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While the cliché goes that beauty is only skin deep, it’s the skin on your family boat that you want to keep in good shape. Nothing will make your boat look worse than not taking the proper steps to protect it. The skin, or gelcoat, of your family boat needs a maintenance plan that will preserve the shine and integrity, and its value. The plan involves both cleaning and protecting. Cleaning Ridding your boat of dirt and debris will keep it from becoming grungy. But don’t just grab the dish washing liquid behind the kitchen sink. You need a specialty fiberglass cleaner. Other household cleaners can scratch the finish as they clean. A special note for saltwater boaters: You need to rinse your boat thoroughly before you even start cleaning it. Saltwater can really attack your boat’s finish and quicken its demise. Avoiding scratches is crucial since they will speed up oxidation. The oxidation creates a danger for your boat’s hull, because it will allow water penetration. And you definitely don’t want that. Some of the specialty cleaners you buy will have wax mixed in which will provide more protection. Otherwise you need to think about buying a separate wax. Protection Keeping your boat waxed is the second step in your maintenance plan. While you don’t need to wax your boat after every trip, it would be a good idea to wax it at least every other month or once a month if you take your boat out every week. While you can get very complex in your waxing process, combining a beeswax paste with a liquid wax to really make it shine, if you at least do one or the other, it will help protect your family boat’s skin. Of course, some experts suggest you use only a marine polish. It doesn’t give you as good a shine, but it does provide the best protection. You can use fenders with washable covers to prevent dings and scrapes, but the main thing is to keep out ultraviolet rays by covering your boat. While the folks in the north don’t have to worry as much about the effect of the sun on their family boat, southern boaters have to be extra careful. Florida-based EdgeWater Power Boats wants you to keep your boat maintained so you can enjoy it for years to come. The company is a premium manufacturer of boats for cruising, diving, fishing and skiing.
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