At the start of cottage season a lot of spring cleaning need to be done.  First there is the inside of the cabin: floors, fridge, cupboards, bathrooms, and bedrooms, followed by the outside: eve troughs, windows, raking, and dock installation.  But don’t relax just yet, because next up, the boat.

Getting a fiberglass boat ready for the season takes lots of cleaner, wax and muscle.  This is one activity everyone in our family helps out with.  Each year I haul out an array of cleaners: Vim for the fiberglass, Windex for the glass and Armoroll for the vinyl seats.  But this year I decided to explore some environmentally friendly cleaners that will get the boat ship shape for the water.

Cleaning Fiberglass

This is a two step process: First you need to use a cut wax, or a cleaner with a grit to remove the osmosis – that white chalky film on the boat’s exterior.  We’ve always used Vim, but this year I’m going to try a baking soda paste by mixing equal amounts of baking soda and vinegar.

The second step is the wax. Waxing not only makes your boat shiny, it also acts like a sun block and protects your boat’s exterior.  Greg Reimer, owner of Parksville Boathouse, Parksville, B.C. suggests applying several coats of wax, “You can’t wax your boat enough especially now that the sun is so damaging.”  He suggests waxing the top coat of your boat half way through the season for added protection.

Vinyl Seats and Cushions

There are several products that clean vinyl well.  Reimer recommends 3M Marine Vinyl Cleaner and Restorer.  A natural alternative is to mix 1 tsp. ammonia, 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, with 2/3 cup water.  Apply with a cloth.

Chrome

Reimer uses a stainless steel cleaner called Wenol, available at any hardware store.  It cuts corrosion and rust.  Baking soda or mineral oil for polishing and vinegar to remove spots are the enviro friendly picks.

Carpets

While Reimer does not state a specific carpet cleaner, he does recommend a hand held steam-cleaner vacuum called ,the Shark. Alternatively, try sprinkling dry corn starch on the carpeted area and vacuum.

One final note, for more information on natural cleaners for your boat visit: www.hometownannapolis.com/parks_boating.html.  While the natural cleaners recommended are less harmful, they are still toxic to marine life.  Use them sparingly.      

This entry was posted on Friday, June 15th, 2007 at 2:10 am and is filed under Fix It. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.