Did you know that yachts were originally designed and built for chasing down pirates? It’s true! Light and fast, yachts were first used in the 1600s by the Dutch Navy to capture pirating vessels. If you own a yacht today, however, you most likely use it for more family-friendly, recreational purposes. Yachts have evolved a lot since the early 1600s and, not surprisingly, so has the way we care for them.
Wax, particularly premium waxes such as Carnauba wax, have been the product of choice when it comes to yacht detailing in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Carnauba wax is designed to protect your yacht’s paint from sun exposure, moisture, dirt and grime. It also gives the surface of your yacht the warm, deep shine that yacht enthusiasts love. However, wax does have its drawbacks. It can be difficult to apply and, in our climate, may only last a few weeks.
As with most modern-day difficulties, we turned to scientists for a modern-day solution. Enter synthetic sealants. These products, unlike waxes, are completely man-made and engineered to outperform waxes, even Carnauba wax. Curious? Let’s take a closer look:
- Protection: At first glance, waxes and sealants seem to rank about the same when it comes to protection. Both products protect the surface of your yacht from salt water, ultraviolet rays, extreme temperatures, harsh weather and environmental pollutants. However, wax does tend to deteriorate in humid conditions and the solvents found in most wax products can dry and dull paint over time.
- Finish: When doing a finish comparison, the winner depends on what type of finish you personally prefer. Wax tends to blend with the paint of your yacht, giving it a deeper, warmer shine. Sealants, on the other hand, create a coat or hard shell over the paint that provides a hard, glass-like finish. Keep in mind, however, that you are more likely to get streaks and hazing with a wax if it is not applied properly.
- Application: Synthetic sealants are much easier to apply than wax products. Sealants require less buffing, which means less manual labor. Sealants only come in liquid form, which makes them easy to spread either by hand or with a polisher. In addition, sealants typically cure in less than an hour, while a waxed surface can take anywhere from 12 to 24 hours to cure.
- Durability: Synthetic sealants’ most attractive feature is their durability. While most waxes last only about 6 weeks in our climate, synthetic sealants can last up to 6 months! The polymers in synthetic sealants link together to create a hard shell to protect the surface of your yacht. Synthetic sealants are a product of chemical engineering at its best.
As the local hot spot for yacht detailing in Fort Lauderdale, FL, we’ve carefully weighed the pros and cons of sealants vs. wax, and sealants came out on top. We use synthetic sealants to give our clients the ultimate in protection and beauty. To learn more about our services, call Starboard Yacht Group LLC today!
Categorised in: Yacht Detailing