There are 25 million recreational boats in the U.S — 14.5 million households own a boat! If you’ve just joined the ranks then you’re probably spending most weekends out on the water, enjoying boat life.
Cleaning your boat may not feel like a top priority right now. But it certainly is. Regular maintenance and proper cleaning of your boat will save you money and headaches and lengthen your boat’s lifespan.
So, check out these four mistakes with boat cleaning to make sure you’re doing it right.
1. Using the Wrong Boat Cleaning Products
This is one of the most common, yet easiest-corrected, boat cleaning mistakes. First off, you need to ensure that you’re using boat-specific cleaning products rather than any old detergent.
Secondly, there are plenty of different components on your boat, all made up of different materials that require specific detergent. Make sure you have boat soap and hull polish, as well as metal polish on your steel and chrome components.
2. Using Bleach
Most importantly, don’t use bleach! It can be tempting to grab the bleach when you’ve got nasty stains on your vinyl seats but the chemicals cause long-term issues.
The bleach will eventually degrade the material and cause paint to fade. There are better ways of giving your boat a thorough clean.
Rather, search ‘boat detailing near me‘ so that the professionals can handle the stubborn stains. A boat cleaning service is sometimes the best option when your boat is in need of a deep clean.
3. Scrubbing Before Rinsing
Uh oh, this is a common newbie mistake in the boat cleaning process and is a mistake that’s usually made due to impatience or being in a rush. Regular boat maintenance takes time and needs to be done properly if you expect your boat to have a long life.
It may not be obvious to the naked eye, but boats collect a lot of dust and debris, among other residue bits. If you start scrubbing your boat before rinsing you may end up scratching the hull. Always rinse before scrubbing.
4. Letting the Boat Air-Dry
Once you’ve given your boat a good scrubbing, it can be tempting to pack up all your products and let the sun do the job of drying. However, there are a couple of reasons that you shouldn’t do that.
The fiberglass of boats is protected with a gel coat. When you leave your boat to air-dry, the minerals in the water will leave behind white marks on the gel coat.
What’s more, if you don’t dry the vinyl seats properly there is a risk of mildew forming from left-over moisture.
Always dry off your boat with a soft microfibre cloth. This will keep your boat protected and looking glossy and polished.
Are You Making These Mistakes With Boat Cleaning?
It’s common for newbie owners to make these mistakes with boat cleaning. luckily, now you know the best way to go about cleaning your boat and the absolute no-nos you should avoid. You’re sure to have many happy days on the water with your well-maintained boat!
Did you enjoy this post? You’re sure to love the rest of our content, then — keep exploring our site for more articles!