How to Wash A Boat

Keep your boat clean.

Boats are expensive and time-consuming to maintain, but they offer hours of fun and entertainment. Keep your boat looking clean so your boat will offer enjoyment for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Chamois
• Soft rags
• Cheese cloth rags
• Wax
• Simple green
• Soap (boat soap is best)
• Sponge
• Sunscreen
• Squeegee
• Rain-Ex
• Compound (for removing deep scratches)
• Scrub brush
• Boat pole and scrub brush attachment
• Hose

Instructions

1. Know the surfaces you are cleaning. Most boats will be made primarily of fiberglass. Use only cleaning solutions that are fiberglass friendly on these surfaces. If you are cleaning wood or teak, make sure the materials you are using will not harm the surface.

2. Rinse off the boat. From top down, hose the boat off so all surface dirt is removed.

3. Fill a bucket with soap and water. Start at the top of the boat and work down. Apply the soapy water to the boat with a sponge or soft bristle brush on the fiberglass. Use a hard bristle brush on the tread (grainy) surfaces. Rise immediately after.

4. Dry the boat surface with the chamois. Drying the boat prevents dirt from collecting on the surface and creating dirt streaks.

5. To clean glass on the boat use soap and water and rinse. Dry with a squeegee. Use Rain-Ex with a damp cloth. Apply a coat of Rain-Ex and remove residue with a soft cloth.

6. To clean vinyl on the boat spray Simple Green and scrub with a medium bristle brush. Let the substance stay on the surface for best performance. Rinse.

7. Examine the boat for marks that soap did not remove. For scuffs and marks use the compound material prescribed by the marine store. Use a damp cheese cloth to apply the substance. Rub hard to remove the scratch. Remove substance with a dry soft cloth.

8. Use a damp cheese cloth to wax the boat. Apply wax with the cloth to the surface of the boat. Allow time for the wax to remain on the surface. Buff out with a dry (soft) cloth.

9. Polish the stainless material on the boat with wax or the compound solution. Apply and remove in a similar manner as the wax.

10. Clean the waterline with a medium bristled brush with the pole attachment. There may be seaweed or additional growth that should be removed for the health of the boat.

Tips & Warnings

• Starting from the top to the bottom prevents you from going over what you already did. Let gravity help you.

• Only use materials that are prescribed for the type of surface you are cleaning. When in doubt, do not use a chemical that has damaging potential.

References

• Boating Made Simple: Boat Washing Basics