Boat Detailing Checklist

When boating season starts to wind down for most of us, it’s a little easier to justify spending a day to get our pride and joy looking great again.

Here is a list of items to consider when you’re looking to detail your boat.

• Clean all sinks and toilets
  
• Clean those seats! It’s important to stay on top of keeping seats clean so mildew doesn’t have time to take hold.

• Clean all fiberglass surfaces. Keeping the fiberglass clean helps to reduce oxidation and makes it easier to keep it clean.

• Clean all fiberglass surfaces. Keeping the fiberglass clean helps to reduce oxidation and makes it easier to keep it clean.

• Vacuum the carpet or rent a carpet cleaner. Home Depot, Lowes and many grocery stores will rent carpet cleaners at minimal expense.

• Clean and polish all the stainless steel on the boat. If any stainless is beyond polishing, go ahead and replace it before it becomes too corroded to get loose easily.

• Clean and polish all plastic surfaces. Use a plastic polish (hatches, doors, etc…)

• Clean all glass, mirrors and wood

• Freshen up any bottom paint if your boat has it

• Wash and remove any stains on the hull of the boat

• Compound and polish out all Oxidation on the hull

• Apply Carnauba wax (Grade #1) to the hull and hand buff to a shine. This helps to KEEP the boat clean longer.

• Clean all of the storage compartments, remove old gear that isn’t needed, remove rust stains with naval jelly, etc.

• Apply a protectant to any vinyl to seal it, waterproof it and help to keep it clean and mildew-free

• Polish all plastic windows, wind screens and curtains

• Apply rain x to windows

• Clean and wash all top side surfaces including non-skid surfaces, transom, swim platform, etc.

• Clean the equipment, electronic or map console areas

• Remove any stains on top side surfaces

• Compound and polish out all oxidation on the top side surfaces

• Apply Carnauba Wax (Grade #1) to all top side fiberglass surfaces

• If you have any Teak wood, sand, treat or refinish as needed

• Take a moment to inspect and clean the engine compartment. A little normal cleaning will go a long way toward prevent buildup of grease and will help to keep plastics from becoming brittle over time.

• Clean your bilge and make sure there isn’t any standing water. Many boats now are composite only construction and it isn’t as critical but I’ve seen countless boats with some wood construction destroyed because water was allowed to build up in the bilge. Get the water out!