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Getting the best boat buffer can help you restore the beauty and elegance of your boat. These stalwart devices are essential for tackling stains, applying polish, removing blemishes, and buffing up your boat. However even on a small boat, polishing by hand can be an exhaustive experience that takes a lot of hard work.
The best boat polisher is going to give your boat a brilliant shine quickly without too much manual work. There are a few key features to consider, though and that’s why we’ve created a buying guide and read about boat buffer reviews to ensure we are recommending the perfect product for you.
OUR TOP PICK
TORQ TORQX Random Orbital Polisher Kit
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Instantly removes scratches or filthy particles from vehicles
- Applies wax, sealant, and glaze
- 8 mm dual action orbital throw and 2800-7800 RPM powerband
- 3,5- and 6-inch backing plates
- Safety support ridge for increased stability
- Hex-Logic Quantum pads for superb polishing job
- Precision power controller
Item Weight: 8.6 pounds
Product Dimensions: 8.5×8.5×20.5 inches
EDITORS CHOICE
PORTER-CABLE
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- 2500-6800 Electronic variable speed dial
- Removable two-position handle
- 4.5-amp motor for high overload protection
- 6-inch polishing pad
- Weighs just 5.5 pounds
- 100 % ball and roller bearing construction
- Accepts 5/16 – 24 spindle accessories
Item Weight: 5.5 pounds
Product Dimensions: 14×6.5×6 inches
BEST VALUE
BLACK+DECKER
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- 4400 orbits per minute speed for a swirl-free finish
- Random orbit action assuring uniform finish
- Large 10-foot cord
- Comfortable two-hand design
- Includes foam applicator
- Polishing bonnet for a high-quality finish
Item Weight: 2.05 pounds
Product Dimensions:13.75×6.25×8.63 inches
WEN 10PMC 10-Inch Waxer/Polisher
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- 0.75-ampere high-performance magnet motor
- 3200 orbits per minute
- High impact insulated housing
- Great for all types of surfaces
- Kit Includes two applicators bonnets, two polishing bonnets, two wool blend polishing bonnets, one wool blend washing mitt, and blow-molded carrying case
Item Weight: 9 pounds
Product Dimensions: 12x12x10 inches
Meguiar’s G3500 Dual Action Power System Tool
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- 6-speed variable control between 1500-6800 rpm
- 6-inch dual action polisher with a detachable handle
- Easy enough for beginners to operate
- Random orbit and swirl-free polish action
- Three foam pads
Item Weight: 6.64 pounds
Product Dimensions: 15×7.5×6.3 inches
Griot’s Garage 6″ Dual Action Random Orbital Polisher
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- 6800 orbits per minute max and 850 watts 7-amp motor
- 10 foot 18 AWG or 25-foot 16 AWG cord
- 5/16
- Doomed rubberized palm grip
- 6-inch loop and hook backing plate
Item Weight: 7 pounds
Product Dimensions: 8x12x6 inches
Meguiar’s MT300 Dual Action Variable Speed Polisher
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Thumb adjustable speed dial 3000-7500 orbits per min
- Digital torque management
- Dual-action variable speed polisher
- Soft start and lightweight
- Ergonomic design: Multi-position D handle
Item Weight: 5.4 pounds
Product Dimensions: 18.43×6.15×4.92 inches
Meguiar’s G3500 Dual Action Power System Tool
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Excellent multipurpose tool
- Attaches to most standard drills
- Dual-action grade polisher that acts professionally
- Safely removes any unwanted spots
- Extremely lightweight just 1.32 pounds
Item Weight: 1.32 pounds
Product Dimensions: 9.06×5.12×9.45 inches
How To Choose A Boat Buffer – Buying Guide
Considering the fact that you will be using your boat polishing machine on an expensive surface, you need a quality one that you can count on and made to last. The best boat buffers have certain criteria taken into consideration during manufacture and you should look for exactly the same.
Speed
With a buffer, the speed is going to be important depending on what type of task you are going to be doing. This is why it’s a great idea to look for boat waxing tools that have a variable speed setting. There are three groups of tasks that require different speed settings. Firstly, waxing requires a slower setting in order to be able to get the finish. If you want the best polish finish, then this will require a medium setting. The highest setting of the marine buffer polisher is the most ideal when you want to clean your boat, remove oxidization, and any paint that might be peeling off. It’s likely that you will want to complete all three of these tasks at some time, therefore the feature of variable speed is important.
Durability
These machines are going to be moving at a very fast rate and therefore their build quality is going to be vitally important otherwise they aren’t going to last long. Durability is going to be a key issue for your boat buffer. One good way to check if you are buying a quality product is to check the user reviews from those who have been using it for a while.
Another aspect that can give you confidence in buying the product is if it has a warranty on it. This will give you peace of mind knowing that if anything fails, you will be covered. All of the products that we have looked at here have a high level of quality and will last for a long time.
You might also like: Boat Waxes
Comfort
If you’ve ever used a device that oscillates extremely quickly like a buffer or a sander then you will know that if the grip is uncomfortable, your hand can quickly get sore as the vibrations will rattle through your hands and make it very sore. There are a few factors that are going to affect comfort and one of them is the weight. Some people might want to look for a lighter model to prevent their muscles from getting sore. The biggest issue with comfort though is going to come from the grip.
This needs to be well placed and having a softer finish like rubber is a great bonus. One hand will usually be placed on the main body of the device and the other needs to be close to the buffer head. This will be done with a top grip, palm rest, or a side handle next to the head allowing you to maximize control and minimize hand vibrations.
Ease Of Use
These devices need to be easy to use. They will be moving at a very rapid rate and therefore you are going to need a good level of control. This also extends to the switches and the dials that are on the boat buffer, too. As we discussed earlier, the handle placement is going to be very important but this also links to the ease of use too. Having your hands in the correct position will allow you to easily maneuver the device as you wish.
You also want the switches and dials to be close to those hand positions to allow you to switch the device on or off easily. It is also important to be able to change the speed settings easily. This will allow you to carry on with the buffing easily and safely.
FAQs
Q: What Is Boat Buffer?
A boat buffer takes away the majority of manual effort and enables you to buff your boat effectively. It imitates the motion of your hand and ensures a great finish with the various heads it has, saving you from a very large amount of effort, especially if it is on a particularly large vessel.
Q: How To Buff A Boat?
Before you start buffing your boat it’s important to take a few simple steps that will enable you to have the best finish possible. Firstly, you want to clean down your boat and make sure that there isn’t any debris lingering on it.
After that, you will want to add a small amount of product to the pad and slowly work it into the boat. As you get more comfortable and further into the process, you will be able to increase the speed to ensure that you are going to have a great finish.
Q: Do I Need To Clean My Boat Before Buffing?
Cleaning your boat is going to be a vital part of the process for a few different reasons. If you apply wax or polish to a boat that has dirt then it’s simply not going to shine very well and you aren’t going to be able to get a great finish. More than that, however, if you are using a buffing machine and catching little bits of dirt and debris then this is going to be driven into the surface of your hull and cause a large amount of scratching which will ruin the look.
Q: What Other Tools I Need For Buffing?
Firstly you need to make sure that you are getting the best polish or the best wax solution possible. This will ensure you have a high-quality finish, and also if you need it, getting a product that can remove oxidization is important.
After that, you simply want to ensure that you are using the right pads for the job. You will want to use a compound bag in order to get to the finish and apply the solution and then you a polishing pad to finish the look. After that, wiping down with a microfiber cloth would be ideal.
Globo Surf Overview
Unless you want to spend many hours buffering and finish with very sore hands and muscles, getting a buffer machine is going to make your life much easier. These devices will be able to orbit very quickly to leave you a great finish with minimal effort.
Everyone wants their boat to stand out, it could be having the best marine speakers, making it shine like new, or having a great grill to impress your friends. These boat polishing kits are a part of what will make your boat stand out from the crowd.
Hopefully, our guide has given you all the information that you need to ensure that you are able to pick the best product for you. Once you have, you will be able to restore your boat to its former glory with ease and drop anchor to allow your boat to shimmer in the sunshine.