsides in an afternoon using 1 and a half bottles of the product. Starbright claims it lasts 12 months and my pal said it lasts even longer than that. Mine still looks great after 4 months. I'm talking REALLY easy to use. Dan Scholz 1977 33 FBC Reel Riot

On my 28 I use Rule restorer wax followed by Rule Miracle coat since this boat is original gelcoat. This goes on very easy and really holds a shine. My 33 is Awl Grip and i use Flitz carnuba wax with an extra coat on the transom, Since i have had this boat only a couple of months I cannot say how long one waxing will last. Gunny