Boat Care Tips

[mirrorfinishman]

It's all in the wash. Winter will soon be a distant memory. It is now time to start thinking about washing and waxing your boat.

When washing your boat, it is best to use a brand-name boat-washing soap. Do not use dishwashing detergents. They strip off protective wax.

Avoid washing your boat in the hot sun. Soap that dries on the boat’s surface causes water spotting. Always wash from top to bottom, and remember to rinse often.

Invest in a synthetic chamois or use a clean terry towel to dry. Never use a sponge to wash your boat. It can trap dirt particles that can scratch the gel coat. A good-quality sheepskin mitt is much more gentle.

If it has been more than six months since your boat was polished and waxed, it probably needs a professional cleaner wax that is safe for fiberglass gel coat finishes. These products safely remove fine scratches and swirls, light oxidation, and the accumulation of contaminants that affect your boat’s finish.

For a flawless "wet-look" shine, use a deep-gloss polish prior to waxing, such as a high-quality boat polish. Always follow with a good quality wax. If your boat's fiberglass gel coat finish is a dark color, using a boat polish can make a dramatic difference.

For maximum durability, apply a pure carnauba or polymer wax after cleaning and polishing. This will help deepen and enhance the gloss while providing long-lasting protection.

Feeling ambitious? A complete detailing will include cleaning the windows, vacuuming the carpets, and cleaning and protecting the upholstery.

Don't forget the chrome and stainless steel railings. After a good cleaning, a little bright metal polish will add the finishing touch to any spring boat cleaning.

[Rockpick]

Great post Frank! I'm going to print that out and snail mail it to my dad (he isn't quite into the email thing just yet)...

He's a very avid bass fisherman and has a BEAUTIFUL 19.5' Ranger boat... he's always trying to keep it looking it's best and, with me about 4 hours away from him with a house, family, and a job, it's tough for me to get down there to guide him through the process... This will help out DRAMATICALLY!

Thanks again!

RP

[mirrorfinishman]

Originally posted by Rockpick
Great post Frank! I'm going to print that out and snail mail it to my dad (he isn't quite into the email thing just yet)...

RP,

Thanks for that good reply!

Sounds like a nice looking boat.

[Big Ben]

Frank,
What would you recommend for a good white vynil cleaner and conditioner?

Thanks

Big Ben

[mirrorfinishman]

Ben,

For a good vinyl cleaner you could use Meguair's Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner #39 or your favorite brand vinyl cleaner from your nearby boat supply store. It's always a good idea to follow any vinyl cleaning process with an application of either Meguiar's #57 Cleaner/Conditioner or 303 Protectant. Either product will help to condition the vinyl and protect it from the harmful UV rays of the sun.

For older boats with white vinyl that's more soiled you could go with mildew type cleaners such as X14. The only problem with those types of products is that they can eat away at the cotton threads of the upholstery, especially if they're used too often. Once a year shouldn't be a problem. Since these types of products usually contain bleach it is very inportant not to allow the product to run and dry on the surface. When possible it is always better to thoroughly wet the upholstery before cleaning and thoroughly rinse after cleaning.

Something to keep in mind is that most boat vinyl upholstery usually has a protective top coating that's applied during the manufacturing process. Keeping the vinyl clean and applying protectants from when the vinyl is new is really the best way to protect the coating and keep the vinyl looking good. Once the protective coating begins to look dull and breaks down, there is really not too much you can do to get vinyl looking good again. When this happens you will usually see any applied protectant just get soaked into the vinyl, with no remaining gloss.

[Big Ben]

Frank,
Thank you for the good advises,

Ben

[scrub]

Should a gel coat be treated the same as paint on a car?

Can one
Wash
Clay
Polish
Seal
a boats gel coat like a car? I have a client that's interested in this type of service. He has a 1993 18 ft Ranger bass boat. The top side of the boat is very rough to the touch. We tried clay and #21 in a test area and the results were as expected. Great! I do own several Marine line products: 45, 49, 50, 57, and flagship.

How should I charge for the woks mostly top side and inside the boat, glass, seats? I just shampooed extracted the carpet on Friday. I see some that charge by the ft.

Any help would be great. Thanks. Great topic!

[mirrorfinishman]

Originally posted by scrub
Should a gel coat be treated the same as paint on a car? Can one Wash, Clay, Polish, Seal a boats gel coat like a car?

How should I charge for the works mostly top side and inside the boat, glass, seats?

Although fiberglass gelcoat may appear to be somewhat similar to the paint on a car, it should not be treated the same. The key is to only use boat detailing products that have been specifically designed for cleaning, polishing and waxing fiberglass.

Most professional boat detailing services charge by the foot. For example, a complete detailing of a 25 foot boat could be charged at $20 per foot. That would then equal a total cost of detailing of $500.

[Big Ben]

Hi Frank,
When you say complete detailing, what does it include? As you mentioned in you original post, the boats that I've done so far included the exterior deck, the haul and the captain's cabin windows, carpet, seats and the chrome. Anything else?

By the way, thanks to your advises I've had really good results!

[mirrorfinishman]

COMPLETE BOAT DETAILING


BOAT WASH – Thoroughly clean the boat during the wash process. Use a hard bristle nylon scrub brush and plenty of soap to clean all fiberglass floors and skid-pad walk areas.

CLEAN CANVAS – Use a nylon bristle brush to scrub canvas. Always use a random circular motion and plenty of soap. Rinse often. Do not let soap residue dry.

CLEAN & PROTECT VINYL UPHOLSTERY – Use a sheepskin mitt and a soft bristle nylon brush to clean vinyl upholstery. Rinse often, towel dry. Apply vinyl Cleaner/Conditioner only to pre-cleaned upholstery.

CLEAN FISH WELLS & STORAGE AREAS – Thoroughly wash and rinse all fish wells. Do not polish or wax fish wells. Wash, rinse and dry all storage areas. Polish and wax all fiberglass storage areas.

CLEAN & OIL TEAK WOOD – Thoroughly wet all teak wood before cleaning. Use part one of two-step cleaner. Scrub with short bristle brass brush. Keep wet and rinse often. Follow-up with part two of cleaner. Rinse all teak wood. Allow at least twenty-four hours for wood to thoroughly dry before applying teak oil.

CLEAN CHROME & STAINLESS STEEL – Use a Chrome/Stainless Steel Polish to remove stains, rust residue and other surface contamination. Always follow-up with a coat of Carnauba Wax for an added measure of protection.

POLISH AND WAX – All exterior and interior fiberglass should be cleaned, polished and waxed. Never use polish or wax on fiberglass floors or skid-pad walk areas.

CLEAN, POLISH & WAX OUTBOARD MOTORS – Make sure outboard motors have been thoroughly cleaned, polished and waxed. This includes propellers.

CLEAN & VACUUM INTERIOR CABIN – Make sure all carpets have been cleaned and vacuumed. Snap-down carpets should be remove and the floor beneath should also be cleaned.

CLEAN WINDOWS – Make sure all interior and exterior windows have been thoroughly cleaned. If necessary, remove water spots using Glass Polish.

[Big Ben]

Thanks Frank,
I was on the right track!