After looking at several brands, reviews, prices, etc. I opted to go with this 3M product. The saying, "a picture is worth 1,000 words", well take a look at the photo I attached. This is a 2007 Bayliner with significant oxidation. I've tried other "marine waxes" but they don't work, maybe give a shine for a few says but the haze comes back. Having said this, I'll report back in a couple weeks and let everyone know how the finish is holding up. For now, WOW! I used the these buffing pads 3pc Premium 3" Foam Polishing Buffing Pads for Power Polishers Velcro Back - German Material, and followed with a 10" orbital buffer. This section took just under an hour, but I am quite meticulous so you may be quicker.
Easy to use - shake, pour, spread, and buff. Does take some work and you must use an electric (or air) polisher. Admittedly I used a drill with a Velcro attachment that easily accepted the buffer pads. Do follow the instructions on the bottle. Don't worry if it seems as if there is a build up of compound. As you work through the area (no more than about 2ft x 2ft) the compound will essentially disappear and leave a glossy shine.
I purchased this product, 3M 06044, as well as the 3M 05954 Super Duty compound. This product was a little easier to work with; by that I mean it was easier to spread out over the area I was buffing. It does not cut as well as the heavy duty. It would work well for light to medium oxidized boats. On heavily oxidized boats it will take a little more time. It does not clog up the buffing pad very quickly. Hit the pad with spurs and keep going. Once you do get a build up, switch to another pad or wash it out. When buffing my boat I am now up to 7 buffing pads. I can go all day without having to wash them. Buffing with a dirty pad will leave swirl marks. I like to finish up with 3M Finesse It II with a polishing pad. Typically most compounding pads are white twisted wool, while polishg pads a yellow with some synthetic wool. It's important to match the product with the correct pad to get the best results. Once that is finished and the gelcoat is nice and shiney; don't get lazy. It still needs a sealant or wax. You want to protect the gelcoat so that next year its less work.
Amazing product! I have been buffing boats for 20 years. This is the first product that rocks it ! I have used many other 3M products but this product was a game changer. Easy to use. I did one side of my 43 foot sailboat today, and was stunned at the ease and finish. I used about 1/4 of the bottle for one side of the boat. Amazed a the results and ease of use. Totally worth the price. I showed others what was done and they love it. I used it on winter heated storage at about 65 degrees and was easy to buff on ......a real game changer. I will try it on my 1979 36 foot sailboat that is outdoors in winter storage now this spring. Thank you 3M engineers and products !
amazing compound. Wet sanded fiberglass boat from 800, 1000, 1500 and then used this and it the finish was awesome. Im not exactly sure the correct way to take off the final hazing finish, but I used soap and water, then used a wax and the finish was great. I used an orbital polisher with wool from harbor freight and was fine.
I used the Imperial Compound to restore a 17' fiberglass boat. It had scum line stains as well as the white fiberglass was dingy looking and oxidized. I used a rotary buffer (required) and this 3M Superbuff pad 3M 05703 Superbuff 9" Buffing Pad
The wool pad is important as a component of the 3M "system" Wool pads cut fast. Be sure to use a pad spur to keep the pad from loading up and marring the finish you are trying to produce. When you first start to use the product, you don's think anything is happening, but as the pad and compound continue to work, the abrasive in the compound changes and then the surface gets shiny and glossy. You will not need anything other than some wax on a white or light colored boat after you finish with the Imperial Compound. The bottle I received says " Marine Compound" but is the same formulation. 3M just changed the name. This product seems expensive, but the results on a boat are well worth the finished product and the time saved.
Feature Product
- SAFE FOR GELCOATS AND FIBERGLASS - Formulated specifically for compounding and polishing boats and RVs
- SAVES TIME - Double-duty formula lets you compound and polish in one easy step
- WORKS HARD SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO - Fast-cutting compound removes scratches, stains, swirl marks and oxidation from boat surfaces
- BUFFS TO A HIGH GLOSS - Finishing material polishes surfaces to a bright, smooth shine
- EXCELLENT FOR REFINISHING - Use after sanding and before applying final wax for like-new appearance year round
Description
3M™ Marine Compound and Finishing Material is a rubbing compound and polish in one for boats and other watercraft as well as RVs. The compound removes scratches, oxidation, stains, swirls and other blemishes. The polish restores color and a high-glass shine to fiberglass and gelcoats. Incorporating decades of abrasive and coating technology, this 3M compound and finishing material eliminates separate compounding and polishing steps to get you back out on the water faster.
I bought this to remove some pretty bad docking scratches from my boat this stuff is really awesome it did not remove all the scratches but after several applications what it didn't get rid of it blended so there not very noticeable . Next I tried it on some black scuff marks on the floor it worked so well I could not believe how easy the scuff marks cleaned up also removed some rust marks even removed some rub marks on the rubber bumper around my boat I would highly recommend .
Worked well for me on my dark blue boat. Took off all the paint oxidation other cleaner waxed could not. I used a orbital buffer and it worker well. I did not use a high speed machine. Follow the instructions on the container and you should be good to go.
This stuff is amazing. I had a 1990 com-pac sailboat and over those 26 years no one really took care of the gelcoat. I wet-sanded the fiberglass, then applied the marine compound. The Hazing and clouding was gone! When I finally applied the finish wax it looked like a new boat!
Not much more to say. I like the fact that it starts out fairly aggressive cutting into oxidation and then switches to polishing as the compound breaks down. Great stuff, reduces a three step process to just one or two steps.
I have a 35 year old boat that had a badly oxidized gelcoat. I buffed it with this and an electric buffer. I put some 3M wax over it after buffing and the hull looks new.
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