How to Wax & Refinish a Fiberglass Boat Hull

Take care of your boat hull by waxing and refinishing its surface.

Fiberglass is a synthetic material used to manufacture boat hulls because of its reliability and strength. When a hull is made the outer surface is coated in gel coat, which protects the fiberglass and gives the hull a glossy shine. However, due to water corrosion the high quality finish wears off and is difficult to restore. You can refinish it by waxing and polishing it, giving the boat a fresh look without the hassle of coating it in gel coat again.

Things You'll Need

• Sponge
• Warm water
• Detergent
• Cloth
• Acetone
• Fiberglass wax
• Fiberglass polish

Instructions

1. Prepare the boat's hull for waxing and refinishing by cleaning it thoroughly. Do this by putting a generous squirt of detergent in a large bucket of warm water. Use a sponge to wash the fiberglass with the solution. Remove all excess debris, making sure to scrub off algae or mud.

2. Soak a clean cloth in acetone. Rub the boat's hull with the cloth, using firm, circular movements to degrease its surface.

3. Purchase a durable wax that is suitable for use on fiberglass. Read the instructions carefully and check that is suitable for use on boats.

4. Dip a clean dry cloth in the wax and apply liberally to the hull, following the instructions on the packaging.

5. Buff the surface with a second clean cloth, using circular motions to remove excess wax.

6. Polish the fiberglass hull to give it a high sheen. Apply the polish in the same way as the wax, using firm, circular motions.

Tips & Warnings

• Add household bleach to the warm water in Step 1 to help remove tough stains like fish blood or water scum.

• Instead of using wax and polish to refinish the boat's hull, use an acrylic sealer to protect the surface. The boat will need several coats to achieve the same finish, but buffing is not necessary.

References

• Boat US: Restoring the Shine to Fiberglass
• Torresen Marine: Hull Repair/Refinishing