Tips for Washing and Waxing Your Boat

To keep your boat looking great, you should wash it regularly with a specialized boat soap and a soft bristle brush. If you want to polish and wax your boat, you should wash it again with a degreasing soap to strip away any grease or wax. Then, you can use a slow-speed polisher with a marine-grade polymer wax to protect the hull.

Cleaning Aluminum Hulls

For an aluminum hull boat, you should use a different type of cleaner, such as Toon Brite or Aluma-Brite. You can also polish and protect the aluminum with a special polish.

Cleaning Fiberglass Boats

To wash a fiberglass hulled boat, you should first spray off all loose dirt with fresh water. Then, you can use a specialized boat soap like Star Brite Boat Wash to clean the surface. A cannon spray nozzle can make this step easier. You can use a soft bristle brush or soft wash mitt to scrub the soap into the surface. After washing, you can dry the boat if you are not polishing and waxing it.

If you are polishing and waxing the boat, you should first wash it again with a degreasing soap to strip away any grease or wax. Then, you can use a slow-speed polisher with a marine-grade polymer wax to protect the hull. Be sure to use left to right and up and down motions, and avoid circular motions, which can leave swirls. After waxing, you can remove the excess wax with a microfiber cloth or pad.

Here are some things to avoid using on fiberglass:

• Magic Erasers or other abrasive pads

• Grease removing soaps (dish soap)

• Hard bristle brushes

Cleaning Upholstery

To clean the upholstery, you should wipe it down with a clean damp towel after every use. If there are stains, you can use a mild cleaner such as Boat Bling Vinyl Sauce or a 50-1 water to distilled white vinegar solution. For more severe stains, you can use a more aggressive cleaner. If the upholstery is moldy, you can use a product like Marine 31.

General Tips

Here are some general tips for keeping your boat looking great:

• Wipe the exterior of your boat down after every use.

• Keep your boat clean and dry before putting it away.

• Polish and wax your boat 1-4 times per year.

• Recondition and UV protect your upholstery 1-2 times per year.

• Use a toothbrush to scrub problem areas on the upholstery.

• Polish all stainless steel to protect it from rust and pitting.

• Keep the helm covered to avoid sun damage.

• Keep your boat as dry as possible before putting on the canvas cover.

• Open up seats, lockers, and compartments to help air flow and limit mold and mildew.

• If your boat is kept in the water, pull it out and wash the bottom at least once a year.

Additional things to keep in mind:

• Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners on your boat, as these can damage the finish.

• Be sure to rinse your boat thoroughly after washing to remove any soap residue.

• Wax your boat regularly to protect the finish and make it easier to clean.

• If your boat is stored in a wet or humid environment, you may need to clean and wax it more often.