A Simple Guide to Cleaning a Boat

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With every voyage, your boat returns home a little less clean. The windshield is dotted with water spots from waves, dirt is scattered across the walkway, gunk clings to the hull, and so on. Left unaddressed, all of this grime can actually end up causing damage (not to mention eyesores).

Keep reading for an easy and efficient guide to cleaning your boat. For more maintenance tips or to shop boats for sale, visit Boat Masters Marine. Our dealership is located in Akron, Ohio, and we also serve those in Youngstown and Cleveland.

Get the Supplies

Cleaning a boat requires:

Soft-bristle brushes and a long-handled brush.
A hose.
Marine boat wash that suits your given vessel.
Towels or chamois cloths.
Polish and/or wax.
Buckets.
A vacuum or a broom.

Get the Boat Ready

Make sure the boat is securely parked somewhere with good drainage, such as on a driveway or gravel road. It's best to avoid having the runoff finding its way onto your lawn.

Then, do a walk through. Clear away any garbage and put any loose items away to prevent them from getting water damage.

Rinse the Boat

Take a minute to rinse off your boat. This will help remove any loose grime so you can more easily clean the surface underneath.

Scrub the Boat

With a soft-bristle brush and boat cleaner, scrub small sections of the boat at a time. This helps you clean an area and rinse off the soap...before it dries onto the boat's surface. Start at the top and work down in sections. Keep in mind that the cleaner you get the boat now, the better protection the wax will be able to offer once you apply it.

Dry the Boat

Try to avoid air drying the boat if possible. That approach leads to unappealing water spots. Instead, use towels or chamois cloth to dry off the boat.

Wax the Boat

Yes, this step is time consuming. But it is important! Wax helps provide an extra layer of protection for your boat. It will be harder for gunk to stick onto your boat while also improving the appearance of your boat.

Aim to wax your boat at least twice for every boating season. An easy way to do this is waxing before and after winter storage. Be sure to use a dedicated boat wax, not just a car wax that you have lying around.

Want more boat maintenance advice? Looking to explore boats for sale? Whatever you need, the experts at Boat Masters Marine are here to help. Contact us or stop by our dealership in Akron, Ohio. We also proudly serve those in Youngstown and Cleveland, Ohio.