Boating & Yacht Blog

One of the most annoying enemies of boat lovers everywhere is none other than fouling. This is when tiny marine plants and animals attach themselves to any boat parts that sit underwater for a long time, such as the hull. For this reason—while it’s not an exact science—the answer to “how often do you have to wash the hull of a boat?” 

When is the best time to clean your boat hull?

Every 4 to 12 weeks you should be cleaning your boat's hull!

We know the time frame between boat cleanings can be anywhere from small to huge! That’s because several factors affect how dirty your boat gets. You also have to consider that, when you do decide to clean it, you don’t want to wait until you have to use industrial-strength chemicals or soaps to get all the grime off. Not only is it unnecessarily tiring and time-consuming, but a lot of marinas no longer allow the use of strong cleaning products to protect the region’s water ecosystem.

Factors That Affect Vessel Hull Cleaning Process

For the most part, how often you wash a boat hull depends on whether your boat has a slip, operates in saltwater, fouling, and how often it is out on the water. Also, you need to follow the right approach how to clean a boat hull for removing all foul stains.

Fouling

Fouling is when plants and algae or any sort of marine life accumulate on the hull of your boat. This fouling process happens due to location, the temperature of the water, and even the salinity levels of the water. 

Water Salinity

Every time you boat around in saltwater: the best way to clean a boat hull is to wash your boat as soon as you return to the dock. It has to be with a cleaning agent too! This is because simply hosing it off won’t cut through the sticky salt left behind. Otherwise, the salt builds up on the hull and leaves water spots in your windows that never come out! If you can’t give your boat hull a full cleaning after a salty ride, that’s okay. However, you should take a little time to wash and dry the windows so they stand the test of time.

Weather Protection

If your boat has a slipcover, you can wash it less often. That’s because, rather than rain droplets, you’ll only be taking care of any dust and debris that got in. That being said, you should still clean off your boat immediately following any rides, so you’re leaving it in good shape when you cover it up. You won’t want it to permanently stain if the gel coating or wax layer has thinned out. As long as you’re washing the boat hull at least every eight weeks, you shouldn’t need much more than a standard cleaning and waxing.

If your boat doesn't have a slipcover, you should wash your boat hull as often as every three or four weeks—maybe even sooner if your wax layer is wearing off, so water streaks, bird droppings, and other stains don’t leave behind an unsightly mark.

Boat Usage

The frequency, duration, and speed you use when boating can make a huge difference in how dirty your boat gets. Boats that aren’t used very often are going to quickly get covered in fouling. This is also the case for boats that are only taken out for short, slow rides. By boating more frequently, longer, and quicker, you’ll slow down the growth of fouling as you have fun! Minimizing the time needed to clean your boat hull yourself.

The trade-off is you’ll need to do more basic washes after each of these rides. However, since they’ll be menial, it shouldn’t be anything a boat lover like yourself can’t handle!

Your Secret Weapon For A Clean Boat Hull

After gently scrubbing down the hull and windows of your boat with a convenient wash mitt , you’re going to need a drying towel that effectively absorbs every last drop of water, so no stains are left behind. When it comes to your boat, opt for nothing less than The Absorber® . This boat towel is made out of a PVA material that allows it to super dry any surface. This way, you can get the cleaning job done better and faster. Best of all, it’s chemical-resistant and machine-washable, so you can use it over and over again for years to come. 

Check out our full collection  for even more vessel cleaning tools, wash mitts, and more to help keep your boat hull in tip-top shape. Trust us—life’s better on a clean boat!

Buying a boat secondhand can be a great way to find a quality vessel at a more affordable cost. But, to land a worthwhile deal, you’re going to have to give it a test run and proper inspection. This way, you can easily spot the following widespread boat problems and know how to buy a used boat. If you’re unsure of where your standards need to be, ask a knowledgeable friend or mechanic to come along!

Compromised Engine Before You Say Yes: Complete These Used Boat Maintenance Checks

Come 15 minutes early to your test ride so you can pull the dipstick and check the oil before the seller can try warming it up. Look to see if the oil looks milky, which means water is present, or if carbon coats the plugs. Listen to your engine before and during the trial run to ensure it’s running smoothly. Learn below the things to check when buying a used boat from the seller.

Malfunctioning Pumps

Manually trigger the bilge pumps as well as other features supported by pumps such as washdowns or heads. This is because, even if you flip a switch to check a pump and it doesn’t respond, the float switch itself could otherwise be where the issue lies.

Faulty Electric System

Turn on all electrical switches and features one-by-one and all together while conducting your water trial. See if the wiring looks different at the fuse box and verify what electrical replacements took place and if they’ve been corrected. Keep an eye on the wiring as a whole and assert whether it looks organized too.

Wood Rot

If you’re considering purchasing an old wooden boat, you may see rot on untreated wood pieces. This usually comes in the form of large cracking around the edges of the transom. You might even notice rot as you walk across a seemingly spongey, bouncy deck.

Waterlogged Foam

Have the seller remove the heavier equipment from the ship and pay attention to whether your boat floats evenly and if the scuppers rest high above the waterline. If possible, bring a moisture meter and mallet on board to tap the corded areas of the boat you think may contain water: they’ll sound different than dry ones.

Stringer and Joint Separations

Concerning the boat’s mainstay, take a well-lit survey of the stringers to note damage or splitting from the hull. You can tell whether the hull-to-deck joint is separated from the ship if the rub rail is bent or broken. You’ll know the sealing is separated if you soak it all with a hose and water comes out around or in the bilge.

Cabin and Lower Unit Leaks

Spray a hose all along the boat and watch out for watermarks, or hatch, port, and seam leaks. If left unresolved, these leaks could lead to lower boat problems, such as milky lower unit oil. You can ask the seller to replace the lower unit oil yourself before agreeing to buy to know for sure.

Dirty Surfaces

Finally, it’ll be much easier to know what kind of boat maintenance is needed once you spruce it up with some cleaning. We highly suggest using The Absorber® drying towel. Its PVA material isn’t only super absorbent but also soft and non-abrasive to protect your new (used) boat. It’s even chemical-resistant and machine-washable to last you for years.

Visit here for more cleaning products to make the used boat yours. After all, life’s better on a clean boat!

When it comes to keeping your boat clean, it seems like everything from A to Z — think algae to zebra mussels — is a threat. Fortunately, these waves of challenges can be met with a little know-how, a little effort, and the best boat cleaning products available.

Here are some boat cleaning tips that apply whether it is yacht cleaning, powerboat cleaning, or pontoon boat cleaning that you are about to embark upon.

A new boat is one of the biggest toys you’ll add to your collection, but it’s also a big commitment, and you can’t expect to become a legendary sea captain overnight. Boating should be a relaxing experience, but there’s no way to predict what types of difficulties can arise when you’re on the water. You can troubleshoot most problems beforehand by planning in advance.

Before charting your course, check out this list of must-have items for every boater: