Before launching, you waxed the hull, cleaned the bilge and wiped down the isinglass. After several trips and voyages, the spit and polish are wearing off. Now is the perfect time for a mid-season cleanup.
Boat wax
Eagle One Marine Wax-As-U-Dry
$10
Pros
- Easy to use
- Leaves a great shine
- Eliminates water spots
Cons
- Needs to be applied frequently
As a frequent and devoted user of Eagle One’s similarly named automotive product, I couldn’t wait to test the company’s boat wax. Using this product is easy. After a boat or watercraft is removed from the water, simply shake the Marine Wax As-U-Dry bottle and lightly spray the wax on the wet exterior surface. If necessary, you can also use it on a dry surface. Then wipe your boat down with a synthetic drying cloth or clean microfiber towel.
Marine Wax-As-U-Dry has UV inhibitors to help protect gel coat surfaces. The wax conditions fiberglass surfaces and helps protect boats against scum.
I discovered that it also eliminates water spots and helps keep them from coming back. Additional uses for the wax include engine cowlings and trolling motors, instrument and electronic panels, and trailer and tow-vehicles. I found this product to be fantastic for quick touch-ups between seasonal compounding and waxing. It needs to be applied more frequently than traditional waxes, but it’s so easy to use that it can be done after every voyage. You literally spray on and wipe dry.
Degreaser
Oil Eater Cleaner Degreaser
Starting at $4.99
Pros
- Cleans just about everything on a boat
- Smells nice
- Cuts grease quickly
Cons
- Needs to be diluted
Nothing bugs me more than a dirty fender that leaves smudge marks on the hull, but this degreaser will clean that fender and get the grease off the hull in a matter of minutes. Oil Eater Cleaner Degreaser is a safe, water-based formula that dissolves grease and grime from almost any surface. You can use it on engines, bilges, tools, ovens, grills and more. This product is perfect for light, medium or heavy cleaning. Just dilute as needed.
You can also use it to clean stains from carpets, upholstery and filthy floor mats. The freshly scented formula lets you clean both indoors and out without a chemical smell, which is great when cleaning in the bilge.
I tested the product on a number of marine items, and it did a great job of removing grease. I sprayed it on the engines, and the grease just washed away. (I used oil absorption pads to remove the grease before pumping my bilge.) Make sure to pretest surfaces for colorfastness. I didn’t have any issues, but products and finishes vary.
Cleaning cloths
E-Cloth Shower & Window Cleaning packs
$14.99
Pros
- Cleans without chemicals
- Reusable
Cons
- None
I was dubious about the instructions for E-Cloths: Wet the white cloth with water, wring it out, wipe, and follow up with the blue cloth. Really? No noxious chemicals? No separate spray bottle? No paper towels? Could it really be this easy?
It is, and it does an amazing job. I tried the window cleaning pack first and tested it on my glass patio door before attempting the boat’s windshield. I soaked the white cloth in the sink, wrung it out and started wiping. It removed all the dog slobber, dirt and grime. Before the glass completely dried, I wiped it with the blue cloth, and within minutes the glass was perfectly clean and streak-free. It was nothing short of amazing.
I repeated the process on my boat’s windshield. It removed the salt build-up and left a super clean windshield. I was impressed. I then tried the shower pack in the head, cleaning the plexiglass shower door, mirror and chrome faucets. Again, it did an amazing job. I imagine it would also do a great job on isinglass, but I don’t have any on my boat to try it on.
The E-Cloths work because they’re made of millions of tiny fibers that pick up dirt. They also significantly reduce limescale build-up and watermarks. And they’re not just a one-time use product like paper towels: Wash them in warm water occasionally, and they should last for years.
Craig Grosby, P, recently sold his beloved Flyer, a Hunter 35.5 Legend, and crossed over to the dark side when he purchased a lightly used 38-foot Sea Ray Sundancer. Keep your eyes out for Inevitable along the Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal Waterway.
