Boat Maintenance & Care Tips

What boater doesn’t like sunshine and water? Can there be too much of such good things? The final answer is yes—especially when it comes to keeping a boat in tiptop shape.

Overexposure to sunshine fades hulls, and waterlogged storage compartments and upholstery harbor mold and mildew. You can’t avoid the elements—they’re the boating environment and what attracts us to this joyous lifestyle. Not all is lost when it comes to keeping your boat looking young, though. All it takes is elbow grease to keep it showroom new and mold and mildew free.

Problem: Over time, showroom shiny aluminum can fade from exposure to sun and water.

Solution: Use a stain remover that cleans and restores the finish. Follow up with a polish to prolong the shine and protect the finish. Make sure to first apply the product to a small inconspicuous area on the bottom of the hull, and follow the directions for use. 

Problem: Powdercoated aluminum boats and pontoon logs are easier to just wipe down than bare aluminum. But, whether you keep your aluminum or pontoon boat in the water at all times, or keep it on a trailer, sometimes you’ll find scum, dirt or stains on the powdercoating that you can’t just wipe off.

Solutions:

• For light cleaning, use soap and water cleanup with a quality brand, such as Dawn dish soap. Follow up with a marine wax to help prevent future buildup.
• If the finish has staining the dish soap does not remove, clean it with Simple Green—which has been found to cut through the buildup—and follow up with soap and water cleanup. Apply marine wax to help prevent future buildup.
• If these steps do not remove the buildup or staining, use CLR. Try it in a non-visible area first, though, to ensure it won’t harm the finish.

• What is that stuff? – Mold is a fungus that looks furry with a round shape. As spores grow, they take on shades of black, blue, yellow, brown and gray. Mold comes with an unmistakable musty and rank smell. Mildew is a form of mold that appears like a thin coat of black, gray, yellow or white powder. Mildew can be easily mistaken for dust or dirt. Damp surfaces, warmth and humid air are ideal growing conditions for mold and mildew.

• Problem: Mold thrives in enclosed spaces, like compartments. 
• Solution: Open the hatches at home—even if they have watertight seals—so compartments can air out. Any circulation with open air or electric vents and fans can help speed the drying out and ventilation process. So can a dry vac with enough horsepower to pick up any water from porous surfaces like carpet.

• Problem: Wet life jackets, ski gloves and other waterlogged gear are seeds of growth for mold and mildew. Left inside a compartment, these items meant for fun can become your worst enemy. 
• Solution: Unload wet gear and allow it to air out from outside the boat before the next trip. 

• Remove the problem: Mold spores are virtually everywhere. All it takes for them to settle in and grow is moisture, high humidity and the right temperature.
• Solution: Products specifically formulated to combat mold and mildew in boats are safer than bleach. Star brite Mildew Remover fits the bill and will not weaken fabric or thread. You can follow up with a treatment of Star brite Mildew Stain Blocker with Nano Tech Barrier. The product creates a protective shield on surfaces that lasts for three months. 
  

Problem: Water rich in minerals like limestone and salt can leave a spotty film on fiberglass and glass surfaces. Stains really stand out on darker surfaces such as outboard cowlings.

Solution: Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar. Spray affected areas, wait a few minutes and then wipe dry.

Problem: The action was fast and furious in the offshore waters after you dropped lines over that underwater wreck. Some fish bled on the deck and inside the cabin, which is an eyesore, especially on white surfaces.

Solution: Ideally, you'll use the washdown hose before any blood has a chance to dry. For dried blood, a freshwater/hydrogen peroxide mix is great for tougher or dry stains.