Boat maintenance.

Scrubbing the deck

Keeping your boat cleaned and well maintained will save you a lot of time and money down the track.

Salt water can be extremely detrimental to any surface on the boat if left to oxidize. It can leave nasty looking salt deposits as well as slowly eroding certain surfaces.

First spray the whole boat down with fresh water (remember to close all port holes...)

I use Maguires gel wash (rich suds) boat deck cleaner. It is a thick pink substance. You do not need to add too much to a bucket of water to create some good cleaning suds. A large container should last a long time.

Add a drop to a 5 gallon bucket and fill with water. Use a medium density long handled brush and scrub all surfaces on your boat. Use ample water to create the best cleaning conditions. Use a smaller brush to get into those harder to reach places between wood work and around stainless steel poles.

Try to limit how much you walk on the deck after you scrub it down as your footprints can leave marks. Also, try to walk, then scrub. This way you will trace your footsteps as you scrub.

For any marks that do not come out, I use Maguires non-skid deck cleaning spray. This is a more concentrated formula and you only need a small spray on each mark. Use the smaller brush and hose off when finished.  

Another good tip is to wipe your stainless steel poles with a clean microfibre to get all the salt deposits off.

Happy boating!

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sandiegosailingtours.com