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Posts: 131
Location: Southwest Ohio | I just brought my new Ranger home from the dealer. May I ask what you all do to keep your boats looking good? What do you use on the fiberglass? Things like that.
Any tips will help.
Thanks in advance,
Don
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | WAX! Technically it's not really "wax" any more as wax denotes carnuba, which you don't see much. It's actually polish with polymers and such that soak into the glass and protect it from UV. But therm "wax" is still used. So wax it as often as you like. I like every month or two depending on use, which for me is 3-5 times a week. Between waxings, use a detailer like BBS (Bass Boat Saver) or BTS (Bow to Stern) or Meguire's Flagship. Most bass boat guys use BBS or BTS, but they've got very few dealers, so you have to mail order it. So I use Meguire's because you can buy it at West Marine which I have two blocks away. Use that every time, or every other time out. It's a quick spray-on, wipe off type thing. Even if you store it garaged, you'll need to protect the glass, especially the top cap.
For the engine, run Sea Foam or some other cleaner, de carb agent ALL THE TIME. Not once in a while, not every few tanks, ALL THE TIME. The it's good to de carp or "shock" your motor once or twice a year. That's just running super concentrated Sea Foam and removing as much carbon as you can from your motor. That's not just for two strokes, it's four strokes too!
I'm sure the boat has a fuel/water separator. CHANGE IT! Alot of guys let them sit, but they need changed Raycor are 500 hrs I think (because you can drain them) and Yamaha is 100 or 50 hr. But change them. That's why they screw off.
Don't let little things get away from you. If the horn stops working, why did it? Chances are it could just be a bad horn, but it could be corrosion on your common ground, a wire bundle that has chafed through...anything.
That's a nice looking boat! How about some more pics? What is it? Reata? Angler? |
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| I spoke with several fiberglass boat repair shops and they all stated to stay away from anything that says wax. Wax over several years will eat away at the gel coat and make it dull. I have a older ranger and found that 3m makes all differant kinds of products to use on fiberglass. I purchased the color and gloss restorer and it worked wonders. Also found that wizards makes a polish for gel coats as a follow up. Good luck!! |
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| after you pull it out of the water at the landing spray it down with some Bass Boat saver and wipe it off with clean cotton towels...keeps the hard water stains/spots/scum line from building up and keeps it looking good...much easier to take the 3 minutes at the landing after pulling out then doing it later...
bassboatsaver.com |
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Posts: 227
Location: Maple Grove | It may already be in your plans, but put a keel guard on her. |
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| First.......welcome to the Ranger family.
Couple of things I did with mine. Put a piece of carpet on the floor below the drivers console.
Put a piece of carpet down with double sided tape where I stood for the bow mount trolling motor.
Use a Frisbee to set my anchor down on after using it.
Kept a old coffee can with the cover slit to put old line into. Weighted the can down with smal rocks.
Most important......don't let "sunflower seed chewers" or "Tobacco chewers" into the boat.
Good luck and enjoy the boat. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | glog - 4/25/2009 6:15 PM
I purchased the color and gloss restorer and it worked wonders. Also found that wizards makes a polish for gel coats as a follow up. Good luck!!
But just to clarify, the Color and Gloss Restorer is for after it's oxidized. It's a mild grade rubbing compound type of product, not a level of protection. If the boat is new and not yet oxidized, then it just needs a protectant. Like I said, most "waxes" aren't actually "wax" anymore and are really polymer based polishes to bring the luster out and protect the gel coat. Look for UV protection, as it's UV that oxidizes the gel coat. I like Starbrite's Polish with PTFE. |
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Posts: 169
Location: Houlton, WI | Nice boat. First of all wash your boat after every outing, escpecialy if you go on a river. and get the cleaning kit ranger sells. About every month, power wash it and give it a very thourogh clean. And always keep the insides nice, no leaves, no trash and absolutly no dirt. Its a ranger and you must respect it. And during the summer when it gets hot, take the cover off once a day to let it air out. I have a ranger 619vs and i love it. I hope you have a good bond with your ranger  |
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Posts: 75
Location: Aurora, IL. | As said before, use BBS (Bass Boat Saver). The product just plain works. It easy to apply as stated before. Never ever have had to wash my Ranger. Just spray and wipe down. I do it after every time out, thats not necessary but I'm kinda sick about my boat. It has UV protection for the gel coat and works on virtually every surface like stainless steel, vinyl, plastic and rubber. Just dont spray it on your electronics and I probably wouldnt spray it on the windshields either I use other products for those two areas. Good stuff.
Joe |
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| Brian Hoffies - 4/26/2009 7:03 PM
First.......welcome to the Ranger family.
Couple of things I did with mine. Put a piece of carpet on the floor below the drivers console.
Put a piece of carpet down with double sided tape where I stood for the bow mount trolling motor.
Use a Frisbee to set my anchor down on after using it.
Kept a old coffee can with the cover slit to put old line into. Weighted the can down with smal rocks.
Most important......don't let "sunflower seed chewers" or "Tobacco chewers" into the boat.
Good luck and enjoy the boat. wow your one of those guys!!! you sound like my buddy who wants you to take your shoes off to get in his boat!!!! It is just a boat what do you do when god forbid you get a fish with a bloody lip!!! |
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Posts: 4266
| I bought some mesh garbage bags that stick under the console. Out of the way, and easy to empty after a trip.
You can do all you want to keep it clean, but in the end, it's a fishing boat, and fishing boats will get dirty and slimy whatever you do.
Beav |
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Posts: 233
Location: Iowa | I bought a fiberglass boat this spring and I bought some 3m product from gander mountain. It is the Marine clean and shine wax. It says for use on fiberglass, paintedsurfaces, and metal. I was reading the back and it says carnauba wax on the back.
Anybody have any experience with this product?
From the sounds of this post, I bought the wrong stuff.
Jeremy
Edited by jwelch 4/27/2009 5:22 PM
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Posts: 131
Location: Southwest Ohio | Hey Beav,
Your right, It is just a fishing boat. I can't wait to slime the Bit^%$.
Don
2K (Kustom Kolors) |
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Posts: 566
Location: Elgin, IL | No seeds?????
Fish by yourself then. I completely understand how to respect another man's boat, because I have my own and I know how to keep it nice.
But let's not get ridiculous............  |
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Posts: 665
Location: Twin Cities, MN | Hi Don,
Congratulations on the new boat.
I use Skeeters cleaning supplies. Wonderfoam and Restore are great starts to keeping your boat looking great all the time. I know it does a great job on my old ranger 617.
https://larsensa.hostinggreatlakes.com/appieshop/index.cgi
Plenty of other nice cleaning supplies also you might want to keep on hand.
Pal |
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