Dirt, salt, and other natural buildup are the silent killers of boats big and small. No matter the manufacturer, if boat hygiene is neglected, your hull can rapidly degrade along with other essential hardware, creating many more problems down the line. That being said, it is of the utmost importance to keep your boat clean after any row or trip on the road, especially if it encounters saltwater. In this video, I’ll show you how to properly clean your boat to keep it performing like new everytime you take it out.
At the bare minimum you will need a hose. The least you should do after every row and long trailer trip is to rinse the hull and interior with water.
For a full, deep clean, you will also need a sponge, dish soap, a bucket for mixing the soap and water, and a microfiber rag to dry everything off. DO NOT use coarse rags or old towels for drying, as those can actually scratch the hull.
For added cleanliness, I also recommend using an extra-soft rag after the microfiber rag for a dry wipe. This will get even the smallest bits of debris and moisture off the hull and give it a shiny, polished finish.
First, hose down either the exterior or interior of your boat with a hose.
Next, scrub it down with soap and water using your sponge.
Once scrubbed, give the boat another rinse with the hose.
After that, dry it off with your microfiber rag and give it a dry wipe with your extra soft rag if you want the polished finish.
Repeat this process on the opposite side you did not clean yet and your boat will be good to go!