Five Spring Tips for Keeping Your Boat in Ship Shape
The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and the boating season is almost upon us. If your vessel has been stored over the winter, it may well be time to give it a little spring-cleaning spruce up.
Keeping your boat clean in a vital part of maintenance, as keeping your hull smooth is key to ensuring that it can traverse the water smoothly.
Here are a few tips for keeping boat looking ship shape.
- Keep Your Hull Gleaming – Your boat hull is constantly exposed to the elements, which can lead to corrosion. The hull of your boat can be cleaned with ordinary dish soap. Using a mild detergent mixed with warm water helps to keeps your hull looking clean without damaging the gel coat surface. Avoid using abrasive cleaners, ammonia or chlorine.
- Keep the Chrome Shining Bright – Keeping the chrome elements of your boat looking shiny gives a polished look, even if your vessel is otherwise in need of a clean-up. Simply use apple cider vinegar to clean over any chrome elements, and finish off by polishing with baby oil for a high shine.
- Microfiber Towel Magic – One of the key things to consider when cleaning the outside of your boat is that you don’t want to use anything which will leave scratches. Using a microfiber towel is a gentle and effective way to clean your boat. They can help buff, remove excess cleaner and wax, and help to take the grime off of your boat. Keep some handy at all times, as they’re of course also helpful for getting rid of spills or stain inside too.
- Clean Your Vinyl Seats and Upholstery – The seats in your boat are made to withstand quite a lot! They are made of marine grade vinyl known for its properties to withstand damp and grimy environments. However, keeping them in great condition still requires regular care. If you have stains which just aren’t coming out with regular cleaner, try a Magic Eraser. Simply wet one of the pads and scrub gently at the surface of your seats, and then follow up by wiping the areas with a clean, damp cloth.
- Keep Mold at Bay – With your boat always being around water, it’s not unusual for fabrics to become musty or moldy, but white vinegar can be your best friend! A great, cheap alternative to bleach or chemicals, it works well for both cleaning the interior and fabrics of your boat.
The real key to keeping your boat clean is regular upkeep. While it can feel like trying to ‘turn back the tide’ to keep barnacles, stains and mildew at bay, regular detailing does reap huge rewards.
If you’d rather be cruising than hosing down, call us at 715-369-1144.