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As a boater, you are not unaware that aboat is a jewel that contributes to your well-being and requires regular maintenance throughout the year. For its proper preservation, certain actions are essential or recommended. This is the case of cleaning.
Attention ! A boat requires careful and regular maintenance and there are different types of boats.
In this article, we will focus on boat cleaning, an essential phase of your boat's maintenance. First, we will discuss the different types of cleaning. Then, the recommended equipment, and finally, the reasons that make the cleaning operation an important phase.
The different types of cleaning (deck cleaning, refrigerator...)
The cleaning of a boat comes in two forms : there is the external cleaning of the boat and the internal cleaning. Often, boaters give more importance to the internal cleaning since it is the habitable part of the boat. However, the exterior part remains very important as well. We recommend you to anticipate by doing a complete cleaning to avoid any bad surprise !
Interior cleaning :
- Empty the garbage;
- Cleaning the fridge;
- Vacuuming;
- Clean the floor;
- Emptying the toilet;
- Clean the holds;
Exterior cleaning :
- Rinse the boat;
- Brush the hull with biodegradable soap;
- Brush the deck with biodegradable soap;
- Clean the covers and sails;
- Perform a complete rinse;
- Wipe glass and metal parts with chamois leather;
Don't forget to get rid of the salt in every corner of your boat: it is the worst enemy of the materials that make it up. It accelerates its degradation, especially that of the hull.
What are the recommended equipments ?
Cleaning is an operation to be followed with care and precision. To do this, it is important to be well equipped and to use the right material to avoid damaging your boat. It is also important to be careful with the products you use because they can damage your boat and also harm your own health or the marine environment because of their harmfulness.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of the equipment needed :
The tools :
- A broom;
- A soft bristle brush;
- Microfiber cloths;
- Chamois skin;
The products :
- Universal biodegradable deck cleaner (neutral pH recommended);
- Polishing cream for stainless steel;
- Window cleaner;
Why is boat cleaning so important?
Boat cleaning is a rather tedious task but still very important for your boat. As we have just seen above, it is an operation that must be carried out with care and precision. Of course, to save you from overly burdensome tasks, you can make the choice to use professionals.
In any case, be aware that there are several risks if you are not careful to clean your ship properly. Here is a list, not exhaustive :
- Penetration of humidity inside;
- Mould;
- Additional costs, repairs and maintenance;
- Degradation of the aesthetics of the boat;
- Damage to materials;
As you can see, if you don't take care to clean your boat properly, you may end up with a boat that is in poor condition, looks bad and needs various restorations. You should also be aware that you may find your boat damaged with dirt that has seeped deep into it, for which a standard cleaning will not be sufficient.
Proceeding with cleaning and restoration at this point may already be too late. Cleaning more difficult to achieve, it is likely that you will have to call a professional, which will require more time and money. So remember that it is wiser to take care of your boat !
What you need to remember !
It may seem futile to bring so much importance to the cleaning of your boat. Yet it is a maintenance operation like any other that will allow you to prolong its good general condition and keep its proud appearance over time.
And then, many of us love to pamper and make our ship shine, think of it as an enthusiast's pleasure !
Did you know ? Boatngo also offers a complete cleaning service at the right price !
