Cleaning your boat on a regular basis is good for just about everything on board. But with so many different materials on a boat, special care is often warranted. Choosing the right cleaning products and using the right techniques can mean the difference between a spotless boat and some unintended damage. Wipe the wrong cleaner across your isinglass and it will never be the same. Douse some metals with bleach and they will pit overnight. In this section you will find helpfull tips for protecting and maintaining your boats apperance.
TIP: To maintain your boats apperance we recommend a weekly washing, this will protect your boat from bug or bird droppings, acid rain, dirt and other enviromental pollutants.Avoid using household cleansers! The "grit" in kitchen scouring powder is harder than your boats gelcoat. So, as it cleans it scratches. You can literally clean the shine right off your boat in a few washings. Be sure you use a cleaner that is specifically designed for fiberglass.
TIP: The fenders you carefully hang in place before docking are a form of maintenace and protection against major scuffs, scrapes and gouges. But they can also cause wear and tear on the high gloss of the gelcoat. Slipping terry cloth "boots" over the fenders help prevent this type of damage. They can be removed and washed when they get dirty. As an added bonus, the terry cloth can be purchased in a variety of colors to compliment the rest of the boats color scheme.
TIP: Once or twice a season remove your anchor line from its locker and lay it out on the dock, as this will eliminate kinks and prevent the growth of mildew. This will also allow the locker to dry out. Soak dock lines in a large cooler filled with warm fresh water to lift out dirt. Try adding a little fabric softener to the water and then rinse your lines a second time.You can also extend the life of your dock lines by occasionally switching bow and stern lines to prevent concentrated wear.
TIP: The bilge area can conceal some of the grimiest dirt,sludge and oil residue.keeping your bilge clean will help prevent growth of bacteria, eliminate foul odors and prevent rust and corrosion of equipment that lies in the bilge. "DON'T POLLUTE" remember that it is illegal to pump oily discharge overboard. If you find oil in your bilge water turn off the bilge pump and find an alternative way of disposing of the oily water.Dont think just because there is only a little bit of oil it is okay. The test for illegal pollution is simply a "Visible Sheen" on the water. Also worth noting, a single pint of oil released onto the water can cover one acre of water surface area.
