From the editors of Boating World magazineFrom the editors of Boating World magazine

Sponsored by

Fast. Professional. Results.MARINE

Maintenance Guide

An exceptionally long-lasting high-gloss finish. Superior protection from damaging ultraviolet rays.

And a money-back guarantee if you’re not completely impressed. What’s not to wow about?

Find out how to give your boat an exclamation point at

www.3M.com/Marine.

F a s t . P r o f e s s i o n a l . R e s u l t s .

3Marine3M, Scotchgard and the Plaid Designare trademarks of 3M.© 3M 2006. All rights reserved.

Cleaning 04Restoring 07Protection 12Repairs 13Painting 16

Published by Trans World Publishing Inc.© 2006 Boating World. All rights reserved. 2100 Powers Ferry Rd., Atlanta, GA 30339

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CONTENTS

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Properly maintainingyour boat protectsyour investment andhelps keep it lookingnew longer. There aremany reasons for per-forming your ownboat maintenance, butthe best reasons are thetime and money youwill save.

Cleaning andrepairing are not thatdifficult. Using the righttools and supplies for thejob, boat maintenance canbe accomplished relativelyquickly, allowing you tospend more time enjoyingyour boat with family andfriends.

Bringing your boat backto peak condition is bestaccomplished by breakingtasks into manageablepieces and using qualityproducts.

3M offers a completeline of marine productsthat work in harmony witheach other and are specifi-cally formulated for thedemanding marine envi-ronment. 3M marine prod-ucts provide professionalresults that will save youtime — and money — inthe long run.

CLEANINGBefore sprucing up yourboat’s appearance, makesure it’s clean — and notjust soap-and-water clean.You can apply all the bestwaxes and protectors, but if the fiberglass, gelcoat,paint or aluminum sur-faces aren’t squeaky cleanto begin with, your boatwill never look its best.

Your boat’s surface alsomust be clean before youperform gelcoat work, fixcracks or even add orreplace hardware. A sur-face clean of all wax anddirt results in a truer colorthat will better match paintor gelcoat.

If you will be adding orreplacing hardware, makesure you clean well beforedoing these tasks, as the

sealant won’t adhere prop-erly to a dirty surface.

Washing TheBoat’s SurfaceBegin the cleaning processby using soap and water —

5

but not just any soap.Household detergent canharm many boat surfaces, aswell as the environment.Household soaps mayappear to do an adequatejob, but your boat’s finishcan become oxidized in amatter of weeks.

Begin washing yourboat with 3M™ MarineBoat Soap. This versatileproduct features a concen-trated formula that quicklycleans the hull, decks, car-pet, canvas — even theengines. Just mix withwater to achieve thedesired cleaning strength.

Removing Black StreaksIt is especially difficult toremove black streaksbecause water — mixedwith sea spray and dirt —is constantly channeleddown the same place onthe boat. Regardless ofwhether the water is from arainstorm or overnight con-densation, dirt and grimeare usually concentrated inone or two areas, causingthe streaks.

Boat soap will do agood job of removing manyof those unsightly black

streaks. However, it takesan extra-strong cleaner toremove stubborn streaks.

Don’t waste time scrub-bing those unsightly streaks.Use 3M™ Marine BlackStreak Remover. This prod-uct is specifically formulat-ed to quickly clean toughstreaks without harmingyour boat’s surface. Blackstreak remover is strong, yetsafe to use on fiberglass,metal and painted surfaces.It attacks the streak withoutleaving a residue or makingit obvious where you wipedthe streak away.

Cleaning The Hull And DeckOnce you have completedwashing the boat, theremay still be work to do on the hull. 3M™ MarineBoat Wash is an excellentchoice to use on the toughstuff — algae, grime, oil, fish blood and dirt.Boat Wash is also ideal for cleaning fiberglass,metal and painted sur-faces. This cleaner can beused at the waterline toremove slime and stainsthat other cleaners cannotremove.

Choosing TheRight ClothThe 3M™ Marine HighPerformance CleaningCloth may cost a little morethan using an old T-shirtfor a cleaning rag, but it’smore effective. Its uniquebi-component microfibersand knit construction pro-vide excellent dust, waterand oil pickup. The clothmay be used dry or damp,with or without cleaningchemicals.

The high-performancecloth is terrific for removingsolvents, dust and abrasiveresidues, waxes and finger-

prints. When the cloth isdirty, just throw it in thewashing machine. It can be

used hundreds of times.Now your boat’s surface istruly clean.

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One of the toughestplaces to clean on a boatis the non-skid surfacearea. Most newer boatsincorporate a liberalamount ofnon-skidsurfaces toprevent slip-ping andfalling intothe water.

Cleaningthese areasis anotherjob for aheavy-dutycleaner.Non-skidsurfaces fea-ture high-friction textured materialthat traps dirt and grime ,and can be difficult toremove. If the non-skidmaterial is in a high-traf-fic zone, the dirt can beground-in, which reducesthe effectiveness of thenon-skid surface.

Do not use householdcleaners on non-skid sur-faces because they maycontain wax that willmake the non-skid sur-

face slippery.Householdcleaners canalso damagethe gelcoat.

3M™Marine Non-Skid Cleaneris a tough,effectivecleaner thatfeatures auniquechemical for-mula for fastresults. It

cleans hard-to-reachground-in dirt and stainson non-skid decks. Yet it’ssafe to use on fiberglass,metal and painted sur-faces. Just pour it on,brush it in, and rinse thor-oughly with clean water,and you are ready to go.

WASHING A NON-SKID DECK

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Time, weather, sun and saltall take their toll on aboat’s surface. Despite yourbest efforts, your boat’s“new look” finish willeventually fade.Fortunately, there are avariety of 3M productsavailable to restore a boat’sfinish, depending on theamount of oxidation thathas occurred.

The best way to removeoxidation and restore shineis to “buff-out” your boat.Done correctly, and withthe right compounds,glazes and waxes, you’llbring the life back to yourboat’s appearance.

Removing Heavy Oxidation3M™ Marine RubbingCompound is extremelyaggressive and will cutthrough the worst oxida-tion. Apply with a 3M™Marine Superbuff™ Pad forprofessional results. Do notleave the buffing pad inone spot for too long, oryou may damage the paintor gelcoat.

Marine rubbing com-pound clings to paint andgelcoat surfaces so the buff-ing action can do its job.

The unique compoundremains wet on the surface,yet there is little or nomess. Before beginning,practice with a buffer toavoid burning the paint orgelcoat, or leaving deepswirl marks.

Remember, every timeyou buff your boat, youremove a little more mate-rial. Eventually, you’ll takethe paint off or seriouslythin the gelcoat if you arenot careful.

Removing MinorScratches AndReturning TheBoat’s ShineApply 3M™ MarineFinesse-It™ II Glaze afterusing 3M™ Marine

Rubbing Compound. It isformulated to remove swirlmarks and scratches in thefinish, as well as bring thefinish up to a high-gloss“wet” look. If you got a lit-

RESTORING

8

tle carried away with thebuffer in the previous step,just apply Finesse-It IIGlaze to smooth things out.

As a final step, apply3M™ Scotchgard™ MarineLiquid Wax, 3M™ MarineUltra Performance PasteWax or 3M™ MarineLiquid Wax to provide UVprotection from the sun’sdamaging rays.

One-Step Process(Heavy Oxidation)3M™ Marine Restorer andWax is designed to remove

heavy oxidation, chalking,fading, minor scratches,rust and exhaust stains.

Simultaneously, it leavesbehind a hard coat of waxthat protects the finish fromfurther oxidation.

Using this 3M productcombines two steps andhelps you finish the jobfaster.

One-Step Process(Light Oxidation)3M™ Marine Cleaner andWax removes light oxidationand also provides a just-waxed finish. It works wellfor newer boats that do nothave heavy oxidation. It iseffective on small rust spotsor stains when you don’t

want to use a heavy-dutycleaner. Simply put a littlefiberglass cleaner on a rag,and buff out the spot. Then,wipe it off with a dry cloth.The spot is gone, but thewax finish remains.

To resurrect the gloss in gelcoat, use 3M™Color/Gloss Restorer. Thiscompound/polish combines

an exceptionally fast-cuttingcompound with a finishingmaterial in one. It removeslight to heavy oxidation,scratches, stains, blemishes,and fine swirl marks. Followup with Scotchgard™Marine Liquid Wax or 3M™Marine Liquid Wax to main-tain the gloss.

9

Restoring AndPolishing MetalsBy now your boat is buffedand sparkling. However, aquick glance reveals thatthe metal needs someattention. Time to use 3M™Marine Metal Restorer andPolish. It restores and pol-ishes stainless steel, brass,bronze, copper andchrome, by removing rust,oxidation and tarnish.

Use marine metalrestorer and polish to wipedown the cleats on yourboat, and not only will theylook good, but handlinglines on the cleats will beeasier when the surface isclean.

Mariners who own alu-minum boats can use 3M™

Marine Aluminum Restorerand Polish to restore bare

aluminum’s shine and patina. Aluminum is diffi-cult to maintain, especiallyin a harsh salt environment.However, aluminum restor-er and polish will keep it

looking good longer. Do notuse this product on anyanodized aluminum sur-faces, or the abrasive mate-rial will remove theanodized coating.

When the outside of theboat is looking good, theseating and cushionscould probably use someextra care. A quick wipewith 3M™ Marine VinylCleaner and Restorer, andyou’ll think you just gota new interior. It really

cleans well, plus it has afresh lemon scent. Followup with 3M™ MarineVinyl Conditioner andProtector. This productprotects vinyl, rubberand plastic surfaces fromthe harsh marine envi-ronment.

RESTORING DULL VINYL

Innovation

You’re having dinner with your friendson their boat, when suddenly it hitsyou that their boat looks brand new

even though it is older than yours. Later youask your friend what his secret is to keepinghis boat looking so new. He smiles and proceeds to tell you about all of the greatproducts from 3M.

3M Marine makes products that protect,maintain, or repair your boat so that you cancontinue to take pride in its appearance.

3M Marine brings innovative solutions to allyour boating needs. We understand that yourboat is much more than just an investment. It's your pride and joy. Our unique productsand systems are designed to keep your boatship shape.

For more information, call 1-877-3M-Marine(that’s 1-877-366-2746), or visit our Web siteat www.3M.com/Marine

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Your boat is now lookingshowroom new and ready foranother year on the water.You have put in a lot of hardwork — and it shows. Buthow are you going to keep itlooking good?

While it may be temptingto simply grab a can of waxat the auto parts store, resistthat temptation. Automotivewaxes are good for what theywere designed for — your caror truck — but they are notformulated to work likemarine protectors. Using theright product for the jobdelivers fast, professional-looking results.

Marine products tend tobe a little more expensive,but consider what you paidfor your boat. Your boat isan investment, and itdeserves the right products.When it comes to protectingyour boat, you want the bestproducts available.

Fiberglass/GelcoatProtectionThere has never been amarine wax quite like this before. 3M’s newScotchgard™ Marine LiquidWax is formulated to providean exceptionally high glosswith unmatched durability

that lasts and lasts. Theunique chemistry providesprotection from the sun’sdamaging ultraviolet rays,and is safe to use on fiber-glass/gelcoat, marine top-side plants, painted alu-minum and marine metalparts. The special formula-tion uses reactive chemistry,which actually bonds to theboat’s surface. Scotchgard™Marine Liquid Wax has apleasant tropical scent.

3M™ Marine Liquid Waxis easy to apply and is

designed to give your boat’ssurface a high-gloss shine.3M™ Marine Liquid Waxalso leaves a protective coat-ing. This wax has a uniqueformula that chemicallybonds to your boat’s surfaceand retards UV damage.

Traditional paste wax isdifficult to apply and wipeoff, but the coat it leavesbehind is worth the extrawork. 3M™ Marine UltraPerformance Paste Wax con-tains easy-to-apply wax poly-mers that provide immediateand long-lasting water repel-lency. The result is a high-gloss protective finish thatretards oxidation and sun-light damage.

PROTECTION

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To give your boat thatjust-waxed look and feel, use3M™ Marine Clean andShine Wax on your boat. Tosave time, this product caneven be sprayed on your boatwhile it’s still wet so you canget back to having fun.

Surface ProtectionMold and mildew growquickly in a marine environ-ment and do more than justsmell terrible; they can actu-ally deteriorate fabric sur-faces and cause allergicreactions.

Easy to use ... simplyspray it on, allow to pene-trate, and wipe clean. 3M™Marine Mildew StainRemover works on mostmarine surfaces includingseat cushions, covers, vinylwindows, gelcoat, deck fur-niture, rub rails, showers,and more! The fast-actingformula penetrates tough-to-clean mildew stains and dirt.It is also thick enough to useon vertical surfaces such asseat backs. Test for suitabilityas the formulation does con-tain bleach and will discolorsome surfaces.

3M™ Marine MildewBlock is designed to preventmildew growth. The pat-

ented nontoxic formulaforms an invisible barrier thatprevents mildew growth.

The handy spray-onapplicator makes it easy toprotect most marine surfacesand keep them looking cleaner and newer longer.This versatile product is per-fect to use on boat covers,sails, bathroom surfaces, deckfurniture and more.

When you need to addequipment or hardware, orrepair damage, you willneed to clean the repair area.After cleaning, you need to

seal it with a good sealant. Itis very important to use theright sealant in order to pro-tect your boat from waterintrusion.

If you use the wrongsealant or the surface hasnot been properly prepared,moisture can enter into andunder the item you areinstalling. This will eventu-ally rot the material under-neath and result in expen-sive repairs.

3M has long been recog-nized for its world-classadhesive technologies andexpertise. They offer severalmarine-grade adhesives fordifferent applications. It’s agood idea to always have acouple of these adhesives onyour boat (see sidebar onpage 18).

Installing Through-Hull Fittings3M™ Marine AdhesiveSealant 5200 is the industrybenchmark and one of thetoughest sealants available.This high-strength, perma-nent adhesive should beused in applications whereyou don’t plan to removethe item; you will have adifficult time removing it.

3M™ Marine Adhesive

REPAIRS

Sealant 5200 is a high-per-formance polyurethaneadhesive/sealant thatbecomes tack-free in 48hours and completely curesin five to seven days. Thisadhesive stays flexible,holds its strength above orbelow the waterline, andresists salt water and

weathering. However, donot use this adhesive prod-uct on hatches or otheritems that may be removedin the future.

Because of the strengthof Adhesive Sealant 5200,use a thin film of it behind

hinge plates that have mar-ginal screw strength. Thisproduct has high strength,shock and vibration values.5200 will help prevent thescrews from elongating andalso keeps the hinge plate inplace.

When time is criticaland you need a fast, long-term seal above or belowthe waterline, use 3M™Marine Adhesive SealantFast Cure 5200. It becomestack-free in one hour andcompletely cures within 24hours. This adhesive isideal for applications thatneed some flexibility.

InstallingHardwareFor some hardware installa-tion projects, you will wantto select a product that isstrong but allows for futuredisassembly. 3M has severalproducts that fit thisdescription. If you are look-ing to seal hatches, hinges,portholes, navigation lightsor deck hardware, 3M™Marine Sealant Fast Cure4000 UV is a great choice.

Marine Sealant FastCure 4000 UV is an out-standing cosmetic sealantfor topside applications. It

is UV-resistant and won’tyellow with time. Its flexi-bility allows for the dissipa-tion of stress caused byshock, vibration, swellingor shrinking. It’s exception-al at bonding to metal andcan be used above or belowthe waterline.

3M™ Marine AdhesiveSealant Fast Cure 4200 isan excellent choice for proj-ects such as sealing accessplates and stern joints. Itforms a watertight, weath-er-resistant seal on jointsand boat hardware.Approximately half thestrength of 3M™ Adhesive

14

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Sealant 5200, it allows forfuture disassembly of partsand can be used above and below the waterline.It’s a good all-aroundadhesive/sealant product to have in your boat repair kit.

Semi-StructuralRepairsFor semi-structural repairsabove and below the water-line, use 3M™ Marine HighStrength Repair Filler. Itsunique formulation featuresshort strand fiberglass. Thishigh-performance reinforcedfiller can be used to repairfiber-glass hulls, decks and

other parts. Just fill holes toslightly below the surface ofthe surrounding area. Then

use 3M™ Marine PremiumFiller to finish the repairwork before sanding.

3M™ MarineSilicone Sealant isamong the mostwidely used sealantson the market today.It is ideal for sealingtrim, hatches, driprails, sinks, headsand more. Marinegrade siliconesealant is mildew-resistant andremains flexible aftercuring. It will adhereto almost any clean,oil-free surface.

CABIN AND TRIM SEALING

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PAINTINGPainting the bottom of yourboat is not difficult; howev-er, it is a dirty job. And ifyou do not protect yourbody and the immediateenvironment, it can be haz-ardous. Therefore, you needthe proper equipment, sup-plies and paint to perform agood bottom paint job thatwill last.

Surface PrepLike other boat-mainte-nance tasks, it is importantto make sure the surfaceyou are working on isclean. Use 3M™ MarineBoat Wash to clean the hullas soon as it’s out of thewater. Remove any seagrass, barnacles or anyother particles.

Thorough surface prepa-ration is the key to successwith all paint jobs. Beforeyou remove the old paint,mask off the boot stripes toprevent your sander fromwandering into a boot stripe.This will prevent having torepaint the boot stripe. Oneof the best products for thistask is 3M™ Marine HeavyDuty Protection Tape #346.

Another good option isto use multiple layers ofScotch® Blue Painter’s Tape

#2090. Both options will pro-tect the surface and removeeasily without leaving anyadhesive residue.

Sanding TheBottom PaintNow you are ready for themessy work — sanding offthe old bottom paint. 3M rec-ommends using a 24- or 36-grit sanding disc. The sand-ing process will take sometime, depending on the sizeof your boat and the amountof paint build-up.

Make sure you wear theproper gear when sandingthe bottom paint. The chemi-cals you use are toxic, and, ifinhaled, may cause severehealth problems. Use a gov-ernment-approved respirator.3M sells a wide range of res-pirators for various applica-tions. Make sure the respira-

tor you select is appropriatefor the job and fits your facecorrectly.

In addition, wear eye andear protection, and a fullbody suit — you don’t wantyour skin to breathe in thedust. In fact, in some areas,you may need to tent or bagthe entire boat before start-ing. You can use 3M™Masking Film or heavy plas-

tic, and secure it with 3M™Preservation Tape #481.

Applying PaintExcept for the type of paintbeing applied, topside paint-ing is similar to painting thebottom. The same principals

17

Mask off areas where you don’t wantpaint. You may want to get creative andpaint some new stripes with the tape.With so many different masking tapetypes and sizes, you can create justabout any design you want.

When you take on a project like this,you’re effectively performing a completedetail of your boat. It’s time consuming,but having all the supplies on handbefore getting started makes the job thatmuch easier and faster. As you gothrough the list of tasks, simply choosethe products that do the best job.

Because the effects of sunlight onadhesive varies between different tapes,for overall masking select the tapedepending on how long you plan toleave it on the surface, and whether youplan to use it indoorsor outdoors. Otherconsiderationsinclude the type ofpaint you plan toapply.

For example,Scotch® BluePainter’s Tape #2090is a masking tape thatis UV-resistant andcan be left on a sur-face indoors or out-doors for up to 14days, yet removescleanly. Scotch® BluePainter’s Tape #2080

removes cleanly for up to 60 days andleaves sharp, crisp lines.

Scotch® Masking Tape #256 can beleft on a surface indoors for up to fivedays, yet it removes cleanly; andScotch® Performance Masking Tape#233+ can be left on an indoor surfacefor up to 24 hours.

These time limits help determine howeasy the masking tape will be to remove.If you leave any masking tape on a sur-face too long — especially in sunlight —the adhesive may be difficult to remove.Remember, the longer the recommendedduration of use, the more expensive thetape is. Resist the temptation to use theless expensive tapes for long periods, oryou’ll pay a price in time spent trying toremove it without damaging the surface.

MASKING

18

apply to the preparation,masking and priming. Foroptimal results, always fol-low the paint manufac-turer’s recommendations.

Generally, apply theprimer, and let it dry. Then,sand the surface with a3M™ Imperial™ Hookit™II Dust-Free Film Disc(P220-P400). Because anypaint can be hazardous, usethe same types of protectivegear and precautions youused when you painted thebottom of your boat.

ConclusionCongratulations on a jobwell done. You’ve been per-sistent, and hopefully you’veused the right products forthe job at each step. Yourboat is now sparkling clean,freshly repaired and asready as ever for the water.

As you can see by thedescriptions of these pro-gressive boat-maintenancetasks — along with the opti-mal products for each — 3M manufactures a productseries that works perfectlyin the marine environmentand provides professionalresults. And while thewhole process has takensome time, using high-qual-ity 3M products has mini-

mized the amount of timespent on cleaning and main-tenance tasks.

The beauty of finding acompany that offers a seriesof maintenance and repairproducts is that each prod-uct helps individual taskssmoothly segue into the

next, until the entire projectis done. Now it’s time to getout on the water, relax andenjoy your boat with familyand friends. Bon voyage!

For more information on

3M Marine products, visit

3M.com/marine, or call

(877) 366-2746.

”MUST HAVE” 3M PRODUCTS

Here’s a short list of 3M products that every boatowner should consider keeping on hand for quickcleaning and repair situations. You’ll be surprised howoften you can use these products — and how much easier they’ll make your life.

3M™ Marine Boat Soap

3M™ Marine Cleaner and Wax

3M™ Marine Vinyl Cleaner and Protector

3M™ Marine Adhesive Sealant 5200

3M™ Marine Adhesive Sealant 4000 UV

3M™ Marine Liquid Wax

Scotchgard™ Marine Liquid Wax

3M™ Marine Color/Gloss Restorer

3M™ Marine Mildew Block

3M™ Marine Mildew Stain Remover

3M™ Marine High Performance Cleaning Cloth

3M™ Marine Silicone Sealant

3M™ Marine Black Streak Remover

3M™ Marine Non-Skid Cleaner

3M™ Marine Boat Wash

3M™ Marine Metal Restorer and Polish

Scotch® Blue Painter’s Tape #2090

Clean – Restore – Protect

3Marine

Your boat is your pride and joy.

At 3M Marine we make products that protect, maintain,or restore your boat’s appearance so it can continue to be your pride and joy for years to come. Let ourproducts help you get the job done right the first timeso you can spend more time enjoying your boat.

For more information visit our website atwww.3M.com/Marine or call toll free 1-877-366-2746.

Fast. Professional. Results.

Mildew is a relentless enemy. Sink it fast with 3M™ Marine

Mildew Stain Remover and 3M™ Marine Mildew Block. Our

unique, two-tiered approach not only cleans away tough mildew

stains easily, but also helps prevent them from coming back. Find

out how you can fight less and enjoy boating more at

www.3M.com/Marine.

F a s t . P r o f e s s i o n a l . R e s u l t s .

We know how mildew makes you feel.

3Marine3M is a trademark of 3M.© 3M 2005. All rights reserved.

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