How to Clean Your Aluminum Boat

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Aluminum boats are designed to be lightweight and buoyant, yet durable enough to withstand heavy use. With proper maintenance, you can expect your aluminum boat to deliver many years of reliable performance. Did you know that that regular cleaning is an essential part of boat care? The dirt, grime, and barnacles that build up over time when your boat is on the water can damage even the highest grade aluminum hull. Keep your hull in good condition with these cleaning tips from L&M Marine LLC.

If you’re looking for more expert advice on aluminum boat care, don’t hesitate to ask the qualified staff at L&M Marine LLC. We proudly offer quality products and services to the boating community in Stapleton, AL.

Gather Your Cleaning Supplies

The first step to any deep cleaning project is to gather all the right products and tools for the job. You’re going to want all these items for cleaning your aluminum boat:

Heavy duty sponges
Soft-bristle scrub brush
Standard hose
Mop bucket
Car wash soap
An abundant supply of hot water
Aluminum cleaning solution
Steel wool
Buffing shammy
Buffing chemicals
Rubber gloves
Goggles

The products used for boat cleaning are not particularly dangerous, but it’s still a good idea to wear some basic protective gear. You might also want to wear a smock over your clothes, or dress in clothes you don’t care about getting dirty.

Prepare Your Boat for Cleaning

Before you begin the cleaning process, remove any personal items from your boat to temporarily store them in your house or garage. Perform a quick maintenance inspection while you’re at it, and take inventory on all your boating supplies. This is a good opportunity to replenish your first aid kit and take note of any equipment that needs to be replaced.

Wash the Hull

The aluminum boat cleaning process is made up of three stages, the first being a prewash using soap and water. Fill your bucket with hot water and mix in a dash of your car wash soap, then use your heavy-duty sponge to scrub all the large pieces of dirt and debris from the hull of your boat. If you encounter any stubborn dirt your sponge can’t handle, you can either employ steel wool or just leave it for stage two. If your boat has an outboard motor, you can clean the exterior gently, being careful to avoid splashing any soap under the hood. When you’re all done scrubbing, turn on your hose and thoroughly rinse the hull, making sure to remove all the suds.

Apply Aluminum Cleaning Solution

Now for stage two, which is treating the hull with a high-quality aluminum cleaning solution. These are usually sold in concentrated form, so make sure to prepare the solution as directed on the product label. Most products are designed to be diluted by a factor of 3 or 4. When your solution is ready, apply it to the entire hull using your soft-bristle scrub brush. This is your moment to bust out some elbow grease and really tackle those tough patches of dirt and grime that made it through the prewash stage.

When you’re finished brushing down every inch of the hull, check the instructions on your cleaning solution to see whether it requires time to set in before rinsing. Wait as long as necessary, then hose down the hull once more to prepare for stage three.

Buff the Hull

A freshly buffed aluminum boat is beautiful to behold, but giving your hull a healthy shine isn’t just about good looks. Grime won’t collect as readily on slick surfaces, so taking the time to buff the hull means your boat won’t need to be cleaned as frequently. Grab your buffing shammy and put some muscle into it, using your buffing chemicals to help the process along.

Make it a Habit

There’s no hard and fast rule for how often you should clean your boat. The answer depends on a number of factors, such as how often your boat is used, and in what type of water. But even if your boat is only used on occasion, it’s a good idea to follow all these steps at least twice a year. The most important time to clean your boat is right before placing it in long-term storage. Of course, you also want to give your boat a thorough clean before trying to resell it.

Even the most well-kept boat may have the occasional repair need. If you come across a maintenance problem you can’t handle on your own, you can count on the master technicians at L&M Marine LLC to take good care of it. We welcome boaters all the way from Mobile, AL, to Pensacola, FL.