| If you have a new or used boat for sale, remember | | | | before the water spots appear. |
| - first impressions count. | | | | Wax Your Boat |
| We've put together a handy guide to help you keep | | | | One of the most important parts of the waxing |
| your boat in ship shape and Bristol fashion! | | | | process is to properly prepare the surface. Use a |
| What You'll Need | | | | fibreglass hull cleaner to remove barnacles and algae. |
| Soft Rags, Wax, Soap, Sponge, Squeegee | | | | Boat wax usually contains powerful acid cleaner so |
| Compound (for removing deep scratches), Scrub | | | | always take precautions to avoid breathing the |
| Brush, Boat pole and scrub brush attachment, Hose | | | | fumes and protect your skin. Be careful not get on |
| with a water source | | | | any metal, as this will cause corrosion. Use lots of |
| Wash Your Boat | | | | clean rags when waxing your boat. |
| Rinsing your boat regularly with freshwater, will | | | | Oxidized Gelcoats |
| reduce the amount of time needed to wash and wax | | | | If you choose to use an oxidation remover, start |
| your boat. Start by spraying the entire boat with a | | | | with the least aggressive rubbing compound available. |
| fine spray. Not only do you rinse the outside, but also | | | | If your boat's gelcoat is oxidized but not too |
| the inside and under side of the top. If it's a sail boat, | | | | severely i.e. if it has a moderate-dull look, choose a |
| try to hit as high up on the mast and rigging as | | | | fine rubbing compound. Remember, when using |
| possible. It takes a minute or two for dry salt | | | | abrasives they will actually remove the gelcoat. If |
| crystals to dissolve completely, so after a few | | | | your gelcoat is severely oxidized, talk to your local |
| minutes hose it down thoroughly then give it a final | | | | boat yard and have it done professionally. |
| rinse, starting from the top and moving doing the hull | | | | Of course, is time is of the essence and money is no |
| sides last. If you have an outboard boat, don't forget | | | | object, you could always use a professional boat |
| to do the engines, including the undersides of the | | | | cleaning service. These are becoming increasingly |
| mount brackets. | | | | popular in the sailing world. |
| Washing your boat with a high-quality marine soap, | | | | Be Green! |
| rather than a standard household cleaner is kinder to | | | | Most cleaning products contain chemicals which |
| the boat. Domestic cleaning solutions have very high | | | | disrupt the reproductive cycle of fish. Detergents |
| alkaline levels and will strip the wax off your boat's | | | | containing phosphates may result in damage to |
| hull a lot faster than a specialist marine soap. It could | | | | aquatic life. Products used on boat hulls and decks |
| also scratch the gelcoat if they are not removed | | | | may contain chlorine, ammonia, potassium hydroxide |
| thoroughly. | | | | and solvents, also harmful to the aquatic environment. |
| Use a soft bristled deck brush for cleaning cushions | | | | Remember! For the best overall maintenance for |
| and canvas and never use a brush on any plastic | | | | your boat, preventative care is the key. Take time |
| curtains. Imitation lamb's wool brushes are the least | | | | to rinse, clean and wax your boat regularly and your |
| abrasive on bright finishes. For tougher areas, choose | | | | boat will keep ship shape for years to come. |
| a natural bristle brush. Avoid stiff bristles as these will | | | | Many more boating articles are available from in |
| scratch. | | | | addition to listings of many thousands of boats for |
| Always dry your boat thoroughly. Whatever drying | | | | sale and charter world-wide. |
| method you choose, be sure to remove water | | | | |