Detailed Product Description:

BTS (“Bow-to-Stern”) Protectant is the industry's first one step all-surface

conditioning  protectant that safeguards your valuable marine investments

from the costly damage caused by exposure to the elements as well as the

effects of environmental contamination including, mold and mildew staining

and related odors.

Background/Functional Principles:

Most people consider gel coat as just a cosmetic finish on a boat when,

in fact, it is the primary protective layer for underlying fiberglass.  It protects

the structural fiberglass from water and the sun.  In essence it is the skin that

protects the hull structure.

No one debates the need to seal and protect gel coat finishes, but there is

disagreement over how best to do it.  While many people still use automotive

carnauba waxes, the fiberglass industry and boat manufacturers are increasingly

recommending only gel coat-sealing protectants.  While carnauba-containing

waxes may be fine for vehicles, their durability and value on gel coat is very

limited and in many cases counter-productive.  The problem shared by both

carnauba waxes and automotive sealants has to do with the very nature of gel

coats.  Gel coat is naturally a semi-porous, pigmented, polyester resin.  Seen

under a microscope, your boat's flat, smooth gel coat surface has millions of

tiny pores per square inch.  These pores, or holes fill with microscopic grime—

carbon from exhaust, dissolved minerals, microorganisms from the water and

oils from human use.  It is this contamination in conjunction with photo-oxidation

from sun light that promotes gel coat oxidation, staining and wear.

Bacterial Staining:

Another culprit in surface deterioration is bacteria.  Believe it or not, bacteria,

which we know is everywhere, live in these small pores.  While the main culprit

in gel coat oxidation is UV from the sun, some of the damage is the work of bacteria.  

Bacterial waste (acids) in the pores of your gel coat are deteriorating the gel coat

from the inside, filling the pores with dull chalky debris.  As this chalk fills more

and more pores, the entire gel coat surface will take on a dull, faded appearance.

BTS is the only product that removes this bacterial contamination effectively

without damaging gel coat. Think of this oxidation as "plastic rust".  Carnauba

waxes and automotive sealants do not remove pre-existing micro-contamination

in the pores.  They seal the contamination in place where it continues to oxidize

from the inside, under that so-called “protective wax”.  Ironically, in many cases

this wax coating is actually being eaten by these microorganisms rendering it

ineffective even faster.  The surface may shine with a wax coat for a while but

there is trouble under that shine.

BTS vs. Automotive Waxes:
Additionally, waxes start to melt at around 120 degrees F.  With the addition of

direct and reflected UV and thermal radiation, any wax protection is literally

melting off your gel coat.  Many “over- the-counter” sealants/waxes contain

strong petroleum solvents and/or abrasives.  These ingredients are great for

removing tree sap and road contamination from your car, but they are damaging

to gel coat—they can actually accelerate gel coat deterioration by thinning the gel

surface.  Bottom line; don't use automotive sealants, waxes or other polishes on

gel coat or other plastic finishes.  Use only polishes and sealants that are designed

for marine gel coated surfaces.  If you see any color on your application pad when

treating your boat, stop using that product! It is literally removing the surface that

you are trying to protect.

BTS Protectant’s polymer technology leaves no chalky build-up like waxes

that require application in the shade and during cool temperatures and can

be applied in direct sunlight with minimal effort. Unlike spray and shine

preparations that suggest application after every outing, BTS will provide

superior protection with occasional use.  Regular cleaning is made easy with

BTS and without the need for other cleaning products. Once applied, the

special "polymers" seal and protect the treated surfaces, allowing for an easy

wipe down with a damp cloth.  BTS can be used to protect and beautify virtually

all surfaces including fiberglass, gel coat, plastic, metal, carpet, vinyl, leather,

painted surfaces and wood.  BTS is ideal for keeping vinyl upholstery soft,

supple and looking “showroom” new for years.  Gel coat staining from engine

exhaust, as well as spider-dropping stains are a thing of the past with the regular

use of BTS.  BTS adds a water and soil repellant finish to boat covers and canvas.  

Plastic windows will stay clearer and last years longer with BTS protection.

The BTS Formula was specifically developed for the harsh environmental

conditions of the Florida coast where sun, salt corrosion and mold and mildew

cost consumers millions of dollars in property damage yearly.

BTS Protectant is long lasting; re-treat every few months, not every week or every

outing as with other products.  The oil free formula is not slippery and will not stain

other materials that it may come into contact with.

Key Features: 

BTS Marine Protectant’s chemists are all boaters and together invested 5 years in its

development.  When they started on this project, they defined the properties BTS

was to have, including:

• Provide the highest sunscreen protection factor available.

• Provide a formulation that keeps the UV screens in place on the surface.

• Can be used on any part of a boat, gel coat, vinyl seats, windscreens,

motors or carpet or cloth (eliminating the need for multiple products).

• Would clean the debris and organisms out of the pores of surfaces that

most other solutions and detergents miss, without the use of abrasives or

harsh chemicals.

• Would stop the discoloring and stains related to mold, mildew and bacteria.

• Would reinforce the built-in plasticizers/UV filters that manufacturers

build into boat materials that help retard deterioration.

• Would leave a long lasting and durable protection and shine.

BTS is a highly complex combination of polymers, each with a specific job to

accomplish in protecting your boat’s surfaces.  The sealants in BTS Protectant have

much better bonding characteristics and better abrasion resistance than carnauba

waxes and can withstand temperatures of +250F.

Application Notes:

To begin with, a BTS application cleans the surface and extracts micro

contamination like no other boating product on the market.  And it does it

without the use of harmful toxic solvents or harsh abrasives that are found in

many other products.  After loosening the micro contamination, the BTS

polymer shield fills the surface pores and cures to a super durable finish that

repels subsequent contamination from returning into the pores of the surface.  

This long lasting protection will greatly retard the oxidation process and add

years to the life of your boat's finish.

Unlike most other products, BTS can be applied in direct sun light.  On the first

application of BTS (after washing your boat), you may notice a smeary residue

on the gel coat after the BTS application has dried.  This is normal during the

first application and is nothing more then the old wax and contamination being

cleaned out of the pores in the surface.  Simply rinse the boat off or wipe this

residue off with a clean damp cloth to remove it.  This residue is normally seen

only on the first application of BTS.  With subsequent treatments the use of a

soft cloth is all that’s required to wipe the high gloss finish back into your gel

coat.

The synthetic sealants in BTS will outlast carnauba waxes 3:1 and will typically

produce a brighter shine. BTS sealant protection will last 90 days and more,

even in salt water.

Don’t forget that BTS protection is just as effective on protecting the vinyl and

plastics on your boat, tow vehicle, motor home and bike and works great on leather

also.  Mold and mildew staining on your seats and odor in storage areas of your boat

will be a thing of the past with regular use.  This combined with the ultra high UV

screen and sealant properties in BTS keep your seats and canvas looking and feeling

new for years.

For best results follow these instructions:

1. Pre-clean soiled area with Ultra-Clean or other appropriate cleaner and rinse thoroughly.

2. Shake contents before applying.

3. Spray lightly onto surface in 2 square foot areas at a time.

4. Wipe into surface with synthetic cloth or sponge (to conserve BTS spray onto sponge and then wipe wetted sponge on surface). Be sure to get BTS into vinyl folds and seat piping to provide ultimate protection.

5. Allow surface to dry to a haze.

6. Wipe glossy surfaces with soft dry cloth to desired shine.

7. Repeat every month or as desired.

8. Note: Use of chlorine based or harsh cleaners can remove BTS protection and can potentially damage many surfaces. The use of these cleaners is not recommended.

The Chemistry:

The BTS chemistry addresses all of the major areas that accelerate deterioration

of gelcoat and painted surfaces.  The ultraviolet band of solar radiation is the

greatest problem.  The process of photo-initiation causes chemical changes in a

micro-thin layer of gel coat on a boat's surface, while photo-oxidation actually

degrades the molecules of the surface.  The sunlight, along with reactive atmospheric

compounds, will degrade, discolor and make gel coat or paint finishes look chalky

and dull.  This is the result of the surface literally being burned away one molecule

at a time.  While traditional hard waxes or polishes will shine gel coat, their UV

protection is very limited and wears off easily.  The key is to provide active UV

protection for an extended period of time.  BTS utilizes proprietary advanced

UVA and UVB blockers to shield the surface from photo-initiated oxidation.

BTS forms a micro thin protective film that holds these UV blockers in place

on the surface that provides durable long-term protection from the effects of this

UV exposure.  BTS increases gel coat gloss and slickness and provides reflective

and anti-static properties.  The anti-static agents in BTS reduce the amount of

dust and dirt that accumulate and contaminate surfaces.

Packaging:

Contents of  32 ounces in a trigger-spray bottle.