| iv id="body"> | | | | may cause issues. So this may not be the best |
| One of the most famous and popular brands in | | | | for our team to use on the trucks but certainly |
| the wax industry is Meguiar’s. | | | | good enough for the average citizen with a boat. |
| Meguiar’s has stood the test of time as a | | | | When the average person washes their RV there |
| brand name. Some of the after market | | | | are definite issues, read this article |
| competitors of theirs as well as the larger users | | | | Now for a good touch up product for a Boat |
| of the product have complained that | | | | Show account we did like the Quick Wax Marine |
| Meguiar’s has turned their back on the | | | | Number 59, with a trigger spray and also the |
| professional user market for the consumer | | | | same product in an aerosol can. We also thought |
| market through their newest and largest | | | | that it was smart of Meguiar’s to custom |
| customer Wal-Mart. Many in the auto, aircraft and | | | | label all the car care products for their boat line. |
| boat detailing industries have even been critical of | | | | Similar to the way that Zep Chemicals often |
| Meguair’s recently because they feel this is | | | | changes their product labels to conveniently be |
| a slap in the face to the loyal operator who has | | | | ready for another cleaning use. MSDS course |
| paid premium prices for quality products and now | | | | exactly the same for they have the same |
| can see those with the Meguiar’s brand | | | | contents and ingredients and the directions the |
| name on the shelves. | | | | same as well. Now then the specialty cleaners for |
| We tested the RV and Boat product lines from | | | | Meguiars Marine did also have non-skid deck and |
| Meguiars. What we like about Meguiar’s RV | | | | hull cleaner which worked well and the Hard Water |
| and Boats detailing products line is that they have | | | | Spot remover was good enough for government |
| made a step by step guide for different levels of | | | | work and is of value for other uses as well. The |
| oxidation, surfaces and paints. Their Flagship soap | | | | Meguiars Gold Teak Oil seemed above average in |
| Number 65 is excellent as well as their Gel Wash | | | | quality and the test spot we did made us want to |
| (Number 54) made for all gel coat surfaces. We | | | | complete the entire boat deck, so we are very |
| felt that for a professional Boat Cleaning Business | | | | bullish on that product. |
| that these products were somewhat over priced | | | | The All metal polish for bright work, was also |
| and admit they work well but too costly for a | | | | very good and seemed better than the Never |
| small 16-ounce bottle. Unless you buy it online you | | | | Dull Product for shine and better than the |
| will find the price outrageous at the local Marinas | | | | Mother’s Aluminum Polish for ease of use. |
| and Boat Stores such as the Marine West chain. | | | | When we tried the Bilge Cleaner by Meguiars we |
| We did enjoy the sheeting action on the surfaces | | | | laughed because it seems a little over doing it to |
| after use of the product. Using inline injection | | | | make a specific product for that need. It did |
| from a bucket of soapy water did not work very | | | | dissolve the grease but so does Simple Green for |
| well. The product did appear very benign so we | | | | a lot less money. Here is a page on the |
| do not feel that a little soap getting into the water | | | | Meguiar’s website where you can order |
| around the Marina would be any issue. On their | | | | the most popular of their Marine Products. |
| cleaners and polishes for the Marine Industry we | | | | Also if you are a private boat owner you can go |
| found ourselves okay with these products, but | | | | to the Meguiar’s web site and they can |
| felt we had once again paid to much for them. | | | | give you a custom guide to which products to |
| Although the competition “Star Brite” | | | | buy from them to help you clean your boat |
| is also heavy handed on the price points. I guess | | | | properly and wax it. |
| assuming that boat owners will be willing to pay | | | | [ |
| more since it is for a boat. We did not see all that | | | | Which is a nifty value added service for the retail |
| much difference between these products from | | | | B2C online part of their business strategy, but to |
| the marine industries to that of the auto industry | | | | me it seems if they are going to peddle their |
| Meguiar’s product line. Perhaps a few small | | | | wares art Wal-Mart why pay $30.00 for the Boat |
| ingredient changes for UV gel coat protection and | | | | kit, $12.00 for the soap, all those cleaners and |
| fancy repackaging, but you will have to be the | | | | then shipping? We are always interested to see |
| judge on that. | | | | what types of marketing stuff or vendors and |
| Meguiar’s Color Restorer seems to be | | | | suppliers do and what type of strategies they |
| okay for what it is being able to remove small | | | | employ. It is interesting to see them try new |
| marks and scuffs, but we also found that a | | | | things and then change them later. Interactivity in |
| polymer solvent wax did the same for instance | | | | web strategy is important and Meguiar’s |
| Auto Magic’s Sealer Wax or the Diamond | | | | seems to understand this very well and has |
| Shine Products. We did not see the reason to | | | | obviously put some serious dollars into their |
| purchase this product for professional use other | | | | website. At 2004 SEMA Show this year we |
| than to keep the brands you use consistent. Also | | | | noticed they had the same truck on display as |
| we found that these other waxes with solvent | | | | our Blitz Mobile sitting on the corner of Convention |
| did not damage anything and actually worked | | | | Center Drive. Their unit was gloss black with the |
| better than the Color Restorer (Number 44) and | | | | Meguiar’s Paint Scheme and during the |
| the next up product Oxidation Remover (Number | | | | show they had beautiful displays as always with |
| 49). The One Step Compound by Meguiar’s | | | | information on their New Wipe Products as well as |
| (Number 67) is not too impressive, but we are | | | | a re-introduction to their Marine Line. |
| not fond of compounds anyway and the product | | | | All in all the Meguiar’s Marine Line is |
| is hard to use, thick and under whelming, although | | | | definitely complete and a player in the market, |
| the results were decent, it did most of what you | | | | and they seem to be attacking it well, over time |
| would expect it too. It did seem to have one | | | | to hold any market share they attain, they will |
| other property that most products that we use in | | | | need to improve on a few of their products. |
| the industry did not have and that is that it | | | | However with their brand name recognition in the |
| seemed to put some properties back into the | | | | auto care industry, which has significant |
| fiberglass. Someone had come up to me today | | | | competition they should be able to carry this |
| and asked what was the best wax to use on an | | | | strong image into the future with the Marine |
| RV and fiberglass area. A lot has to do with the | | | | Industry. StarBrite Products sell quite well and |
| decals, surface, paint and level of oxidation. This | | | | tend to out sell the Meguiar’s by only a |
| same premise goes for boats, personal | | | | little bit now, originally they were just about the |
| watercraft and yachts. The Waxes in the | | | | only game in town. But we are seeing the |
| Meguiar’s line we were somewhat | | | | Meguiar’s line fight for market share. What |
| impressed with and we are relatively hard to | | | | we found is that you cannot always find a |
| please. So this is a thumbs-up for them. Their | | | | complete line of StarBrite products at your local |
| premium flagship wax it seemed to be adequate, | | | | Marina, as most companies are not carrying the |
| on ease of use we give it a 5 on a scale of 1-10. | | | | full line and neither are they willing to carry the |
| It is said to last a long time, but on a salt-water | | | | Meguiar’s full line. So there are issues |
| boat we question what that means. | | | | already. Wal-Mart does carry the RV Wash and |
| Meguiar’s Pure Boat Wax (Number 56) | | | | Boat Waxes from Meguiar’s and other |
| seemed to work good yet we found it had in it | | | | automotive products in the Meguiar’s Line. |
| Silicone, polymer blend with Brazilian Carnauba and | | | | We feel that the better products for efficiency |
| the problem with this blend although the shine was | | | | and ease of use definitely come from the |
| excellent is that on Polyurethane there are issues | | | | professional detail products companies such as |
| with some silicones and with Imron there are | | | | Auto Magic, Pro , Beauty Shine, Stoner, etc. And |
| issues with carnauba waxes. So if you take this | | | | we do not discount Meguiar’s mainstay |
| special boat wax and apply it to the RV’s | | | | products such as the Meguiar's Mirror Glaze or |
| with custom paints we have to wonder if we | | | | their excellent buffing compounds. |