Boat Cleaning, Maintenance & Paint

Taking good care of your boat is a simple and important activity to ensure it performs at it's peak and gives you many years of enjoyment. Maintaining your boat starts with some simple steps that you can perform after every outing and other routine maintenance that should be performed on a schedule based on your use. There are a lot of products that can help with the care and cleaning of your boat and make your maintenance tasks quicker and easier so you can spend less time working and more time fishing or skiing.

The first rule of good boating care is to wash down your craft after every outing. You can do this with soap and water to be sure its clean, or even better a commercial soap that includes wax. This will also ensure that any salt or bait left on the hull and decking is cleared away and won't destroy the finish. Also hand dry any exposed metal and glass as this will help avoid pitting and corrosion. Take a few minutes and do a visual inspection of the decks and hull of the boat looking for any scratches in the paint. If you are going to trailer the boat, check the bottom paint as well. If you notice any scratches here, tend to them quickly with a bit of touch up so nothing gets a chance to get a foothold. This can prevent more costly problems later on as well. Be sure to give your bumpers and lines a good look as well to be sure they are not worn or frayed. Pay special attention to the anchor line as many an anchor has been lost due to a frayed line. Lastly, look for any loose trim, carpet and use a commercial adhesive to secure this now. The longer it stays loose, the more sand and debris will creep in underneath it and make securing it more difficult.

If everything checks out physically, give your battery a quick check to be sure the connections are tight and the fluid levels are correct. Take a minute to verify that any bait wells or cooler locations are empty and clean. Nobody likes the smell of bad bait to greet you when you return for your next outing. If possible fill the gas tank now, a full tank will help resist water buildup from condensation. Do a quick check of the lights. Even if this was a day outing, it will be easier to bring bulbs back with you before the next trip out, than to realize you need them, and have to cancel a trip.

Following these simple tips will help you keep your boat in top form. There is a wide universe of products available as well that will make this routine maintenance easier for you. Be sure to check them out and keep them with you to help speed things along. And remember, the less time you have to take with the maintenance, the more time you have to spend on the water.