Top 5 products for boat maintenance

• 30.10.2023.
• News

Boat maintenance is the constant care of the boat to keep it in excellent condition for as many years as possible. Read our new article on how to achieve this and which processes you should not ignore. 

Boat maintenance is not a simple task, and all those boat owners who only use their boats occasionally and are aware of how much weather conditions affect the boat's appearance will agree with that.  
   
Keeping the charter boat clean and tidy is not just a matter of vanity but a necessary activity that leads to clients enjoying the moments of rest they spend on your vessels.  
   
In addition, cleaning and polishing are an important part of basic boat maintenance to keep it serving you for many seasons; as this will protect the materials from environmental influences, weather and general wear and tear.  
   
Today's market is full of different tools and products for boat maintenance; therefore, in this article we'll introduce you to great products for different areas and phases of boat preparation for the season.
   
We hope that this will make your choice easier, so that you end up with a clean and protected vessel as soon as possible! 
   

KH-7 cleaning products  

The KH-7 line of cleaning products, the leader in the Spanish market for cleaning products, found its place in our top 5 boat maintenance products.  
   
KH-7 products have proven to be highly effective, have a large scope of application and work quickly.  
   
Thus, in the KH-7 range, you can find kitchen, bathroom, glass cleaners, degreasers and stain removers. Users of these valued products often describe them as products that do not change once they have been tried.  
You can use KH-7 cleaners on your boat, both interior and exterior – for example, when you want to clean the hull of your vessel, just spray KH-7 directly on the surface, spread with a damp cloth, and then rinse with water.  
   
This brand of cleaning products generally tries to bring its users as close as possible to the wide application of their products. They also have their own YouTube channel full of educational videos that explain in detail how to get the most out of what the KH-7 has to offer.  
   
The producers of the KH-7 brand emphasize that they are committed to preserving the environment and make an effort to minimize the impact of their products on it.  
   
Have you already tried one of the cleaning products from the wide range of KH-7, and what were your impressions?  

  

Products for repairing damage  

A dry and clean deck will easily detect gel coat damage, which is not that rare, so it's good to always have a reliable gel coat filler to apply and sand to completely hide the damage.  
   
For this purpose, you can use the two-component GLYX gel coat filler, which is used to repair holes, cracks or scratches on fibreglass surfaces.  
   
When you apply quality gel coat fillings, you can relax and be sure that you will be able to correct any defect on the surface from the very first attempt, which will no longer be noticeable after polishing.  
   
GLYX gel coat filling hardens extremely quickly - after only 10 minutes - so plan carefully which area to repair before mixing its two components, which will polish your vessel with its whiteness.  
   
When you have discovered which damages need to be corrected, lightly sand the surface around them, fill the scratches with the gel coat filler that you mixed previously and wait 10-20 minutes to make sure that it has dried.  
   
Bring the excess gelcoat to the level of the surrounding surface by sanding - it is recommended that you first use sandpaper 120. After that use water-resistant sandpaper 260 or 280, and finally, bring the surface to a smooth state with water-resistant sandpaper 400 or 500, which can then be polished to perfection.  
   
If you're precise and careful, when you're done, your boat will look like it never had any damage!  
  

Polishing agents  

Polishing the boat is done in order to give the boat a fresh look, to correct some minor damages and to finally protect it from external influences.  
   
Not all boats are polished equally, and well before starting and choosing the paste, it would be good to check the condition of the paint and gel coat. After that, wash the entire vessel well so that you know which areas need more attention, as dirt can hide a lot of damage.  
   
Newer boats with undamaged gel coats are sufficient to polish with wax. Still, for more damaged ones, you will need a high-quality and effective polishing paste.  
   

The best pastes for polishing boats, sailboats and yachts  

Polishing your boat, sailboat, or yacht is not just an aesthetic issue; it is also the main component of maintenance.  
 
Polishing pastes not only restore lost shine but also provide a protective layer that protects against damage caused by salt, sun and water.  
   
Choosing the suitable polishing paste is not easy, and we will mention these 5 leading products on the market:  
3M Marine Restorer & Wax: Excellent for fibreglass and gel coat surfaces, offers both polishing and waxing in one step.  
   
Meguiar's M6332 Flagship Premium Marine Wax: Known for its long-lasting protection against seawater and UV rays.  
   
Star brite Premium Marine Polish with PTEF: Excellent for various surfaces and provides a lasting protective layer.  
   
Collinite 920 Fiberglass Boat Cleaner & 925 Fiberglass Boat Wax: Functions as a two-layer system that cleans and waxes for a long-lasting shine.  
   
Boat Bling Quickie Sauce: Ideal for quick fixes and also offers UV protection.  
   
Always read the instructions and test a small area first to ensure the product is compatible with your boat's material.  
   
One of the best pastes on the market, mentioned by many experienced sailors, is the 3M Marine Imperial boat polishing paste, designed to quickly remove sanding scratches and provide a high shine without wax or silicone.  

  

Varnishing agents  

Deck equipment made of wood gives a special note of elegance to the vessel. Still, for the wooden parts to retain their shine and quality, they must be regularly maintained. The varnish layer that protects them needs to be renewed.  
   
Clear varnish is quite sensitive, requiring renewal at least twice a year, before and after the season. For this, you can use a clear varnish like Hempel's fast-drying Dura-Gloss Varnish.  
   
DGV is a urethane-alkyd varnish with excellent resistance to seawater, sunlight and adverse weather conditions that may befall your vessel. You can use it both on internal and external surfaces above the boat's waterline, both on new wood and on previously varnished.  
   
You can achieve a long-lasting professional appearance of the boat with these varnishes, and they are applied quite simply and achieve resistance of the wood to wear and abrasion a few hours after application.  
   
Before spreading the varnish, prepare the wood as necessary depending on its current condition - clean the surface of dirt and oil, ensure it is completely dry, and then sand it with fine sandpaper.  
   
Be sure to protect the new wood beforehand with a suitable wood product, and with teak, pay special attention to removing the grease with a suitable degreaser.  
 

 

Protecting agents  

Finally, when your vessel has been thoroughly cleaned, sanded, polished and restored, it is necessary to apply a final layer of protection against scale, atmospheric conditions and various other impurities that can reduce the boat's shine.  
   
If you have not previously used polishing agents that already contain wax, you can apply it in an additional layer as the last step in preparing the boat for the season.  
   
For this, you need a product like 3M Marine wax for boats, with which you can achieve a high gloss of paint, fibreglass and gel coat and the necessary protection of the metal parts of the vessel.  
   
This frequently used wax has a unique formulation that uses reactive chemistry and binds to the boat's surface, providing long-lasting surface protection. It is extremely easy to apply and remove, and at the same time restores damage caused by ultraviolet rays (UV).  
   
The basis for the longevity of the wax you apply to your boat is good surface preparation, so wash and dry the boat carefully before applying a thin layer of wax. Leave it for ten minutes to dry, then wipe it with a microfiber cloth.  
   
In doing so, we advise you to use two cloths because the first one will pick up most of the remaining wax, and the second one will bring the final shine to the boat!  
   

Postponing or neglecting the maintenance of vessels can ultimately turn out to be a costly mistake or, at best, an extremely tedious job when it comes down to it.  
   
To clean and protect the valuable vessels under your responsibility as quickly and efficiently as possible, try some products from this article or similar products of your choice.  
   
At the end of the day, a clean boat is a happy one, which means satisfied clients and crew members staying on board.  
   
  
 
 

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