Tips for Washing a Boat

Fiberglass boats are lightweight, resilient, and can be highly specialized, but they still need a good cleaning every so often. We here at Southeastern Marine know cleaning these vessels can be a little tricky, so we’ve put together a few tips for washing your boat below. To learn more, or to see the boats we have for sale, contact our dealership in Richmond, VA.

Rinse

Start by rinsing the boat thoroughly to remove any loose debris and dirt, then mix water and a boat cleaning soap in a bucket. Use a long-handled brush or sponge to clean the exterior in small patches, removing any caked-on muck while working your way from the top down. After you finish scrubbing a patch, rinse it again to prevent soap scum from drying onto the boat. Let it dry completely before the next step.

Degrease

Finally, you’ll need to degrease the gel coat that protects the boat. Non-scratch degreasing formulas will do fine if applied with a damp cloth to the boat’s gel coat. You can also use a spray-on, rinse-off degreaser. Either way, you’ll need to let it dry again.

Polish and Wax

Finally, apply a quality polish to smooth out the gel coat surface. Put the polish onto a damp foam polishing pad or soft cloth and coat the boat using circular motions. Work in small areas at a time to ensure you get every inch. Waxing is the last step and will help add a protective layer and improve the gloss. Apply it as the wax’s instructions say and wait for it to get hazy, then wipe away any excess.

We hope that this guide has been useful. For more information, or to see the boats we have available, contact us at Southeastern Marine in Richmond, VA. We proudly serve all our patrons visiting us from Arlington and Virginia Beach.