How to Keep Your Boat Looking Its Best

As a boat owner, it is important to regularly clean your boat. This is to help protect the value of your investment and to keep it looking as good as possible. This is especially true for luxury boats.

A regular cleaning can be done by hosing the exterior and using a soft brush to scrub the surface. You should also wash your engine and remove the cowl cover, if you have one.

This is where the majority of the dirt and grime is found. Typically, this will need to be done at least once per season. You should also clean all of the upholstery and use a mild cleaner to get rid of any buildup. You should also rinse and dry your boat with a microfiber cloth or wash mitt.

Your teak deck is another area that needs to be cleaned regularly. A simple scrub with soapy water will only do so much, and after a while, it may start to look mottled and black. There are several acid-based teak cleaners available, and you should always read the directions and follow them to a tee. If you use the right product, it should restore your teak to its original appearance.

Another way to keep your boat looking its best is to use an antifouling paint. This will help to prevent fouling, which can reduce the life of your boat. It can be applied with a brush or spray on the bottom of your boat, and it is usually best to do this in the spring or fall.

In addition to keeping your boat clean, it is also important to make sure that you are doing everything you can to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). You should check your boat and equipment for AIS before leaving a access site. This includes running your hand along the hull of your boat to see if it feels like sandpaper. If it does, you should remove any plants, mud or debris and dump it in an AIS disposal station at the boat launch site. You should also drain all of your bilge areas and any ballast tanks, and clean and drain your live wells before you leave an access site.

A decontamination station is a place where you can wash your boat and equipment with hot water (140 degrees F) to kill any AIS and fish diseases. These stations are located at many boat launches across New York State and are run by AIS-trained boat stewards.

This is an excellent way to keep your boat clean and prevent the spread of invasive species. You can find a list of decontamination stations by visiting the NYSDEC website. boat cleaning near me