Waxes and Cleaners for your Tige

[petrey10]

What are you guys using to keep your boats looking great and clean for the hull, carpet, and seats. I just bought my boat (2001 20i) and want to keep it looking great for long time. Here is what I was thinking:


Hull= ICE (spray it on and wipe off after every time out of water)

Carpet= ??

Seats= MEguiar's Vinyl Protector

Teak= Star Brite Care kit (from Iboats)

[da.bell]

I just vacuum the carpet when it looks bad. We don't have the children swimming to the shoreline anymore so the boat carpet has been loving life since it doesn't collect all that crap from shore anymore.

[turbonine]

Fiberglass - water/vinager mix to remove water spots. Then Boat Bright to polish. I do this everytime out of the water. Twice a year I wax with McGuires Flagship.

Vinyl - Babes Seat Soap on dirty spots. Every once in a while we use 303 Aerospace Protectant. Once a year we will use Exquisite for a deep clean and 303 to protect.

Carpet - Vacuum when it needs it. Steam clean once a year.

[spenchey2]

I have the best results by using a magic eraser on the seats then covering it in 303. My seats look like brand new. I swear by this process.

[da.bell]

I have the best results by using a magic eraser on the seats then covering it in 303. My seats look like brand new. I swear by this process.

I hope that you don't do that each and every time. The Magic Eraser isn't good for the vinyl seats. Using in once a year isn't bad but every time is definitely not something you should be doing

[dogbert]

I use Babe's Boat Bright for the hull after every use. I'll hit the tougher water spots with some Babe's Spot Solver. Wipe down the interior with towels. Every once in a while, clean the vinyl with Palmolive, a light brush/rag and warm water. Follow that with some 303 Protectant and my seats are good for a few trips. Vacuum the carpet frequently, especially if you're near a sandy shore. Once a year, go to your local car wash and have them steam clean the carpets.

[Matt Garcia]

Hull - I use water/vinegar mix, Duckys, or a spray on wax like Eagle One after each use.
Carpet - Power wash and vacuum with a shop vac.
Vinyl - Exquisite or Babes Seat soap. Once a month or so I use 303.


The magic eraser is very harsh on the vinyl. I wouldn't recommend using that often.

[FacePlant]

Believe it or not, I have had really good results cleaning my vinyl with Marine Spray Nine. Then 303 to protect.....

[yllw20]

I like the babe's line of products.

[spenchey2]

I hope that you don't do that each and every time. The Magic Eraser isn't good for the vinyl seats. Using in once a year isn't bad but every time is definitely not something you should be doing

I only have to do this once maybe twice a year. We haven't had much of a summer here so I probably only do this once. I am super careful about stepping on the seats, or getting them dirty so I don't have to clean very often.

Why is the magic eraser so bad for the vinyl?

[Booms]

I ues Star Brite Hull cleaner on the scum line I get from leaving it in the water over the weekend. Then use the best spray on wax I have used - Larsen's Restore Boat Polish after (http://www.larsensales.com/). I usually do this after ever weekend.
On the vynal 303 cleaner then 303 Protectent when needed.
The best rags for all of this is cloth diapers!

[da.bell]

I only have to do this once maybe twice a year. We haven't had much of a summer here so I probably only do this once. I am super careful about stepping on the seats, or getting them dirty so I don't have to clean very often.

Why is the magic eraser so bad for the vinyl?

The Magic Eraser is a melamine foam. It similar to a super fine sandpaper and will eventually erode the vinyl if used a lot.

[Duncan]

Is wiping the seats down with 303 everytime too harsh?

[dogbert]

Is wiping the seats down with 303 everytime too harsh?

No, it's a protectant. Although my vinyl guy said that you should avoid putting too much of the stuff near the seams, so I'd use it sparingly when you use it.

Also, while we're on the subject of vinyl. It's the seams that go first and that's where you have to watch the chemicals. A lot of times, they don't use a high quality nylon thread, so between the sun and the chemicals, the thread starts to disintegrate and then you start to see the tears at the seams.

The other *REALLY* bad thing for your seats is that spray-on sunscreen. That will make your vinyl get brittle and crack faster than anything I know. I banned it from my boat. If people do bring it, I make them put it on before they get in my boat. I'm not kidding when I say it will make your vinyl get brittle in less than 2 years. Not sure what kind of chemicals they put in that stuff, but if it does that to vinyl, I'm not sure I'd be putting it on my skin.

[Matt Garcia]

Is wiping the seats down with 303 everytime too harsh?

You are only suppose to use it every 30 days. It specifically says that on the bottle if I remember correctly.