Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

[wakeondude]

I'm a first time boat owner and I'm pretty unfamiliar with methods and products for cleaning and detailing boats. I've been searching and read about different products but I would like your expert opinion on what you feel works the best. I'm a big Meg's fan so I'm a little biased but am willing to try different products. I have a boat load of products for my vehicles and spend quite a bit of time trying to keep my investments maintained to the best of my ability ( yes, I have ocd). I always clay my vehicles, paint clean, paint polish, then wax with a da but I'm guessing these products and steps probably wouldn't work to well on the gel coat. So what do you recommend?

My boat is in good shape and has a pretty nice shine to it. I want to keep it that way or better. I appreciate your input.

Best,

John

 

[wakeondude]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

Megs has boat products. Guess I'll give them a shot. Read the toilet bowl cleaner method too, interesting.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

StarBrite hull cleaner for rust and scum stains on the hull. Wear gloves and stay upwind. Rinse off and wax afterwards

Clorox cleanup on the vinyl and interior white hull. Soft scrub for stubborn stains. Wax afterward.

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for stubborn white gel coat stains. Works amazingly well.

Mequiers wax all around. If you have eisenglass anywhere, soap and water only, Dry with a soft cloth.

DOn't forget the trailer. Clean the mud off, bearing buddies on the wheels. Inflate your tires properly. Make sure the lights work.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

I used the Meguiars products with very good results. I did however skimp out on the top sides, and due to that the Blue looks ratty (IMO) because the oxidized chalkiness is running down and staining it.

Does your boat need chalkiness cured, or simple upkeep?

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

People will all have varying opinions but this year I used:

Sea-Sense Hull Cleaner (To get the yellow off the hull of the boat)
Washed with Collonite's Fiberglass Boat Cleaner #920
Waxed by hand with Collonite's Heavy Duty Paste Fleet Wax #885

Cleaned and protected vinyl with Meguires Vinyl/Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner
Cleaned glass with Armor all glass cleaner and newspaper as the applicator and then used Rain-x to repel water.
Cleaned all stainless steel with Simple Green Stainless Steel

Cleaned alluminum trailer rims with Eagle One Alluminum Wheel Cleaner
Then sprayed blackmagic on the trailer tires.

If you do this with some elbow grease I think you will agree the boat will look close to new.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

IMO, anything that works well on a Corvette oughta do fine on a fiberglass boat. For polishing and waxing, I stick with automotive products. Cheaper than anything stamped with the word 'marine', and just as good. Again, that's my opinion

For cleaning at and below the waterline, you need to get a little more creative. Any cleaning product that contains muriatic or oxalic acid as the main active ingredient, does well on scum and rust stains. Use hand and eye protection and flush REALLY WELL with fresh water.

My .02

 

[wakeondude]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

I used the Meguiars products with very good results. I did however skimp out on the top sides, and due to that the Blue looks ratty (IMO) because the oxidized chalkiness is running down and staining it.

Does your boat need chalkiness cured, or simple upkeep?

For the most part simple upkeep but there are a few spots that look chalky.



Thanks for the input folks, this is what I'm looking for.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

For the most part simple upkeep but there are a few spots that look chalky.



Thanks for the input folks, this is what I'm looking for.

I would look into the Meguiars stuff. They have some Heavy Oxidation remover, although it sounds like you would be better off with a light oxidation remover. Then a polish and wax. It made a big difference on my hull, that haden't been cleaned in a good 5 years!

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

Here are some photos I took before, during and after with the Meguiars stuff...

I'm posting them as links, due to their size.

Before:
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/25thmustang/Cruisers Inc/IMG_2865.jpg
Before/After Oxidation Remover:
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/25thmustang/Cruisers Inc/IMG_2874.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/25thmustang/Cruisers Inc/IMG_2870.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/25thmustang/Cruisers Inc/IMG_2849.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/25thmustang/Cruisers Inc/IMG_2809.jpg
After Polish:
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc99/25thmustang/Cruisers Inc/IMG_2816.jpg

 

[sharkmtn1]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

"Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for stubborn white gel coat stains. Works amazingly well."]

I too was impressed by the magic erasers!! They are so versitile. A definate must for anyone who likes convenience.

 

[convergent]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

For cleaning at and below the waterline, you need to get a little more creative. Any cleaning product that contains muriatic or oxalic acid as the main active ingredient, does well on scum and rust stains. Use hand and eye protection and flush REALLY WELL with fresh water.

My .02

Rather than start a new thread, trying to extend this one. I just bought my first boat that has a white lower hull... and it getting very dirty very fast from the muddy lakes around here.

So how do you clean under the boat with these acid based cleaners and not cover yourself with it? The sides shouldn't be a problem, but as you work your way under the bow and start coming back, at some point you'd have to be laying on your back and scrubbing overhead. There has to be an easier way!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

Rather than start a new thread, trying to extend this one. I just bought my first boat that has a white lower hull... and it getting very dirty very fast from the muddy lakes around here.

So how do you clean under the boat with these acid based cleaners and not cover yourself with it? The sides shouldn't be a problem, but as you work your way under the bow and start coming back, at some point you'd have to be laying on your back and scrubbing overhead. There has to be an easier way!

I use a medium stiff brush on a broom handle to scrub the bottom of the hull...

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

So how do you clean under the boat with these acid based cleaners and not cover yourself with it? The sides shouldn't be a problem, but as you work your way under the bow and start coming back, at some point you'd have to be laying on your back and scrubbing overhead. There has to be an easier way!

I put it in a squirt bottle. The best way (if you don't mind spending $15) is to get a plastic pump up bug sprayer with the 2' wand. Get the 1 gallon size. Put the hull cleaner in, pump it up, spray it on the the fog pattern. Covers very well.

When you're done, pour the remainder back into the original jug and rinse the sprayer with water so it will work the next time.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

I use the garden spray method and it works quite well.

FWIW: No need to use the cleaner full strength. I use the Attwood biodegradable, Wal-Mart special, cleaner cut the cleaner 4:1 and its still works very well.

Don?t forget to hose your trailer down with water before applying the cleaner. The hull cleaner will reek havoc on a galvanized finish

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

Almost forgot, Awesome Cleaner from the Family Dollar store works great!!!!!

I use it diluted 10:1 to clean my deck.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

I might as well jump in here:

Starbrite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner (decks)
Starbrite Hull Cleaner (brown scum on the hull)
3M Fiberglass Cleaner or Restorer with wax (fiberglass)
Marine Spray Nine (interior surfaces and vinyl upholstry or stubborn dirt, blood, etc.)
Flitz (stainless steel)
Pretty much any boat soap (washing boat)
303 Protectant (vinyl upholstry)
Acetone (rubber from fenders or dock edging, wash soom afterwards).

Do not use bleach, do not use Ajax or Comet (abrasive) cleanser.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

......So how do you clean under the boat with these acid based cleaners and not cover yourself with it?

A spray bottle and a long handled brush or a sponge mop.

If you clean that brown scum the same day it's not that hard. Let it stand a few days, you wll need the acid.

 

[dg512055]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

If I don't keep the hull waxed I get awful brown mud stains on the lower hull and sides. I found that Toon-Brite will take the stuff off with NO scrubbing. I spray it on and wait about 3 minutes then rinse it off. It leaves the gel coat a very bright white. Then I apply a coat of wax. It comes in ahalf gallon jug with a squirt sprayer on a hose. Nothing else will even touch these stains short of rubbing compund and hours with a buffer.

 

[blifsey]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

Like others, I really like the Meguires Marine on the vinyl! I keep a bottle in boat with a couple of microfiber rags. Lake bottom where we camp is basically red Georgia clay and climbing in/out of boat at campsite can track it bad. Usually give interior a quick going over each day of a camping trip. I bought some Meguires auto vinyl cleaner/conditioner for daughter's car and it didn't seem to have as much conditioner as the marine.

For washing fiberglass, I use a good fiberglass car wash and wax.

Biggest thing is to store out of the sun! We keep our boat under one of those aluminum carports and after 9 seasons, red gelcoat looks almost good as new (a few bumps and bruises but no fading/chalking/oxidizing).

 

[convergent]

Re: Recommended products for cleaning and detailing the boat

I use the garden spray method and it works quite well.

FWIW: No need to use the cleaner full strength. I use the Attwood biodegradable, Wal-Mart special, cleaner cut the cleaner 4:1 and its still works very well.

Don?t forget to hose your trailer down with water before applying the cleaner. The hull cleaner will reek havoc on a galvanized finish

A couple more questions. I bought the Starbrite Hull Cleaner purely by coincidence as some in this thread have recommended it. I have a painted trailer... will this stuff hurt the trailer? The boat sits down really tight between the fenders which have bunk carpet on them. There is only about 1-2" clearance between the boat side and the fenders and its a tandem trailer so that's a big area that I can't really scrub. If I spray this stuff on with a garden sprayer, will it hurt the carpet on the inside of the fenders?

Do you guys spray it on the whole hull and then rinse it off, or do sections?

Also, I have some pretty large ProCraft stickers on each side of the boat... any worry that this will damage them?

So this is spray on and rinse off with no scrubbing it sounds like. I'll have to try it tomorrow after a fishing run.