Boats spend most of their time afloat. River, lake, or ocean cruisers are fun and efficient ways to get from point A to B through the boat. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need regular cleaning.
They take you wherever you want to go, but they leave a trail of dirt and gunk that can be difficult to clean. So cleaning your boat’s hull is important to prevent build-up that can damage or wear down the vessel.
A clean boat looks good, but it also prolongs the life of the boat and makes it more seaworthy. So the boat service experts at Knoxville want you to know exactly how to clean your boat’s hull safely and effectively.
Step-by-step guide for cleaning your hull
What you’ll need
- Rubber gloves
- Water pump with a hose nozzle
- Pressure washer
- Aluminum hull cleaner (optional)
- An old towel or sponge
- A bucket to hold clear water and dirty water
- Soft-bristled brush (to scrub the hull)
- Deck cleaner (to remove dirt from the deck and cockpit)
- Bucket of fresh water and sponge to rinse off the boat, and
- Turpentine (to remove stubborn stains)
Your hull should be clean and dry before you begin the process. This prevents your cleaning products from being diluted by water. Boat dealers offer you professional hull cleaning services, but if you feel active and want to clean your boat yourself, here’s how.
Scrub down the hull with a soft brush
Your boat will have dirt, sand, algae, and general build-up on the hull that needs to be scrubbed off.
You can use a soft brush with water and soap or a special hull-cleaning scrub. Since you are using an abrasive product on your boat’s surface, this is one place where a little elbow grease goes a long way.
Pressure wash the hull
This is where your pressure washer comes in—to rinse down the hull. If you are utilizing a pressure washer, make sure to start at the highest setting and work your way down to prevent too much force, which can cause damage.
The pressure washer is also useful if you’re planning to use an aluminum cleaner on the boat’s hull. These are non-abrasive cleaners made to remove rust stains, normal lake grime, and light barnacles.
Scrub down the hull again – This time with soap and water
After rinsing the boat with water, you will want to scrub down the hull one more time. Use soap and water to separate any leftover dirt or build-up from the hull. You can use a sponge, or your hands, to do this. Just make sure you don’t use an abrasive sponge or brush, which can damage the hull while cleaning.
Rinse off all of the products
Use a bucket of freshwater to rinse off all of the products on your boat. You can use a hose or another bucket with a hose nozzle. Just make sure you get all of the soap off of the boat. If the soap dries, it can create a film on the hull that will attract dirt and grime.
Clean the deck and cockpit
You can use your washer to clean off the deck and cockpit of your boat if you have one. Again, use the same pressure settings as you did on the hull to avoid damaging your boat. Make sure to use a different bucket of clean water for rinsing off the deck and cockpit cleaner.
Clean out the storage compartments
Your storage areas are likely to have collected dirt, sand, and general gunk over time. You can use a soft brush to clean them out. Use turpentine on stubborn stains. It is essential to clean out your storage areas so they don’t cause any damage to the inside of the boat.
Dry off the hull
To avoid water spots on your boat:
- Wipe down the hull as soon as you’ve rinsed it off.
- Use a soft towel or dry sponge, and pat the hull until there’s no water left.
- Clean up any drips or droplets that have fallen onto the deck, seats, or hull.
Wax the hull and deck
After you’ve washed and dried your boat, use wax of your choice to seal the cleanliness of your vessel. When you buy a new boat, you’ll see that the bottom is shinier than the rest of the boat. That’s because it was waxed when it was new.
The wax will prevent dirt and stains from building up on the hull, making it easier for you to clean off dirt in the future.
Your boat will thank you for it, and you can make boating fun!
Conclusion
Now that you know how to clean your hull, you can finally get all the dirt and grime off your boat. Your vessel will thank you for it, and you will be able to spend more time out on the water and less time scrubbing. So get the professional boat service to take your boat to the next level.
