How to Wash a Sailboat Deck

It is natural for the deck of your sailboat to accumulate grim, dirt and debris from standard use. It would be atypical to require that everyone wash their shoes or the soles of their feet before stepping aboard your vessel, not to mention unreasonable and time-consuming for friends and guests. Sailboats are meant to be enjoyed and used to their optimal degree, whether you are racing or taking a lazy light-wind sail. In addition, a thorough deck cleaning will be necessary sailboats that are placed in seasonal storage facilities. Follow the steps below to wash your sailboat deck to optimize your washing efficiency and make your boat look like new.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Scrub brush
• Soft sponge
• Moderately abrasive scrub sponge
• Toothbrush
• Deck cleaner, if desired

Instructions

1. Plan to wash your sailboat deck strategically. Start from the top and work your way down. By washing the highest parts of your deck first, you can work your way down easily, without retracing your steps to re-wash areas of the sailboat.

2. Watch where you step. Pay attention to where you are placing your feet; avoid stepping on the deck once it is clean, especially before it has dried completely. This will prevent your own dirty footprints from being scattered across the deck you have just washed. Although this will likely happen once or twice, do your best to be aware of your steps so as to increase efficiency.

3. Fill your bucket and wet the area you will be washing. Don’t try to douse the entire sailboat deck all at once--this will only slow the washing process and expend your energy. The deck should be wet prior to the application of scrub brush or cleaning supplies. Refill your bucket and start by scrubbing any smooth areas with your slightly abrasive sponge. Rinse this area before using your scrub brush on the textured surface. After you have rinsed this area, continue to the next one.

4. Wash with the sailboat deck, not against it. Make use of gravity; when you have finished the highest points on your deck, move to the next point where water does not typically drain off the deck. Washing your sailboat deck in this manner let you work your way through the spots where dirt has collected without contaminating them with additional grim from the next area. The toothbrush can be used for hard to reach places. And remember never to use anything other than soft sponge material when washing windows of the sailboat.