Boat cleaning near me isn’t just a matter of vanity; keeping your yacht clean extends its lifespan, makes it easier to use and, in some cases, helps you get more when you sell. But it’s also a part of basic boat maintenance, and it can help you spot problems before they become serious.
Generally speaking, your boat should be cleaned regularly with a mild detergent and brush, to remove dirt, oil and other contaminants that can damage its finish. For tough stains, you might want to use something like bleach, but make sure you choose a non-toxic cleaner. And if you’re really worried about your boat’s finish, it may be time to call in the professionals.
Teak
If you’re lucky enough to have a teak deck on your boat, simple scrub-downs with soapy water should keep it looking great for quite some time. However, eventually your teak will start to look dark and mottled, and that’s a sign that it’s time to clean it. There are both mild one-part solutions and stronger two-part acid-based cleaners that can be used to deep clean your teak, but you’ll want to follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully.
Invasive Species
Make sure you’re fully prepared to enter a new body of water by thoroughly inspecting all your boating and fishing equipment for invasive species. Run your hand along the hull, trailer bunks and other parts of your boat that touch the water – if it feels rough, it might have zebra mussels or other invasive species attached. You should dump any unused bait and check the ballast tanks, live wells, and bilge areas for these species, too. If you find them, be sure to drain all water holding compartments and completely dry your equipment before transporting it to another area.
The best way to dry your boat and equipment is to park it on an incline so that most of the water drains away via gravity. Then you can suck up the remaining water with a wet-vac and speed up the drying process with fans. Remember to also dry off any equipment that came into contact with water, including bilge areas, live wells and other compartments that aren’t easily reached by the sun and air.
You can also get help washing, dredging and drying your boating and fishing equipment at New York State’s network of free AIS decontamination stations. These stations are found at many boat launches and are operated by people trained to identify invasive species and help you wash, drain and dry your equipment. It’s the safest and quickest way to reduce the chances of transporting invasive species between waterways. Remember to report any invasive species you see or suspect at a boat launch to DEC or your local natural resource agency.