I have an Imron clearcoat over dark blue. I can get it to shine easily enough (I like 3M prefect it on a rotary egg crate foam pad) but the damn stuff scratches when I look at it hard.

Jokes aside, when washing and drying I use Zaino (very mild) carwash soap and a horse hair brush and dry with a Griot's Garage micro fiber drying towel. I stand back and I can see every move I made with the towel. Don't even ask about what a fender does after an hour at the dock.

Any suggestions? When I do go to touch-up/re-paint what should I do differently?

Ask the local DuPont rep to have a look a the clear coat. The rep can perform several test to determine if the qualities of the existing finish match up to labratory samples. Thesee may turn out to be destrutive test so do they in a place where they will not show. Test might include "pencil harndess' "taber abrasion" "Mek rub" " cross hatch adhesion"

Are you thinking incorrect technique in the application?

2112 a horse hair brush to wash the boat ???? we hose ours down and dry with a bath towel .do you boat in that dirty of river/lake ???

I was thinking the same thing. Ditch the brush, fix the gel coat and use a towel. Use some on/off for coffe stains.

sounds like not enough catalyst to me.

My clear over imron doesn't do that? The fender might show a slight scuff in that area by the end of the season, but that is it.

The horse hair brush is extremely soft. Softer than any towel. Sold by Griots Garage for your Ferrari paint job.

It is the microsoft towel marks I see. This is also a super soft Griot's garage product.

20 minutes touching the fender...an hour to polish it out.

So if I re-clear with the right ratio would that create any other problems?

current clear would have to be wetsanded so that the new clear sticks properly. What clear did you use?? I Like PPG Concept.