This summer has flown by and we can’t believe it’s almost October, but fall is here. And that means one thing, it’s time to talk about fall care and boat maintenance. This is an important time to take the proper steps needed to prepare your boat for the winter and the colder months ahead. Here are a few tips to get you started from the folks at BoatLife!

Remove Items

If you are storing your boat for the winter, be sure to remove all items that will not be stored. These can include any towels, blankets, life jackets, radios and other electronic devices. Make sure to clean each item carefully as you prepare to store these items somewhere else.

Time To Clean

Once all of your items that you won’t be storing are removed, it’s time to thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of your boat. Wash the summer fun away with a high-quality boat cleaner. Our Boat Cleaner is a great all-purpose cleaner that tackles all that dirt, grime and built up salt water. Once you get your boat all sparkly and clean, it’s time to put a protective wax coating on it. For best results, you should start by polishing your clean gel coat with our PolyShine Boat Polish. Follow that up with our LifeWax, a pure Carnauba wax with UV protectants. When paired together, the application will last up to three years.

Take a cloth and wipe down all of the vinyl. We recommend using a boat vinyl cleaner specifically designed to clean vinyl, such as BoatLIFE’s VinyLIFE. Our VinyLIFE will give you a deep clean, perfect for wiping away all of the accumulated dirt and stains from long summer days out on the water. After cleaning, be sure to allow the area to air dry. After finishing the vinyl, wipe down all hardware and surface areas. Lastly, vacuum the carpet ensuring that no crumbs or debris remains.

No Mildew

It is also important to prevent mildew from forming during the storage season. Our Mildew Remover, which is acid-free and chlorine free is safe to use on all fabrics, including vinyl and carpet. If you have mildew stains that need to be removed, our Bilge Cleaner is a water-based degreaser that works not only to maintain a clean bilge pump, but is also great on carpets, upholstery and fabrics.

Once you have pulled your boat out of the water for the winter, it’s time to Tune It Up. Be sure to schedule an appointment for engine work and an overhaul of your boat. To prepare your boat for winter, call early so you aren’t waiting for an appointment while everyone else is trying to do the same.

For more care and maintenance tips,  our website. For the entire product line, browse our product catalog!