Common Mistakes to Avoid

The No Rinsing Before Scrubbing Technique

A very famous rookie mistake is the concept of not rinsing before you proceed with the scrubbing work. Often, boat owners are so anxious to proceed with the cleaning process that they tend to make this mistake. Beware! Don't let your hurry make you ruin the life of your boat. Always, always remember to rinse before you start with the scrubbing process.

No matter how much you cover them, your boat is always vulnerable to dust, mud, salt, and several other types of marine particles. Always rinse your boat thoroughly before you get to scrubbing. Failure to do so will lead to your boat having a worn-out and weathered look because the scrubbing will make the particles scratch the surface.

The Usage of Incorrect Cleaning Material

This one is pretty common. It doesn't matter what you're cleaning; you need to have the suitable cleaning material. Just as it would be a sin to wash your dishes with table cleaner, it would be equally wrong to clean your boat with just any cleaning detergent out there.

With different materials used in the composition and designing of a boat, you need to be careful of each and use a cleaner that fits the material of each perfectly. Remember, no bleach of any kind!

The Airdrying Technique

Imagine this; you have people coming over, maybe a party on your boat. You look around, and the seats look like they could get some cleaning. On impulse, you carry a quick cleaning of your vinyl boat seats. In such situations, it is not the washing that's the hassle but the drying process.

You might be tempted to airdry your vinyl boat seats to get the job done. DON'T DO IT! Make sure you take enough time to dry off every part of the seats correctly. There will be moisture on the seats if you don't, making room for mildew and mildew stains!

The Lack of Protection for the Hull

The entire process of washing, rinsing, scrubbing, and then drying your boat can take quite some time. All this effort can go straight down the drain if you don't keep an eye on protecting the boat's hull. To do this, you don't need guards.

Instead, what you need is a super wax product that can safeguard the hull of your boat. While the wax will help in giving it a gleaming look, that's not all it will do! If you use suitable boat wax, you can be sure that no harmful UV rays damage the surface of your boat.

What's more, particles including mud and dust will also not stick. It is advised that the waxing process should be carried out at least twice a year.

The Ignorance of the Propeller

Everyone knows the propeller is the lowest maintenance part of your boat. However, that does not mean you ignore it completely. Indeed, it is low maintenance, but it is also one of the most crucial parts of any boat. Without it, you can be sure that your boat won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

A prevalent mistake new boat owners make is that they forget to carry out timely inspections of it.

Every time you take your boat out on a spin, lookout for signs of corrosion, chips, or parts of the ocean, such as rope, algae, or fishing line wrapped around the propeller.

While they may seem insignificant, they can damage the propeller for good if left unattended for long.

The Monthly Cleaning Strategy

Another common mistake made by newbie boat owners is that they think they need to clean their boat once every month! NO! That is not the case. Your boat is your very own baby and needs to be treated like one as well. While it might seem convenient to you to let the dust settle and clean it off every month, it can be very damaging to the internal and external parts of the boat.

There are various parts such as the fridge and the finishing that need to be done every two weeks and every time you take it out on the water. Mildew is a scary concept, and you won't even notice it's there until the tiny yellow spots turn into chaos one day.

The Quick Pressure Washing Game

Pressure washing seems like an easy way to get the job done. However, it is not the greatest of ideas for boat cleaning. If you continue with the pressure washing technique, you will weaken the carpet's fibers and the glue holding down the material.

Give Your Boat the Love It Deserves!

The boat cleaning process is not easy and requires a fair amount of time, effort, and resources. If you lack in any of the three, it is time to call in the experts. Here, at It's All Clean San Diego, we know how much of a handful a DIY boat cleaning session can be. This is why we offer you expert boat cleaning services to save you stress.