Getting ready to clean and wax my boat tomorrow and wondered if anyone had any tips or certain things they do?

Some swear by Bow to Stern.  It's supposed to be easier, quicker, and better than the traditional cleaners and waxes.

Whichever way you go, wash the boat thoroughly to remove any grit and accumulated grime that could damage the finish when you rub/apply whatever product you use.

Here's what I use on fiberglass.  After washing, I use a cleaner/glaze.  It will clean, and also fill any swirl marks.  Then I apply a liquid wax, followed by a carnauba paste wax.  While the carnauba doesn't make a noticable difference in the luster of the finish, it has a very high UV blocking ability.  UV rays can damage unprotected fiberglass gel coats.

I've looked at the info on the Bow to Stern, and if memory serves, it also fills minor swirls and protects agains UV rays.

Here's my routine in the spring:

-Thorough cleaning to remove dirt, dust, and grime from storage. I use a sponge and a fine brush to get in all the nooks and crannies.

-3M Marine Rubbing Compound applied to small areas by hand if needed. Take it easy!

-Another cleaning to remove grit from compound.

-3M Finesse-It 2 polishing glaze applied with a buffer.

-Another cleaning to remove fine grit from glaze.

-One coat of Pro Tec Sealant to seal the gelcoat pores.

-Two coats of Maguiar's Flagship Premium Marine Wax (liquid) applied with buffer.

I'd highly recommend 3M Finesse-It 2 glaze. It's expensive but the stuff is amazing! The gelcoat surface will be as smooth as ice after applying the glaze with a buffer. It works well to fill in swirl marks and minor scratches and will remove slight oxidation from the gelcoat surface, leaving it crystal clear. It's not always easy to tell if the gelcoat has minor oxidation, until you glaze and start to get rid of it.

During the season, every week or two I will wash the boat with Maguiars Flagship Premium Wash and Wax. It's a great one step cleaner with carnauba wax in it.

I'm really happy with Bow To Stern, but unlike some people, I don't consider it an alternative to waxing. I use it on the boat every second or third trip. It really keeps a great shine on the boat and removes water stains with ease.

This routine has my gelcoat looking better than when I bought the boat a couple years ago.

BTS

The only thing I use on my boat.  Ocassionally, you can recieve discounts for being a member here on BR

(hint hint BTS advertisers)

u wont be dissapointed with bts and set aside plenty of time.