A Complete Guide to Cleaning the Bottom of a Boat

You do a great job of maintaining and cleaning your boat above the water line but when it comes to cleaning the bottom of your boat it can seem like a laborious chore. Well, in this article you’ll have the tips and strategies to make quick work of your cleaning your boat hull so that you can go back to enjoying what you do best sailing.

Why Is Cleaning the Bottom of a Boat Important?

For people new to sailing, they might think it’s similar to car washing. It’s important for looks but doesn’t change the way the car drives. That doesn’t hold up, however, as although you can’t see it, you can certainly feel the impact that not cleaning the bottom of your boat has while steering.

Not cleaning the hull, rudder, or propeller of a boat can lead to fouling, which is the growth of marine life such as slime, algae, mussels, and barnacles. Leaving these on can negatively impact both the speed and fuel efficiency of a boat.

When you’re out on the water, you don’t want to have to worry about making it to your destination on time or having difficulties handling a slower boat. And at its extreme, you don’t want to be stranded when you have less fuel than you anticipated.

How to Clean the Bottom of a Boat

Learning how to clean a boat might be a bit daunting, along with the other costs of boating. So here are some steps to cleaning and some tips about boat maintenance and upkeep that’ll keep you on the water.

1. Take the Boat Out of the Water

Have you ever noticed how slowly you move in water? Trying to use lots of tools with a snorkel on and thoroughly clean your hull is tougher than you’d think.

Placing the boat in a large, well-ventilated area is the easiest way to have the boat stay in place and lets you see all of it at once. That said, if it isn’t possible to remove the boat from the water, most of these steps still apply.

2. Get Your Gear

Your safety and the safety and durability of your boat are at stake, so take care to get your gear in order. Since you’ll be working with cleaners and exposed marine life, it’s best to get work gloves and goggles.

Your other supplies should include:

  • Hull cleaner
  • A water hose or power washer
  • A scraper(a small piece of hardwood, or you can use a dedicated boat hull scraper)
  • A bucket
  • Sponges
  • Brushes
  • Microfiber towels
  • Antifouling paint
  • Marine polish

If you’re cleaning the boat underwater, you’ll also need:

  • Diving gear; either a hookah diving system or dedicated scuba gear
  • A mask and snorkel
  • A wetsuit if you’re cleaning in colder waters

3. The Rinse/Power Wash

It may seem a little counterintuitive to take the boat out of the water just to put some right back on. But doing so allows you to get slime and other easy stuff out of the way. It also softens the more stubborn dirt and buildup, allowing you to go through with the scraper much easier.

4. Use That Cleaner

Now that you’ve loosened up some of the harder stuff, it’s time to get some hull cleaner. There are several different types of boat cleaning products, so it’s best to do research for your specific needs.

Apply the cleaner and let it sit for at least two minutes, or however long the usage instructions require. Use a sponge to clean in small, light circles. You don’t want to damage your antifouling paint if you have any on, or the integrity of the original paint job.

This is also when you might go in with a brush or scraper. This gets more of the dirt off, but remember not to be too rough.

5. Rinse & Repeat as Needed

After cleaning, rinse the bottom again and check over it. If you’ve gone long enough without cleaning you may need to re-apply the cleaner, scrub, and rinse a second time, or as many times as needed.

After this, go through with a sponge and wipe it with water again. This will wipe off any leftover cleaning solution.

6. Dry It Off

Use a microfiber towel to dry off the bottom, which will help take care of watermarks and spots and take care of any last pieces of debris. Make sure it’s a microfiber towel, as hard or rough towels can scratch and damage the boat and paint.

7. Apply Some Boat Polish

Lastly, apply some boat polish with another microfiber towel. This keeps your boat looking new and well taken care of, and helps to keep dirt and grime off the hull. Plus, it protects from sun damage and other elements.

8. (Optional) Use Antifouling Paint

An option to help prevent fouling is antifouling paint, which can be applied after cleaning and sanding. However, due to these paints being hazardous, it’s best to leave their application to a professional.

Other Boat Cleaning Tips

  1. Knowing how to clean the hull is half the battle. Now you might be wondering how often you should clean. Generally, you should lean towards cleanings every two months, as this keeps fouling and other debris from collecting for too long. If you wait longer, it’s more likely that you’ll scrape off some paint
  2. If you have ablative antifouling paint on, it’s incredibly important to remember not to scrub them underwater. Doing so releases high levels of toxic materials, and many places have laws that forbid it.
  3. If you’re not planning on removing the boat from the water to clean it, consider hiring a professional. While it can be learned, it can be a lot of extra work on your part, as well as the cost of buying special supplies and gear.
  4. Do some preventative maintenance. You don’t have to wait until the end of the season to clean; in fact, even just cleaning along the waterline can improve the look of your boat and save you some time when you’re up for a deep clean.

In Conclusion

Cleaning the bottom of a boat doesn’t always have to be a drag. With this guide, you can safely clean the hull of your boat and get back out on the water. 

Hopefully this article helped show you some of the ways of cleaning the bottom of your boat.

Happy Sailing! 

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