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Boat Maintenance
How to Clean a Boat and Restore a Marine Gelcoat Surface
Get ready for the boating season with Mirka’s Polarshine® Marine Cleaning products. The Polarshine Marine Cleaning range offers a complete package for washing, cleaning, finishing and preserving a boat’s gelcoat surface. Combined with other Mirka Polarshine products it is a great solution for keeping your boat looking its best from season to season.
Restore shine on an older gelcoat surface
Protect Your Boat Easily With Polarshine® Marine
Mirka's Polarshine Marine product range is designed for effortless and effective cleaning of surface stains in boats.
This is how you can refurbish your boat using the Mirka method
Cleaning Your Boat
Pre-wash
- Start with Polarshine® Marine Deep Clean.
- Dilute the oxalic acid-based detergent depending on the soiling 1:3 - 1:10. Apply with a spray bottle.
- Using a scrub brush gives extra power to the detergent.
- Leave on for 5 to 10 minutes, if you are inside, (if you are outside, the temperature and weather conditions may affect the time). Rinse with water.
- Be sure to flush the trailer as well.
Wash
- Use Polarshine® Marine Boat Wash
- Dilute the product 1:30 - 1:100 depending on the soiling. Apply with a spray bottle.
- Using a scrub brush gives extra power to the detergent.
- The detergent neutralizes the surface. Leave on for 1 to 5 minutes and rinse off.
- Dry with a microfiber cloth.
Recommendation: Sand the surface if it is in poor condition. If the surface is only faded, polishing alone will be enough.
Sanding
Sanding is optional if the surface is in poor condition.
- Sand with a Mirka® DEROS and Abralon® 2000 grit and water. Recommended rpm: 6000 - 8000 rpm. Abralon® sands as long as it leaves “foam” behind.
- Wipe in between before changing to 4000 grit. This will increase the life of the disc.
- Wipe with a microfiber cloth before polishing.
Polishing
Polish on a dry surface.
- Use a Mirka® PS 1437 and a lambswool pad Pro.
- Apply the Polarshine® 10 polish to the surface with the polishing pad. Recommended rpm: 900 – 1100 rpm.
- For light coloured surfaces: Polarshine® 10 and a yellow lambswool pad Pro.
For dark surfaces: In addition, Polarshine® 5 and a yellow waffle polishing foam pad for hologram removal.
Cleaning
- After polishing, wipe off any polishing residue with Polarshine® Marine Final Finish.
- Wet the surface and apply Polarshine® Marine Shield to the sponge and the area to be coated. NOTE! The surface must be moist.
Coating
- Let it work for a moment. You will notice when the coating starts to retract.
- Rinse off excess coating. Always use a pressure washer.
- Dry with a microfiber cloth.
- Let the coating cure for at least 12 hours (dry, at +5°C to +25°C).
- The coating protects the surface for one boating season.
Process steps
We offer on-site demonstrations
Request a Demonstration
Supporting you through technical development
To support this Mirka has a national team of trained staff who have a wealth of industry experience and are able to provide a hands-on approach to support.
Questions and Answers: Restoring Old Gelcoat Surface on Boats
Why do I need to maintain the gelcoat surface of my boat?
Composite materials, like fibre glass, having an exterior layer of gelcoat are used to make boats. The gelcoat surfaces are made to be long-lasting, with resistance to UV damage and hydrolysis. And it's not just about how the surface looks when it's restored. Fixing cracked surfaces will also protect the boat from salt, filth, mould, and excessive moisture.
Can you restore gelcoat surface on a boat?
Yes, you can, by regularly waxing the gelcoat surface you can prolong the lifetime of the gelcoat on your boat for 15 years or more. Keep your boat looking great for a longer time by using quality products.
What is oxidation on a gelcoat surface on a boat?
If the surface on a boat is not maintained properly, it gets a chalky, porous appearance. The main cause of oxidation are UV rays which slowly break down the surface and damage unprotected gelcoat.
I recommend Mirka’s Polarshine marine products to anyone who really wants to take care of their boat. The result is amazing, 42-year-old Emma looks new again. I was surprised by the ease of work.
Kristoffer Pietikäinen, Boat owner, Finland
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A better choice for you and the environment
Water-Based Polishes
All polishes that Mirka produces are water-based and produced in Finland. There are many benefits of choosing a water-based polishing compound.
- Effective permanent removal of scratches - Water-based compounds remove scratches permanently. Solvent-based compounds can lose gloss after cleaning the surface with a degreaser and in some cases, they may only temporarily hide the scratches.
- Safer for the operator - No hazardous chemicals
- Sustainable - Water-based polishes are better for the environment and do not contain benzene.
Save your health, time, and money
Sanding Without Dust
Do you get covered in dust when sanding? Try the benefits of Mirka's pioneering sanding solutions and see how a dust-free working environment can boost your business.
Benefits from dust-free sanding
Healthier working environment - Stop dust from getting into your lungs
Time-saving – No cleaning after sanding and clean abrasives cut better
Money-saving – No clogging lets you sand longer with the same abrasive
High-quality finish - Thanks to a finer scratch pattern
Do you want to know more?
Contact Us
Please get in touch and our expert support team will answer your questions.