Carver Owners Forum

I want to wax our 41CMY and was looking for opinions (boy that could be a loaded question) from anyone who has or is using the spray waxes I don’t expect them to last as long as the old style rub on rub off just looking on something easier and cheaper than paying someone Thanks

303 spray sealer is something I have been considering. I have not used it yet, and I do not endorse anything I have not used, but a friend of mine used it on his Corvette. He said he did not apply wax before he sprayed it on, but it still finished in a shine. So, I am planning to use a liquid wax ( Mequiar's ) for ease of application, and then using 303 Sealer to see if that will enhance the liquid wax durability. Will be doing this before Feb. so I can let you know how the application process went. Longevity will be determined next season. Good luck. Maybe when I see other responses, I will change plans. er

What does the surface look like right now? If you put your hand in a plastic sandwich bag and run it along the surface does is slide smoothly, or does it feel like it's catching on anything?

If your surface isn't smooth, it isn't ready for wax. If you don't want to go through the polish, prep and wax steps, then throwing some spray wax on isn't going to hurt or help, but at the same time it feels like a skinny no whip decaf latte... aka the "why bother"...

If it's smooth and clean and ready to wax, then sure a spray wax will work for a bit. Depends on where you live and the UV it sees.
Meguires flagship wax (not spray on) is pretty simple to use even with a jiggle buffer. Wax on, wax off, done.


Reminds me of a time when I had spent a couple days buffing out my Sea Ray. Around 3:00 a guy comes down and starts working on a boat down the lot from me that was super oxidized. An hour later he's packing up to leave and I walked over and at first glance his boat was super shiny! I'm thinking to myself what did he use and why is this taking me forever to do...
I asked the guy what he used and he holds up a huge jar of Vaseline! He said he "learned it from an old boat dealer". I'm sure it lasted two rainfalls and he was back to looking oxidized!

Steve2020 wrote:Source of the post something easier and cheaper than paying someone Thanks

From my experience over the years, there is one boat finish fact of life ....glass boats with gel coat oxidize...period....this can be delayed in covered slips and boathouses but will happen none the less.

So to your question.....I have tries all sorts of things, nothing short of hard work with a buffer and compounds created the factory shine, remember even the brand new boats at boat shows are detailed with buffers etc before you see them. The spray stuff will make dull gel slippery and have a shine from certain angles but there will be no depth.....it will seem to work but needs a new clean shiny surface first.....the stuff works on your car, but there you are talking painted surface with clear.

If you find a good boat detailer, pay them, it is worth it in the long run and depending on what kind of shape you are in, much easier. They have the product and tools...( read expensive ).

Sorry if this comes off this way but just some hard won experience talking here........

Thanks for the answers I figured so much but thought I would ask just to make sure.

I have an orbital buffer with a selection of buffer pads that I have used previously on smaller boats - bow riders and such. I also have a selection of 3M polishes. Do I have the stamina to put the buffer and polish to the Riv 28 in the spring? I think I do. The hull looks fairly good as is, but I hope to make it even better. We shall see!

chpsk8 has it right, how successful a spray on product will be and that method of maintenance is dependent on the current condition of the gelcoat and prior maintenance practices. There's a lot of marketing promises out there. For some things, you just can't get around good old tried and true methods and elbow grease.

Yep. When taking about shiny gelcoat with durability, the only product that works the best is "elbow grease". My experience taught me that the shine is directly relative to the number of times you go over it. Ever wonder why Formula boats are so deep in their shine? Google Formula finishing process, and you will quickly see why. er

Formula's are shiny because they are painted.

Boat Bling Vinyl. Works great and smells good too. All my boater friends and family members are hooked on this stuff to care for their boats after experiencing how well it works to clean my boat. I spray and wipe my boat down after each use and it looks great and the gelcoat has a smooth slick feeling, like it has been freshly waxed. I only wax the boat once per year since being introduced to this great product. I've also used it on my vehicles and in my house on the shower doors. I highly recommend this product.