Cleaning Your Boat

Whenever you take your boat out onto the water, whether it’s to go fishing at Ballston Lake or cruise off the Atlantic coast, it’s going to gather some grime on it. Saltwater can be especially problematic due to the risk of corrosion that it presents, but even freshwater has algae and dirt that can mar your hull over time.

So after a season of cruising, you’re going to need to thoroughly clean your boat, inside and out. If you’re a relatively new boat owner, you may not be sure where to begin with this process, but don’t worry—we’ve got your back. Andersen Boat, located in Burnt Hills, is your local boat dealer, so we’ve drawn up this guide to cleaning your boat so you can get your craft shiny and clean for storage or for fall fishing.

First things first: you need to get everything situated. Park your boat over an area with good drainage, like a gravel or concrete driveway that drains to the street. You don’t want to wash your boat over grass, since the debris and salt can damage your lawn.

Go through the craft and gather up everything that doesn’t need to stay on it, from life jackets to fishing gear and watersports equipment. You’ll also want to remove personal items, trash and food. It’s wise to use this time to take stock of your emergency gear and things like your first-aid kit to see if anything needs to be replenished.

Gather Supplies

Now you’ll want to get all of your supplies together in one place along with your craft. To clean your boat properly, you’ll need a source of fresh, clean water (your average garden hose works just fine for this), a bucket or two for suds, a marine-friendly cleaner, a spray bottle for soap or vinegar mixed with water (for cleaning the interior), a soft-bristle brush, chamois cloths, a long-handled brush for higher areas if you have a large craft, a good-quality boat wax and some sponges. 

Try not to use strong or super-concentrated cleaners, since these can do damage to your boat and to the environment when they leach into the water. The gentler the cleaning product, the better! Bleach and ammonia are simply going to be too strong for this task.

Rinse Thoroughly

It’s good practice as a boat owner to rinse your vessel off after every single cruise you take, no matter the type of water you’ve been in. This will help prevent the build-up of grime, dirt, algae, barnacles, salt and anything else that lurks in the water. It also makes cleaning your boat much easier since you won’t have to scrub very hard. If you’ve been remiss about this, it’s okay. Start your process with a good rinse now using fresh, clean water from your hose.

Scrub The Hull

Now it’s time to work a little deeper. Get your soft-bristle brush and a mixture of water and marine cleaner in a bucket. Scrub your hull from top to bottom in small areas, rinsing the soap off as you go to prevent streaks. Move all the way around the hull and make sure you’re being as thorough as you can. You can use a squeegee blade or a chamois cloth to wipe the hull down, or you can allow it to air-dry if you prefer.

Clean The Inside

Depending on the type of boat you have, you may not have much to do in the interior, or you may have your work cut out for you. You’ll want to sweep and mop the bottom of the boat if you can to remove leaves, sand and other debris. Clean around the console carefully and shine up the glass. Wipe down all of your seating and make sure it’s mildew-free.

Wax The Exterior

Finally, once your hull is dry and the interior is clean, you can apply a wax or polish to the hull with a soft cloth, buffering it to a shine. The wax will serve to protect your hull from grime build-up, salt and sun damage. Waxing your craft at the start of the season and again before you store it will keep it in good shape.

With a little patience and the right products, you can get your boat clean and ready for storage or for your cool-weather marine adventures. You’ll want to pay a visit to our proshop if you need further assistance, since we carry a great stock of boat cleaning products to help you get your craft in sparkling condition. Still don’t have a boat? Come by to see us at our Burnt Hills location to take stock of our inventory of new and used boats for sale. Andersen Boat proudly serves the cities of Saratoga Springs and Schenectady, New York.