How to Clean a Boat 7 Pro Tips for Cleaning Your Boat
More people are buying boats than ever before!
Indeed, around 1.25 million new and used powerboats were sold in the US in 2017 alone.
It’s no surprise, either! Few things in life are better than the freedom and exhilaration of exploring open water in your very own vessel. Hit the water for the first time and it’s hard not to catch the boating bug.
But it isn’t all fun and games.
Like anything, responsible ownership involves certain mundane tasks to keep everything shipshape. Boat cleaning and maintenance are at the top of that list!
Knowing how to clean a boat is a vital first step to ensuring the longevity of the craft. Fail in this regard and you can expect everything from how it looks to how it functions to suffer in time.
Do you want to avoid that eventuality? Read on for 7 pro tips for cleaning a boat.
1. Start by Rinsing It off
The hull of any boat gets put through its paces when it’s out on the water.
They’re exposed to the sun and sent at speed through water with all kinds of algae, dirt, and debris in it. As you can imagine, the boat comes away needing some TLC to keep it looking and performing at its best.
Hold off with the scrubber and detergent for just a second though. Jumping straight in can end up doing more harm and good to the boat’s shiny finish.
A better place to start is by rinsing off any loose grime that’s accumulated on the outside. Grab yourself a pressure washer and set about hosing down all exposed surfaces, nooks, and crannies. Start from the top and work your way down.
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Only then, with the boat still wet, should you start scrubbing! More on this next…
2. Use Commercial Boat Cleaner
Make sure you use a proper boat cleaner for the coming task.
It’s tempting to use ordinary, super-concentrated detergents rather than buying anything specific to boats. However, it pays to resists that temptation! You can end up damaging the surfaces and removing the finish if you leave substandard cleaners in place too long.
Do yourself a favor and stick to high-quality, specially-designed boat soap, such as the Better Boat hull cleaner. They’ll make light work of the task and leave your vessel looking pristine.
Think about buying environmentally-friendly cleaners as well. You clean your boat without any harmful chemicals running off into the surrounding area.
3. Grab a Sponge and Bucket
It’s time to apply some elbow grease and get to work!
With the hull still wet from its rinse-down and your boat cleaner in tow, grab a soft sponge and bucket of water. Do a thorough job of wiping down every surface to which you have access.
Remember to clean harder-to-reach places too, such as under the seats and in any awkward nooks.
Try not to scrub too firmly though! Applying too much elbow grease can end up scratching/damaging the surfaces. Thankfully, a good boat cleaner should loosen up the grime and remove the need for vigorous scrubbing anyway.
4. Re-Rinse the Boat
Having successfully scrubbed the boat clean, it’s time to give it another rinse down.
Think of it like rinsing out the shampoo after you’ve washed your hair!
Just don’t wait too long to do it. Time is of the essence when removing the soapy residue from your boat. Leave it too long and it can dry, creating a thin film on your surfaces or damaging the wax coating.
To avoid that fate you could even rinse the boat down as you scrubbed it. Working in sections, you’d wipe a section clean, wash the soap away, and then move along.
5. Use a Cloth to Dry It off
Leaving the boat to air dry is a recipe for unattractive streaks and watermarks to develop. That’s the last thing you want when you’re trying to impress your pals at the marina!
Prevent that from happening by wiping down the boat with a soft cloth. You’ll remove the residue and end up with a stunning streak-free finish. In so doing, you can take a close look at any surfaces for any evident imperfections.
Assuming everything’s looking okay, you should buff the surfaces in preparation for the next step: waxing the boat.
6. Apply a Coat of Wax
At this point, your boat should be looking spotless!
You’ve rinsed off the dirt, scrubbed away the grime, and wiped it all down. It’s now time to apply a layer of wax to keep it looking this good for years to come.
Indeed, waxing a boat has a dual purpose. It boosts the boat’s shine and color while maintaining the quality of its gel finish. Wax creates a protective coating that prevents the build-up of grime and facilitates future cleaning.
Sound good? Buy yourself some quality boat wax and apply it to the hull as per the instructions on the tin. When it’s dried, you can then use a towel to remove any excess wax from the surface.
7. Clean the Outboard
You’ll want to give the outboard engine a clean as well.
Grab the pressure washer (or an ordinary hose) again to spray down the outside. From there, you can use a brush and some dishwashing soap to clean it more thoroughly.
Struggling with stubborn grime that refuses to budge? The combination of a commercial degreaser and a coarse sponge should do the trick.
Finally, use the hose to rinse everything down, before drying it off with a soft towel.
Now You Know How to Clean a Boat!
More and more people are experiencing the joys of owning a boat. Taking your very own vessel out onto the water is a fun, exciting, and liberating experience.
It’s the perfect way to spend the day.
However, it’s also important that you know how to take proper care of it! Hopefully, this post has explained how to clean a boat in order to ensure it continues to look and function at its best.
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