Boat cleaning: Four Mistakes to avoid

In this article, we will cover the four most common mistakes that we see boat owners make when cleaning their own boats and how to avoid them!

After two years of running a boat detailing business in Tampa Bay, we have seen some big mistakes from boat owners, and we want to help make sure that you do not make them yourself, especially after your boat has just been detailed.

1. Bleach

This is number one for a great reason: it’s the most destructive mistake we see. Cleaning your boat with bleach is a tremendously bad idea. Bleaching your boat will not only stain your gelcoat to an opaque version of its original color but may even etch your gelcoat, ruining your finish. Fixing this would require polishing steps, and if neglected unknowingly for too long, wet/dry sanding.

The consequences are just as bad for your upholstery. Although it will make your seats as white as ever, the stitching and protective oils on your vinyl will take a massive hit, resulting in the need for future repair.

For particularly stubborn stains on gelcoat, you can try Starke Yacht Care’s “Venom” and follow their instructions for good results. For mold removal on vinyl, we have had great success with Starbrite’s Mold & Mildew Remover as well as Starke Yacht Care’s “Mildew Clean.” Follow the instructions provided on the label of both for best practices.

2. Dawn Dish Soap for Washing

This is another common mistake we see, and it will strip your boat of any wax on its gelcoat. Getting more technical, Dawn Dish Soap and many similar soaps have a degreaser-based formula, which means that while it will effectively clean your boat, it will also effectively remove your wax!

To avoid this, search for boat soaps with a pH-neutral formula. Often, when reading the label on boat soaps, companies will indicate that the product does not remove wax. This is key to look for. If shopping at West Marine, you will often see a pink-colored boat soap labeled “Boat Soap”—this one is safe for a boat with a coat of wax you wish to preserve.

If you’d like to take it a step further, you can purchase an SiO2 ceramic-based soap, which is what we use on all of our maintenance clients’ boats. This offers optimal cleanliness and protection for any protective layer you currently have on your boat, whether it be ceramic, polymer sealant, or wax.

3. Hard Bristle Brushes (Yellow and White)

Many times, when shopping at marine stores like West Marine, you will see a few options for brush heads: white, yellow, and blue.

We always recommend—and use—the blue-headed brush! This is because the blue head is the least abrasive and cleans all surfaces of your boat without leaving micro-scratches behind.

The white-headed brush is by far the most abrasive and will surely leave behind swirls and scratches that will be visible in direct sunlight. This will not look very appealing, especially on a darker hull where these scratches tend to be more noticeable.

While the yellow head is not as harsh, it will still leave behind swirls and scratches. This may seem like a small detail, but over the course of months or years of owning your boat, using these brushes will certainly affect the finish of your gelcoat. Choosing the blue-headed brush will pay off in the long run.

4. “Letting it Dry”

If there is one thing that will drive an attentive boat owner crazy, it’s water spots! Water spots accumulate when water dries on a surface, leaving behind mineral deposits that crystallize and adhere to the surface.

Letting water dry on a hot day will surely leave you with hundreds of spots all over your boat’s gelcoat, metals, and especially glass.

To prevent this, simply wipe away water after rinsing your boat with microfiber towels or a chamois if you prefer. For glass, we like to use a squeegee to avoid streaking.

While there is certainly more to expand on with this subject, if you are aware of and can avoid these four mistakes, you will be in great shape when it comes to keeping your boat clean.

If you have a larger boat or cleaning is just not your forte, always feel free to contact us to learn about our cleaning maintenance plans. We’d be happy to take the job off your hands.

For any other questions, be sure to reach out by email or phone. Garrett is happy to help you enjoy your boat!