Favorite Boat Maintainence and Cleaning Products

[Gerry Zagorski]

I've been boating for several years and tried all sorts of stuff... Here is a list of the products I've found that work best for me.

Boat Soap - Crazy Clean a little goes a long way and cleans like crazy

Stain Removal - On/Off great for tough deck stains and to remove water line stains. A good clorine based toilet bowl cleaner works well too. Make sure and wear gloves and do not get on metal.

Eisenglass Cleaner/Protector - 210 my enclosure is 10 years old and is still holding up pretty well.

Wax - Colinite paste and Woody Wax for decks. The Conilte is a little tough to get on and off and you need to be sure you use a good cleaner before you wax. Woody is great for non skid decks. If you treat your deck a few times a month, routine clean up is much easier. Sometimes all you need to do is hose down the deck since it puts a protective coating down which helps resist staining.

Stainless Steel and Aluminum - I use Never Dull on stainless and Aluma Guard for hard top supports with OK results. Looking for suggestions here. I heard some good things about Flitz and similar product from Mothers that use the ball you attach to a drill. Anyone use either?

Racor Fuel Separator/Filters - If your boat does not have one you should intall one. It's a very inexpensive insurance policy. It not only filters the fuel but it separates water. If you happen to get some fuel in the water you can trap it in the filter and get rid of it.

Oil - I run a gas inboard and have been using Mobile One Synthetic but I also hear good things about Amosil.

Corrosion Spray Protectants - Corrosion X Salt Away products.

Bottom Paint - Interlux Multi Season. It costs a little more but since it's multi season it retains it's anti fouling properties over winter lay up and all you need to do is touch up anywhere the paint has worn. Non multi season paint requires you to paint the entire hull after winter lay up.

Feel free to pile on here.

[Duffman]

Pencil Zincs......"always"

[Gerry Zagorski]

Yes sir Duff... I learned that lesson the hard way when my heat exchanger went. Changing zincs is a must.

[seadog]

There is a lot of rust in the water at my dock (wellwater) and it was really putting the grung on my boat till a Capt. Jake turned me on to a rust remover called Wink. That stuff really does the trick,available at Wallmart and some hardware stores.

[CaptBob]

Beginning of the season ON/OFF to get all stains, etc.

During the season Spray 9 or Purple Power for cleaning deck hull

S/S rails-fittings, etc Lemon Oil and a damp rag....cuts all the crud and tarnish

Salt Away for any Build up

Boat Soap, West Marine Orange Boat Cleaner

[DMac]

I use simple green to clean when I am close to the water, because of being biogradable, not being green just responsible, plus the stuff works well.
Other than that I like to use gel soft scrub.

As far as oil I will say I started with mobil 1 synthetic in my truck switched to Amsoil, and I will never go back to Mobil 1. Total difference in oil pressure response to trottle etc.

I also use amsoil filters they are so much better built than FRAM etc. Plus all made in USA.

I use Mequires cleaner wax on hull of boat I know it isn't for boats, but it shines up really nice and it definately beads up for few weeks.

I find boat waxes are hard to get on and off and they don't protect as well and I have been using mequires on everything. Hell I even used it to wax the walls of my walk-in shower unit and believe it or not I haven't got soap scum build up near as quickly.

[Capt. Jerry P]

my favorite product besides 5200

3m black streak remover = magic

think starbright makes a version of the same stuff too

[Capt. Lou]

80% of stains on deck surfaces can be easily removed with liquid cleanser w/or w/o bleach. Use scouring type pad w/ sponge on one side and abrasive on other ,DO NOT use abrasive side on Gel coat only deck areas! Sponge works well on Gel Coat smooth areas!
Flitz works well on metal , we wash the boat with Joy liquid dish detergent,alwya worked fine for us! Hard brush on deck ,soft brush on gel coat areas.
Isenglass Joy when new, then 3m plastic cleaner if cloudy. If you wax metal,tower, etc. before winter or spray with a protective coating product,spring just wipe down comes out new!