A Guide to Washing Your Boat
As a responsible boat owner, it’s important that you take the time to regularly wash your boat. It might seem counterintuitive that a thing which is constantly in the water could get dirty, but you know that the water of the Great Lakes likely isn’t pristine and dirt and grime can readily accrue over weeks of usage. While you should be in the habit of rinsing off your boat after every ride, you’ll still need to buckle down and give it a good scrub at least twice a year.
Now that spring is around the corner, you’ll be pulling your boat out of storage and it’s the perfect time to shine it up before your maiden voyage.
Founded on the shores of Nisswa Lake in the 1930s, Nisswa Marine has been proud to serve the local community for over 80 years now as your Minnesota boat dealer. Here, you’ll find our top tips for cleaning your boat.
Gather Up Your Supplies
It’s helpful to begin the process of washing your boat by gathering supplies. This will keep you from having to race into the house to grab stuff in the middle of the washing process. Avoid using harsh cleaners with caustic ingredients, as these can leach into the waterways and harm wildlife. Here are some recommended items to acquire:
- Pressure washer (not necessary, but nice to have)
- Buckets
- Marine boat wash (always use something gentle and designed specifically for boats; in a pinch, you can use car-wash soap)
- Sponges
- Scrubbing brushes
- Magic Erasers
- Rubber gloves
- Chamois cloths
- Squeegee
- Long-handled brush
- Mop
- Broom
- Polish or wax
Prepare Your Boat For Cleaning
Park your boat on a flat surface near a hose or other source of fresh water. You should aim to park your boat over gravel or concrete in an area with good drainage to the street or sewer system. You don’t want to wash your boat on your lawn, as this will introduce foreign organic matter, debris and soap which could harm or kill your grass.
Go through your boat and remove all personal belongings as well as emergency supplies. You’ll want to go through your emergency gear and make sure that everything is in good shape and adequately stocked, including life jackets and your first-aid kit. Take out trash, food and recyclables as well, and make sure to clean up crumbs and spills to prevent pest infestation.
Rinse & Scrub
Use your hose to give your boat a thorough rinse from top to bottom. Then, mix together some clean water and boat wash in a bucket and begin to wash your boat, either with sponges or scrub brushes or your long-handled brush. Work from the top down and go left to right, rinsing as you go to avoid soap build-up. You may need to use more pressure on certain areas. Be as thorough as you can so that you can get as much debris off as possible. Rinse the whole boat again and allow it to dry or use chamois cloths or a squeegee to speed up the process.
Detailing Work
Take some time to focus on wiping down your console to remove fingerprints, dust and crumbs. Wipe down vinyl curtains and your seats, using a Magic Eraser to help with stuck-on stains. Avoid using bleach on vinyl, as this can break it down over time. Clean and polish trim and metalwork.
Apply Wax
Once your boat is dry and clean, you can then apply a marine polish or wax to the hull. This step isn’t necessary, but it will make your boat look good as new and very attractive. Wax also helps to form a protective barrier on your hull that prevents algae, dirt and barnacle build-up, reducing the need to wash your boat as often.
Looking to purchase a new boat instead? Browse our website to see the wide variety of new and used boats for sale at our Nisswa, MN, dealership location. Don’t forget to get in touch with our staff about our financing options, price quotes and trade-in values to help fund your boat purchase. Nisswa Marine proudly serves greater Minneapolis as well as the city of St. Cloud, MN.