Sticking to a regular boat bath regimen has multiple benefits. It not only keeps a boat looking good, but it also helps protect it from unnecessary, accelerated wear and tear. When left to bake in the sun over time, dirt, bird droppings, and environmental detritus can take their toll on fiberglass and wood finishes, and the longer you wait to swab your deck, the tougher the task will be.
“Grime and dirt attract more grime and dirt,” explained Bill Lindsey, marketing vice president for Star Brite, a maker of marine maintenance products. “And grime and dirt lead to advanced wear: Abrasion takes its toll on vinyl, fiberglass, plastic, and so on. Metal surfaces begin to show surface corrosion, which left unchecked leads to full-on rust. If you don’t maintain your boat, it will wear out much more quickly than if you clean it.”
Getting a boat sparkling clean will always require a little elbow grease and muscle, but using the proper equipment and an effective soap will make the job easier and faster—allowing you more time for sailing. For this report, we tested more than a dozen boat soaps in search of those that are effective, easy to use, affordable, don’t remove wax, and won’t harm the marine environment. Check out “From Bubbles to Beads” for details on how we tested the soaps. Read more….