There’s nothing more beautiful than a polished and freshly waxed pontoon boat. If you're an avid boater, chances are that you feel passionate about how your pontoon boat looks. You might even spend time at work thinking about how you can't wait to get home and give your boat a wash. If this sounds like you, you're in luck. In this article, I plan to tell you how to get make your boat shimmer so brightly in the sun that everyone else will envy you.
The Best Boat Wax for Pontoons
The truth is, there is no wax that does better than the rest. What you need to look for when selecting a good wax is its ability to protect from damage and how easily it is to apply a coat. You certainly don’t want to waste your time and money on a wax that doesn’t blend in properly. You should also avoid colored waxes, as many have the reputation of streaking and staining boats.
Here is a list of covering some of the top boat waxes you can use on your pontoon:
1. Star Brite Marine Polish
Marine Polish is a wax that’s strong enough to protect your boat from wear and tear caused by the sun and extensive water exposure. You can safely apply it to metal, fiberglass, and surfaces that have been painted.
What I love most about this wax is how great it protects against UV damage and oxidation. Applying Marine Polish to your pontoon boat is an easy process, and it’s also guaranteed to keep your boat’s exterior as vivid and shiny as the day it was painted.
The best part about Marine Polish wax is its versatility. It’s strong enough to protect watercraft, but can also give automobiles the same pristine finish. Since it’s made with PTEF, a slick material, water and dirt will have a hard time staining your boat.
If you want a wax that’ll keep your boat looking clean for a long time, give Marine Polish a try. It's one of the more affordable marine wax products on the market.
2. Flitz Polish for Metal, Plastic and Fiberglass
Flitz Polish isn’t strictly a boat wax, but rather an all-purpose polish and wax for cars, watercraft, and other objects. Don’t let the fact that Flitz Polish isn’t designed specifically for boats turn you off, it’s still powerful enough to protect your pontoon from the elements. Flitz Polish is perfect for removing all sorts of blemishes, including:
- Discoloration from heat.
- Scuff marks.
- Water and dirt stains.
- Rust and tarnish.
- Damage from oxidation.
Flitz Polish’s ability to work so well on metal has made it a favorite among many pontooners. If you’re looking for something that’s perfect for taking care of your boat and is arguably the best pontoon cleaner for metal, give Flitz a try.
The only downside of using Flitz Polish is that you shouldn’t apply excessively on your pontoon boat’s fiberglass components. The wax has a green tint to it, which can stain your hull if too many coats are applied. With that said, Flitz is perfect for keeping your pontoons polished and shiny!
3. Meguiar’s Premium Marine Wax
Don’t want to take a side in the boat wax vs car wax debate? Then Meguiar’s Premium Marine Wax is the right wax for you. Meguiar’s is a company that has a longstanding history of creating some of the top automobile wax on the market. You can bet your last dollar that they know how to make a top-of-the-line wax that keeps your pontoon protected all season long.
Meguiar’s wax will keep your boat’s color rich and sparkling. Its unique chemical compound will also protect your hull from UV damage, as well as remove damages caused by oxidation.
Since Meguiar’s is not an all-in-one wax, you’ll need to give your pontoon a good cleaning before you apply it. With that said, if you follow the instructions, you’ll be left with a finish that makes your boat look like it’s been freshly painted.
One of the things that I really like about Meguiar’s is how easily it is to apply. You don’t have to worry about smudges and streaks when coating your pontoon with this wax. Additionally, it also smells like a pine forest, which is a pleasant change from other waxes that smell like cleaning chemicals.
4. Scotchgard Marine Liquid Wax
When it comes to protecting surfaces, Scotchgard has always been the name we can trust. Keeping that in mind, it should come as no surprise that Scotchgard’s Marine Wax continues the company’s reputation for excellence.
Scotchgard’s wax isn’t a multi-purpose cleaner, so don’t expect for it to remove any blemishes and imperfections that your pontoon has. This also means that you’ll have to wash it before applying the wax in order to maximize your results. However, the benefit of using Scotchgard is that you get a pristine finish that makes your pontoon look brand new. It even protects against excessive sun exposure.
Of all the waxes tested, Scotchgard is hands-down the easiest to apply. Since the wax doesn’t have any unnecessary coloring, you don’t have to worry about it staining your fiberglass. Also, it has a pleasant tropical smell instead of the overpowering petroleum odor that come with other waxes.
5. Shurhold Yacht Brite Wax
Want a boat wax that’s good enough to polish high-end yachts? Shurhold’s premium wax is an excellent choice for you. It’s strong enough to protect boats from water and sun damage, but can also be used to give cars and motorcycles a perfect finish.
The best part of Shurhold’s wax is that it’s designed specifically for saltwater boats. This means that its ability to prevent corrosion and oxidation are second-to-none. Furthermore, since it’s easy to apply, you don’t have to worry about scuffing up your finish with streaks or smudges.
As the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” The only downside of Shurhold’s wax is its price, which is significantly higher than other marine waxes on the market. With that said, using Shurhold’s Yacht Brite Wax means that it will take half the effort to give your boat a perfect finish!
Is It Necessary to Wax My Boat?
Yes and no. If you choose not to wax your boat, it’s not going to suddenly fall apart. It will start looking bad, however, and that may negatively affect your reputation around the marina.
There are a lot of benefits that come with giving your pontoon a good polish and wax. First of all, it can actually improve your boat’s performance. You might not have known this, but waxed boats glide across the water more easily. This means that your boat gets a slight boost of speed once after a fresh waxing.
You should also give your boat a routine wax to increase its longevity. A good boat wax will not only prevent your boat from fading and looking scruffy, it’ll also protect your boat from more serious problems. Most marine waxes are designed to stop corrosion. It might be hard to believe that a thin coating of wax can protect your exterior from so much damage, but it does!
Tell Me More about Waxing
The best way to keep your boat looking like it’s brand new is to routinely clean, wax, and polish it. Not only does a freshly waxed boat look great on the water, it's also a great conversation starter. You'll be surprised how many people will compliment you on how pristine your boat looks.
Polishing and waxing your boat is part of properly maintaining your boat. Doing so gives you the opportunity to see your pontoon up close, which also enables you to inspect the watercraft for any damage or malfunctions.
If you ever plan on selling your pontoon, you should know that one which has been routinely cleaned and waxed will be easier to sell. Chances are, you won’t have much success finding a buyer who’s willing to spend a lot of money on a boat covered with scuffs and stains!
The Final Say on Waxing
If you’re a true boater, you probably don’t need to be convinced to wax your boat. As a matter of fact, this article may inspire you to go outside and give your pontoon a quick clean!
Here’s a recap of why you should be waxing your boat:
- A wax job makes your boat look beautiful.
- It prevents damage from UV rays, rust, and water staining.
- Waxing reduces drag your boat could experience in the water.
- Adding a layer of wax is great for protecting your boat’s decals.
- The slick surface of wax repels marine life and prevents dirt and grime from sticking to your boat.
Even if you aren’t worried about using the best boat wax for pontoons, you should at least give your watercraft some type of wax job. You’d be surprised how much havoc sunlight can wreak on your boat. If your pontoon is exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time, using a UV-blocking wax is a must.
