STARKE Quik Sand vs. Level R vs. Blaze

When it comes to marine surface restoration, selecting the right product is key to achieving a professional finish efficiently and safely. STARKE Yacht Care offers a well-rounded lineup of surface correction products that serve distinct purposes depending on the condition of the gel coat or paint. In this post, we’ll break down three essential STARKE products—Quik Sand, Level R, and Blaze—to help you choose the right solution for your specific application.

1. STARKE Quik Sand

Use when: You need a sanding replacement for severe oxidation, heavily weathered gel coat, removing p400 sanding scratches or correcting defects in tooling gel coat.

 

What it is:

Quik Sand is not a compound—it's a sanding alternative formulated to replace the P800 to P1000 grit sanding step, depending on the hardness of the gel coat. It is aggressive enough to remove P400 sanding scratches, making it an excellent choice for bypassing traditional sanding during heavy gel coat restoration.

 

This product is intended exclusively for gel coat and is ideal when you want maximum material removal without the dust, mess, and risk of sanding.

 

Key Features:

 

Designed exclusively for gel coat surfaces including tooling gel coat.

 

Replaces P800–P1000 grit sanding depending in the hardness of the gel-coat your working with if sanding isn't an option. 

 

Removes P400 sanding scratches

 

Ideal for neglected or heavily oxidized finishes

 

Uses a modern, safer base with no carcinogens and no Prop 65 warning required

 

Works best with a rotary polisher and white wool pad.

 


 

2. STARKE Level R

Use when: You're correcting moderate to heavy oxidation and doesn’t require sanding or use of Quik Sand.

 

What it is:

Level R is a rotary-only, heavy-cut compound designed to attack embedded oxidation and surface contamination. While Blaze is more focused on scratch removal, Level R’s formula is optimized to dig deeper into the surface and lift heavy oxidation effectively. It removes P600–P800 sanding scratches and is ideal when oxidation removal is your top priority.

 

Run it slow and steady—between 600 and 1400 RPM—on a rotary polisher with a white wool pad for best results.

 

Key Features:

 

Targets oxidation removal

 

Removes P600–P800 sanding marks

 

Best results with rotary polishers at 600–1400 RPM

 

Gel coat and paint safe

 

Great first step before polishing with Elevate or Finish-R

 

3. STARKE Blaze

Use when: You’re following a Quik Sand stage or want to remove sanding scratches with minimal swirl correction afterward.

 

What it is:

Blaze is a modern correction compound that balances cutting power and finish quality. It also removes P600–P800 sanding scratches, but it stands out for its ability to leave behind a much cleaner, swirl-free surface, reducing the time and effort needed in your final polish. It’s your go to solution for removing sanding scratches when you needed to sand or use Quik Sand to remove the embedded oxidation

 

Blaze thrives at higher speeds—2000+ RPM—and its formula is built on a safe, clean base that contains no carcinogens and requires no Prop 65 warning.

 

Key Features:

 

Great for removing sanding scratches with better finish quality

 

Removes P600–P800 sanding marks

 

Leaves minimal swirls, simplifying your polishing stage

 

Performs best at 800 to 2000+ RPM

 

Compatible with both rotary and DA polishers

 

Safe, clean, Cannabis infused modern formula—no Prop 65 disclosure needed

 

Which Product is Right for You?

Product

Use Case

Surface Type

Machine Type

Sanding Mark Removal

Best Speed Range

Formula Safety

Quik Sand

Sanding replacement (P800–P1000)

Gel Coat Only

Rotary only

Removes P400 marks

1200–1800 RPM

New base, no Prop 65

Level R

Oxidation removal

Gel Coat & Paint

Rotary only

P600–P800

600–1400 RPM

Traditional base

Blaze

Scratch removal with refined finish

Gel Coat & Paint

Rotary or DA

P600–P800

800-2000+ RPM

New base, no Prop 65

 

 

June 02, 2025 — Ken Mercer