A Guide on Cleaning Your Boat

You spent lots of money buying your preferred boat or you intend to buy one in the future. In this case, you need to know how to maintain it through proper cleaning. Before we get to cleaning, the boat you buy must be of great quality. At Chatlee Boat & Marine we have an inventory that may fit your needs and budget. For more information, visit our location in Sanford, serving Raleigh and Greensboro.

Cleaning Supplies

Ensure you have the following:

• Bucket – it should hold some water for you to use to brush the boat. You can have two buckets for better results as the second one will hold clean water for rinsing.
• Wash mitt – it allows you to wipe the boat without damaging the finishes. Some people use a washcloth. We do not recommend this as it could damage the finishes.
• A hose with a nozzle – a hose helps you remove dirt particles where your wash mitt or brush won’t reach.
• Absorber – it will dry without leaving water spots.
• Dash Gear
• Glosser
• Buffing Balls
• Gloves, goggles, and safety clothing

The Cleaning Process

1. Get the hose and use it to rinse the boat. It will remove loose dirt, especially in corners. Use a top-down approach.
2. Put water in the bucket and add soap (use recommended boat soap).
3. Take the wash mitt and wipe with water from the bucket. If the dirt does not come out, use a soft brush do not scrub too hard. Finish by wiping with the wash mitt. Be sure to do this from the top going down.
4. Use the hose for the final rinse. Take out the nozzle and run the water to remove dirt and soap. The approach avoids water spots and beading.
5. Now get a clean and dry towel to dry. The towel must be of soft material so that you do not damage the finishing. You can also use a chamois. The absorber is perfect for drying the boat as it removes residues that might have been in the water. Inspect the boat surfaces during this drying process.
6. The final stage is to buff the boat surface. Buffing with waxing gives the boat a shiny look to make it appear new.

How Many Times Should You Clean the Boat?

It is best to clean your boat every time you come to get back from an outing. If you were on saltwater, cleaning the boat should be compulsory. Do not use soap all the time as it could damage the wax you applied in the previous wash. Any wax job should last at least two months before you do it again.

Now that you know how to clean a boat, it is time you got that quality boat. For more information, stop by Chatlee Boat & Marine in Sanford, serving Raleigh and Greensboro.