How To Clean A Boat

How To Clean A Boat

Boating is a passion for thousands of people around the world, and one thing that goes along with boat ownership is boat maintenance.  The two main things on a boat that require maintenance are the mechanical aspects of the boat, and the cosmetic/structural components.  For your boat to hold its value and good looks, it is going to require cleaning.  There is just no way around it.  It’s good to learn how to clean a boat.

Boat Maintenance

When it comes to maintaining the mechanical parts on your boat including the engine, this is something that requires quite a bit of knowledge.  To top it off, if you aren’t sure what you are doing or make a mistake, the results could be devastating.  If you don’t properly winterize your boat, this could result in a busted block.  If you make a mistake when changing your oil, you could ruin the engine.

On the other hand, learning how to clean a boat is not rocket science.  Assuming you are physically able, cleaning your boat is something that most owners should be able to do.  In fact, many people really enjoy this process.  They take a lot of pride in their boat.  Part of that pride comes from keeping it looking good throughout your ownership.  In this article, we are going to break down the entire cleaning process and provide you with links to some of the best and safest products to use on your boat.

What Type of Boat Are You Cleaning?

The cleaning process will be different on various types of boats.  Fiberglass boats require a type of boat wash, whereas pontoons and aluminum boats require completely different chemicals.  Once you step inside your boat though, you will find that most boats use quite a few of the same materials in construction.  Therefore, many of these products are useful for a wide variety of applications.

NOTE:  Always check with your boat manufacturer to make sure you are using safe products which will not harm your boat in any way.

Exterior Boat Cleaning

The first step in learning how to clean a boat starts with the boat exterior.  Many boats are stored outside or even in the water, so the outside of your boat will probably be the dirtiest part.  To start, let’s just assume you store your boat on a lift, dri-stack, or on a trailer.  In this case, the boat likely doesn’t have a heavy buildup of scum on the hull.  We then want to basically just wash the boat, similar to how you would wash your car.  Here is what you will need to do.

Boat Washing

How To Wash Your Boat.  Washing your boat probably doesn’t need much explanation, but we will give you a quick rundown.  You will need access to water, a hose, soft brush and spray nozzle or pressure washer.  The first step is to spray down your boat with water and blast off all the excess dirt.

Once you have the boat good and soaked, pour some boat wash into a bucket and fill that bucket up with water.  Then you will dip your brush into this mixture.  Once you have some soap and water on the brush, use it to scrub off the boat.  Go over your entire boat (and trailer if applicable) and try to scrub all the dirt off.  If you have a large boat and plan to wash it on a hot day, you might just want to do 1 side at a time.  If you do the entire boat and the soap starts to dry, it might be difficult to get it back off.  Once you have the boat scrubbed, take your spray nozzle and spray the excess soap back off until it is completely clean.  We recommend Meguiar’s Boat Wash.

Boat Drying

How To Dry Your Boat.  Once you have the soap rinsed off, you want to use a chamois to dry the boat and trailer completely.  This will prevent most water spots from forming on the boat once it dries.  You will now have a clean surface ready for the next step.  The Absorber is our choice in boat chamois.

 

NOTE:  If your boat is kept in the water and has a significant amount of buildup on the hull, you will probably need to use a stronger chemical to clean the underside.  We recommend talking with your dealer or manufacturer. They can help you choose a product that will be effective and safe at the same time.

Exterior Boat Wax & Polish

Part of learning how to clean a boat includes applying protection to the exterior after cleaning.  Your boat will require some form of wax or polish just the same way your vehicle does.  Gelcoat on fiberglass boats is very resilient, but it can tend to dry out of not waxed each year.  This is especially the case if your boat is kept outside.

How To Wax Your Boat.  Once you have your boat good and clean, the next step is to apply a coat of wax.  If you boat isn’t clean yet, don’t skip the first step.  Rubbing dirt and debris around on the boat with the wax could result in scratching.  You will need to find a good marine wax.  We like Meguiar’s Premium Marine Wax.  The great thing about this wax is that it not only protects the fiberglass, but it will remove light oxidation and scratches.  It will give your boat’s gel a much deeper, richer look.

 

You will apply this wax to the boat just as you would to your car.  Try to stay away from any vinyl decals or graphics and only use it on fiberglass surfaces.  Once you have a coat of wax on the boat, you will remove the excess with a soft towel.  Be sure your towel is clean and doesn’t have any rough surfaces that could scratch the boat.

Boat Oxidation

What If My Boat Is Oxidized?  Oxidation is the faded, white chalky look that gelcoat tends to get when sitting outside for extended periods of time.  If your boat has oxidation, you can use a combination wax/restoration product to help brighten up the gelcoat and remove oxidation.  3M makes a Marine Restorer/Wax combo which should work very well in this situation

NOTE:  If your boat has severe fading or oxidation, a wax or restoration product will probably not get the job done.  You might need to have your boat professionally buffed.  We don’t recommend this if you aren’t familiar with the process or don’t use the correct rubbing compound.  We recommend talking with your dealer first.

Pontoon Log Cleaning

How To Clean My Pontoon Logs.  Just as you need to wax your fiberglass, you also need to take care of the aluminum logs if you have a pontoon boat.  There is an excellent product on the market made by Boat Bling called Toon Sauce which is very useful in cleaning and maintaining your pontoon logs.  It is a simple spray-on and wipe-off process.  Keep in mind that this product is mainly to be used on clean logs.  It won’t work well if they have heavy scum or buildup.

 

Water Spots.    One thing that naturally can be an issue on boats is water spots.  Water spots can be especially noticeable on dark surfaces, and they can be extremely stubborn to get rid of.  Boat Bling also makes a great     product for this called Hot Sauce.  Hot Sauce is a water spot remover specifically formulated for boats.  It is a terrific way to remove water spots without stripping the wax off your gelcoat.

Interior Cleaning

There are typically 3 components that need to be cleaned inside your boat (assuming you have a bowrider or pontoon.)  How to clean a boat includes detailing the floor, the hard surfaces, and the vinyl.  The floor can be made of several different materials including carpet, fiberglass, vinyl or composite.  The hard surfaces like the helm are typically fiberglass.  And most all boat seat interiors are made of vinyl.  Let’s look at all 3 components.

Boat Carpet Floor Cleaning

If you have carpeting in your boat, it might just require to be vacuumed.  You might also need carpet spot treatment in areas that are stained.  If your boat’s carpet is removable, that can be very beneficial.  This way you can take it out and pressure wash it if the carpet is heavily soiled.  This can usually make carpet that is very dirty look good as new again. 

Fiberglass/Vinyl Floor Cleaning

If your boat has a fiberglass or vinyl floor, you probably just want to start with water and a scrub brush to clean the floor.  If it is excessively dirty, you can use a mild household cleaner made for hard surfaces such as Windex.  You will apply that to an area of the floor and scrub it with a brush.  This should remove any extra stubborn dirt.

Synthetic Floor Cleaning

If your boat has a synthetic floor, we recommend contacting the floor manufacturer.  They will instruct you on which products they recommend for cleaning.

Boat Hard Surface Cleaning

How To Clean The Hard Surfaces In My Boat.  To clean the hard surfaces in your boat, you can typically use a mild soap or household cleaner.  It’s best to find a product made for hard surfaces.  If you boat’s surfaces are fiberglass, our recommendation is a cleaner/wax spray product.  Meguiar’s makes a great spray wax that will clean your boats interior surfaces and add a light coat of protectant at the same time.

Boat Seat Cleaning

How To Clean My Boat’s Seats.  One of the most important steps in taking care of your boat is maintaining and cleaning the vinyl.  In used boats that are not very well maintained, the first thing that shows is usually the seats.  Vinyl interiors can tend to dry out over time and can start to crack.  The best plan is to use a vinyl cleaner/conditioner several times a year.  Meguiar’s makes a great vinyl cleaner/conditioner that will keep your boat’s interior looking good as new for as long as you own it.

 

Boat Cleaning Tools & Accessories

Along with the above listed chemicals & cleaners, you will probably need some basic accessories to clean your boat.  Although there are several things you need to buy, they will last you a long time.  It is a minimal expense when considering how they will help you maintain the value of your boat.  Here is a partial list of helpful accessories.

Scrub Brush for Washing

 

Spray Nozzle for Washing

 

Bucket for Washing

 

Chamois for Drying

Microfiber Rags for Cleaning/Waxing

 

Handheld Scrub Brush for Floor Cleaning

 

Handheld Portable Vacuum for Floor Cleaning

Overview

This list of instructions & cleaners/accessories should be a great start in learning how to clean a boat.  If you follow these steps several times a year depending on usage & needs, your boat should keep it’s great looks for a long period of time.  Better yet, when it comes time to sell or trade your boat, the elbow grease used over the years will pay off big time!  Good luck, and don’t hesitate to contact your local dealer with any questions or concerns regarding the cleaning process.