There’s nothing good about a dirty boat. It looks bad, it reflects badly on your ownership and it can affect the longevity of your boat and its components. That’s why it’s important to clean your boat regularly—not just for appearances, but to protect your investment.
But every boat gets a little dirty every time you take it out. Can’t be helped.
So every boat owner should be aware of the ins and outs of keeping their boat clean, and restoring it to its original shiny and pristine appearance.
It’s always a good practice to rinse your boat down, inside and out, after every expedition out on the water. That will help keep the need for serious upkeep down to a minimum.
But every boat will eventually need some cleaning attention. So let’s look at the various parts of your boat and what you need to do to clean your boat properly.
How to Clean Your Boat
The Gelcoat. When you bought your boat the gelcoat–the shiny finish applied to the fiberglass both outside on the hull and inside in the deck and cabin–was in pristine condition. Over time, that gelcoat begins to fade. Blame the sun, the wear and tear of water moving and splashing, the collection of dirt and grime picked up on the trailer, or the adherence of algae and other water-borne stuff … but your gelcoat will eventually begin to lose its shininess.
So boat owners will need to address this by applying a new coat of wax and polish to the gelcoat. Many owners do this twice a year: in the spring before putting the boat in the water for the first time, and in the fall, when the boat comes out and is stored for the winter.
There are many choices of products to use to upgrade the shine on the gelcoat. Which one to use is a trade-off between achieving a nice glossy look to your boat, and providing something that will be durable for as long as possible, so you don’t have to keep waxing your boat!
Paste and liquid waxes are great for use on new surfaces or on gelcoats restored to a good shine. These pure waxes have the highest gloss and durability, but they need to go onto a surface that’s been well cleaned before application.
An alternative is the so-called all-in-one cleaner waxes. These products contain a mild abrasive in the wax which helps polish away dirt and oxidation while providing a good wax protective coating. You can get a good shine, but it won’t last as long as a pure wax application.
Stop in to our Pro Shop and our experienced associates will help you decide which product is best for your boat. And we carry products in both categories.
Canvas. Bimini tops and other kinds of canvas coverings on your boat usually need a good cleaning once a year. These protective tops collect dirt, bird droppings, and other abrasive stuff.
The best advice is not to drop your canvas in your home washer and dryer–that can destroy the fabric quickly. Instead, use a soft brush and a mild soapy solution (Woolite, Dawn or Dreft). This will help protect the canvas’s UV properties. You can also treat cleaned canvas with 303 Fabric Guard to restore its water-repellant qualities.
Eisenglass and Strataglass. Canvas fittings often come installed with areas of clear PVC material which often need cleaning. Never use an ammonia based product (like Windex) on your clear PVC material. The ammonia will break down the plastic, turn it yellow and make it brittle over time.
Use a quality spray polish specially designed for clear PVC materials, such as 210 Plastic Cleaner and Polish.
Zippers and snaps. These should be lubricated once a year with a special-purpose lubricant.
It’s always a good idea to store your canvas and clear PVC surfaces indoors during the winter. That will add years to the life of the material.
Upholstery and vinyl. These areas can be cleaned with a sponge and a bucket of mild soapy water, followed by a thorough rinsing. Avoid cleaners with bleach or ammonia. Deep cleaning with a purpose-made vinyl cleaner followed by an application of a vinyl protectant can make your upholstery look new again.
Woodwork and brightwork. Some older boats have wooden handrails, toerails, caprails, steps and decking. These are usually made of teak. Left to itself, teak will eventually gray out in the sun and last for years. But some owners like to keep them looking fresh with varnish. Oil, stain or sealer. And lots of elbow grease!
The stainless steel and other metal parts of your boat can be polished to a shine with a good metal cleaner and polish. Again, ample amounts of time and work are required. Having a rule-breaking teenager who needs some remedial busywork (which, eventually, is all of them) is the perfect solution!
Maintaining a boat can be a lot of work. But it’s still better than having a dirty boat. When in doubt, take a step back, grab the right tools, and clean your boat the right way. You’ll thank yourself later—when it looks like new again. If you have any questions, we are here to help!
