Any tips to keeping your boat clean with engine work?

[onetong8r]

Hello. Long time viewer. First time poster. I bought a 1994 Scarab 22 a few weeks ago. Overall a pretty nice boat but it has a few gremlins to work out. This is my first boat with a nice interior and I drape towels over the rear bench and keep paper towels handy but I still manage to get hand marks on the white vinyl and black marks on the carpet in the engine hatch. Maybe I'm just a slob but what do you guys do to keep the interior clean when you're in and out of the boat and working inside the the engine hatch? I need to do a compression test and pull the valve covers this week and I've been thinking about putting blue painters tape over the carpet.

 

[briangcc]

I let the marina handle it and its usually clean when I get it back. Might take a minor wipe down on the vinyl or a quick vacuum but generally speaking it's in the same condition I brought it in.

IF you have snap in carpet, I'd just remove it. Rinse down the floor once you've finished your work. A round of bilge cleaner probably wouldn't hurt to clear any mess in the engine compartment.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Cheap moving blankets from harbor freight

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...... Lotsa rags, cardboard on the decks, 'n seats, 'n slip on/ slip off shoes,....

 

[kcassells]

I used sheets of corrugated plastic. All the other stuff failed due to water or chemicals. Cut and taped to fit. Saved my newly painted deck. HD and Blowes have them.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Yep, all those above. Old sheets, cardboard, cheap HF tarps…..whatever it takes to protect.

 

[tpenfield]

I think there is some mildly sticky plastic that automotive painters use for masking. That will prevent hand prints on the fiberglass and vinyl . . . best to make sure it is compatible with the vinyl though.

 

[onetong8r]

You guys are awesome! I hadn't thought of the moving blankets and making some reusable cut-to-fit cardboard or plastic pieces. I really appreciate the input.

 

[Grub54891]

I always taped cardboard down on customers boats. I also tell the wife she needs new bath towels, as I take the older ones and use them to lay out my tools on. They keep the tools from rolling around and keeps the deck clean.

 

[76SeaRay]

If you think you might spill a liquid in an area, get some of the large "puppy pads" at a pet store and tape them down with cloth side up to absorb any spills. For example, line the bilge underneath the engine so you catch any oil. Change them out for clean ones when you make a spill.

 

[Grub54891]

^^ they also sell oil sorb pads at the local parts store.