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Product Details
Every spring we get tons of calls about buffing supplies and equipment -- naturally, everyone wants to know what we recommend. This complete polishing kit has everything you need to polish a 20+ foot boat to a dazzling shine, and it's a great deal! The items in either of this kit would easily retail at well over $200, if purchased separately.
Info & Guides
What you need to understand is that these compounds are basically liquid abrasive and what you're doing is lightly sanding or polishing your hull. The more faded or "oxidized" your hull is the more you need to compound/polish in order to get back to the original hull color.
Step 1: Compounding
If your topsides are really faded, you should go with the TotalBuff Rubbing Compound. This stuff is great at bringing back the original color and knocking out the ugly, faded look. It is applied with the polisher and pad.
Step 2: Finishing
The next step is to follow up with a finishing material boat polish in order to get a glossy, bright finish. We recommend TotalBoat TotalShine Finishing Compound. Again, you apply this with a polisher and a pad.
Believe it or not, you can get technical about buffing pads, in that there are pads with varying levels of aggressiveness for the compounding and finishing steps. However, generally you can get away with just using the 3M Superbuff Double Sided Polishing Pad (3M-05705) for boat compound and polish applications. You can use both sides of it - one for compounding and one for finishing. It requires the 3M Superbuff Mandrel Adapter (3M-05710).
Step 3: Waxing
After the boat polish is applied, the final step is to protect your finish with a wax. Use the Starbrite Boat Paste wax. It's important that you seal and protect the finish with a good wax to maintain the gloss that you just acquired. You can use any old rag to apply it but the rag will become clogged with the wax and eventually become ineffective.
The High Performance Cloth is textured in a way that it does not absorb the wax and results in a great finish. Once you use one, you'll never go back.
Technical Information
Boat Polishing Kit Includes:
- TotalBoat TotalBuff rubbing compound (32 fl. oz.)
- TotalBoat TotalShine finishing compound (16 fl. oz.)
- TotalBoat Premium Boat Wax (14 oz.)
- 7'' Variable Speed Angle Polisher / Sander
- Double-Sided Wool Buffing Pad
- 3M Buffing Pad Mandrel Adapter
- TotalBoat Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
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Reviews
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11 to 24 of 25 Reviews
11 – 24 of 25 Reviews
Most Recent
Oklahoma City, OK
5 out of 5 stars.
Why did I wait so long!
12 years ago
My 1978 Glastron 17' runabout looks like new. We have received glowing comments about its appearance. Never been so proud of the boat. Have already recommended the polishing kit to other boat owners.
Helpful?
Panama City Beach, Florida
4 out of 5 stars.
Basic Boat Polishing Kit -
13 years ago
The Basic kit would be a better value if it included one bottle of the Finesse II Finish Polish, which is needed to finish the job. The Pro Kit has one bottle of Finesse included; throw in another bottle of Finesse II and keep the gloves, goggles and respirator. The results are extraordinary! My hull has the original 1995 gel-coat, has never been refinished, has been exposed to the elements continuously since she was launched, and the Imperial Compound with the Finesse II IS THE TRICK to getting her looking new again!! The angle polisher, Buffalo Tools item BUF-PS07401, worked very well, the variable speed adjustment is a nice feature, except after 2 hours of polishing, the switch jammed in the run position, and I had to pull the switch out to get it to stop. A bit of silicone lube fixed that problem. For a [$] polisher, still a better deal than a $165.00 dollar DeWalt polisher.
Helpful?
Berthoud, CO
5 out of 5 stars.
Good Kit, Good Material
14 years ago
Great kit with everything you need to get the shine back on your boat. It took me the better part of two days to completely compound (Imperial Compound) and buff (Finesse) the boat from top to bottom. My boat had almost no shine at all before and now it is near showroom perfect. This kit makes a hard project a little easier and gives great results if you take the time and care to do it right.
Helpful?
Tucson, AZ
4 out of 5 stars.
Worth It
14 years ago
This is a nice kit. Along with the video posted on the website it gave me the confidence to restore the shine to my boat. It was pretty neglected for 8 or 9 years and these products have it looking like new. I was amazed at how the shine, gloss and smoothness came back. I was also impressed with the scratch removal. All but the deepest scratches in my finish came out. A couple tips: Don't kid yourself, this is hard work, if you want to do it right. It took me two solid days to get my 20' runabout looking good. Also, I would highly recommend buying an extra polishing pad. I bought the 3M pad for compounding in addition to the kit and I am glad I did, as I don't think one pad would be enough to do a large job. The downside is the compunding pad sheds like crazy. The buffing pad that comes with the kit did not shed nearly as much. Compounding is a messy, messy job. Between the dust and pad debris it makes really bad mess. The results are great though. Someone wrote on here that there wasn't a big difference between the results of the Imperial Compund and the Finese Glaze. I found you could really tell a difference on the darker colors, but white parts not as much.
Helpful?
Baltimore, MD
4 out of 5 stars.
Good Product
14 years ago
Good product for the DIYS'er boat waxer. Contained everything I need to obtain a very nice finish. I needed to compound and wax so the products and tool sold as a kit was ideal. I'll also note that ordering this product from JD was a very good experience.
Helpful?
Wisconsin
5 out of 5 stars.
Simply great
14 years ago
My first spring clean of our fairly weathered and oxidized 10 year old 21' sport boat. The 3M imperial compound rightly deserves its acclaim, bought back our dark green hull and white topsides beautifully. The finesse it adds the final touch to the polishing stage and the wax comes off perfectly with the 3M high performance cloth. That thing is amazing! The buffer performed how I would have expected, the slow start feature is nice and prevents too much sling of the compounds. The 3M yellow buff pad held up nicely, would be nice if the kit had a spur to keep it unclogged. All in all a nice kit at a nice price and a job done properly.
Helpful?
Loudon, Tennessee
4 out of 5 stars.
Simple way to getting everything right
15 years ago
We keep our Sea Ray 240 Sundeck in the water year-round, so each Spring there is some serious work needed to remove oxidation and restore luster to the fiberglass. Using the JD Boat Polishing Kit, the work this year was easier -- and quicker --than ever...and the boat looks like new. That's not bad for a 10-year-old boat that we try to use every month of the year. I did find that I get the desired results more easily with Meguiars One Step Compound in lieu of the 3M Imperial Compound provided in the Kit. Still, I think the Kit is a bargain filled with all the quality components necessary to do the job.
Helpful?
Killeen, TX (Fort Hood)
4 out of 5 stars.
What a DEAL !!
15 years ago
This polisher is about equivalent to my $600 polisher (great deal). One downside is you need an area that is out of direct sunlight. I used my garage which still has the buffing pad fibers (like pet hair) floating in my garage, after 2 weeks. Once you get the pad broken in, it works great. The process is awesome, but takes some time to master. I would recommend a waxing pad (polishing) for the final step instead of using the high performance cloth, it'll save your shoulder. Also the kit doesn't come with a buffing pad spur, which unclogs and fluffs the pad. When I first began I used the 3m finishing compound, then the finesse it II and finally the wax. After a few sections I didn't notice much difference from the compound to the finesse it so I removed the finesse it from the process which work great and reduced a step. If you have any questions call Jamestown dist. [...].Next time I'll upload some photos.
Helpful?
Croton-on Hudson
5 out of 5 stars.
excellent package
15 years ago
JD's pre-selection of products is very helpful. The instructions were clear, although we had some question about the polishing stage. In the end, we used the Hi Perf Cleaning Cloth to apply and remove! That product is the secret weapon. One note: we cleaned the boat before starting the project. Water trapped in the rubrail tended to shake out when applying the grinder in the area, which made a minor mess. Otherwise piece of cake!
Helpful?
NJ
5 out of 5 stars.
Everything I needed for a great shine!
15 years ago
Every spring for the last 8 yrs I stand in front of my boat with a bucket full of items to spend the weekend cleaning, buffing, polishing, and waxing and then can't move my arms for days. With this tool set I was able to compound and wax my entire boat in less time, with an outstanding result. And the true test is when the glowing comments come in asking what magic wax I used. The angle grinder made all the difference! I'm an incredibly satisfied customer - and it was at a great price too! Thanks JD!
Helpful?
Enterprise, AL
5 out of 5 stars.
Well Worth the Money
16 years ago
Money well spent. I completely polished a 26 foot boat in a week end and this 10 year old center console has never looked this good. The kit gave me everything I needed to do the job at a price way below what could be purchased separately. Just great.
Helpful?
Austin, TX
4 out of 5 stars.
Excellent Deal - Your Gelcoat Will Shine
16 years ago
This is a great deal! I think that the quality of the buffer is pretty good and definitely good enough for the average boat owner that will only use it once or twice a year. I was starting with a 1989 Compac 23 sailboat with chalky, dull, badly aged gelcoat. After throughly cleaning the topsides, I wetsanded at 600. Then I hit it with the compound, then polish, then a wax (follow the instructions on the bottles). The results are AMAZING! It looks like a new boat. I recommend adding one of the white wool 3M compounding pads. I do not believe the included yellow pad is great for compounding...it is good for polishing though. Plus, it is nice to be able to use both sides of the pads during each phase, so you can flip the pad over if it gets clogged. I found that after doing the topsides on my Compac 23, I used about half the bottle of compound and 75% of the bottle of Finesse-it. So, add more compound or Finesse-it as necessary. An additional 3M rag is also nice - one for applying the wax and one for wiping off. I would also recommend using earplugs in addition to the included eye protection and dust mask. Finally, don't be scared to buff your boat even if you have no experience. I had never even touched a buffer before, but followed all the instructions on the bottles and everything turned out great!
Helpful?
Deale, MD
5 out of 5 stars.
Successful Experiment
16 years ago
I was determined to spend some extra time this spring renewing the gelcoat on my Cal. I was not sure which products on the market I should use, particularly since I was pretty sure I wanted to use a multi-step process. This kit turned out to be perfect. A matched set of products in the right proportions was included. The grinder included is not the best quality, but it was more than up to the task of polishing a boat. Lots of people stopped to ask what I was using to get such a good finish. The results were great and I'll use the same components, and the same grinder, again next year.
Helpful?
Boston, MA
4 out of 5 stars.
Comprehensive!
17 years ago
I used this product to work on a mold for a light vehicle. I purchased the kit because it made shopping easier but discovered that I wanted more of some of the products and less of others. Next time round I used the list of included products to build my own 'kit'.
Helpful?
1 Ratings-Only Review
11 – 24 of 25 Reviews
Questions
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1 - 10 of 12 Questions
Q: null how does this work on newly applied Interlux Perfection on my Ranger 33 sailboat. The final paint coat put on with a foam roller has slight roller marks, i.e., is not perfectly flat - -the slight ""orange peel"" look how much time to bring up a flat glossy shine like shown in the video. Also, the video didn't show use of a a buffer, only hand applications and hand polishing
2 years ago1 Answer
A: Please email us at info@jamestowndistributors.com with pictures and details of how the surface was prepped, was a primer or thinner used, and we will have one of our techs see if they can help you out. Thank you.
2 years agoHelpful?
Q: null Can these products be used on a motorhome with vinyl decals safely? 33' long
4 years ago3 Answers
A: Yes
4 years agoHelpful?
Q: null What size is the budding wheel? 5""-6""-7""?
5 years ago1 Answer
A: 7""
5 years agoHelpful?
Q: null WHAT SPEEDS ARE AVAILABLE WITH THIS BUFFER?
7 years ago1 Answer
A: Variable Speed 1000-3300 RPM for Sander and Polisher
7 years agoHelpful?
Q: null In the Basic Boat Polishing kit, are sanding discs included, are they 5""?
8 years ago1 Answer
A: Here is what comes in the Basic Polishing kit: Basic Polishing Kit Includes: (1) TotalBoat TotalBuff Rubbing Compound (Quart) (1) TotalBoat Premium Marine Paste Wax (11 oz) (1) Variable Speed Angle Polisher / Sander (BUF-PS07401) (1) 3M Superbuff Double Sided Polishing Pad (3M-05705) (1) 3M Superbuff Mandrel Adapter (3M-05710) (1) High Performance Cleaning Cloth I don't see sanding discs listed.
8 years agoHelpful?
Q: null Hi Bought the total boat kit last week. I have decals to apply to the hull, should I apply after compounding and before waxing or after waxing? Thanks. Mike Rudman Plymouth, MA
8 years ago3 Answers
A: I would do it after compounding, but before waxing. I think you will get a better surface for them to adhere to that way. Actually I did do it that way, over a year ago and the decals are doing fine.
8 years agoHelpful?
Q: null In one of your videos a reference is made for using a wool pad on the buffer. Does Basic Boat Polishing Kit provide the __quote__wool__quote__ pad as needed or must I buy that separate?
9 years ago4 Answers
A: The superbuff pas is the wool pad and is included
9 years agoHelpful?
Q: null How come I was assuming I'd receive 3M compound and wax products with the Basic Polishing Kit I just received? What I received are products by TotalBoat. Was I looking at possibly and old add etc., and also my research with 3M directly I felt indicated that this kit offered by Jamestown included the 3M wax and compound. I guess I am disappointed after thinking I'd done my research, to not have received 3M product.
9 years ago3 Answers
A: I bought my kit back in 2012. I got 3m product with mine. I bought extra actually then sold the boat so don't use it anymore. I should sell the whole works...dalmerjd at gmail dot com
9 years agoHelpful?
Q: null I have a 36 foot sailboat, will this kit do the job or will I need additional product?
10 years ago2 Answers
A: It depends somewhat on how much of the boat needs polishing. There was enough to do the topsides of our 30 sailboat twice but our bottom has anti-foul paint and we didn't do the deck because its mostly wood. I will say, the kit enabled us to easily give the topsides a nice, long lasting finish. I hope you find this information useful.
10 years agoHelpful?
Q: null Do you use the same pad for all the different products?
12 years ago3 Answers
A: Personally I did not this time, but I have before. I get better results by using one pad to apply the compound then use another one to take it off. The terry cloth ones seem to work better to put it on with. The pads seem to get a build up which generates more heat. Hope this helps! Products are awesome!!
12 years agoHelpful?
1 - 10 of 12 Questions