If you are not going to be using your boat for an extended period of time, the best thing you can do is clean your boat up and put it in storage. You want to make sure that you clean your boat really well so that it weathers its time in storage without getting damaged.
Wash And Wax Your Boat
After the last time you take your boat out, it needs to be washed really well. When you take your boat out of the water, wash the interior and exterior of your boat. Be sure to scrub and clean the underside of your boat, which can get quite dirty when it is in the water all summer.
After you clean the exterior and interior of your boat, you need to wax the exterior of your boat. Waxing the exterior of your boat will help protect the paint job from scratches as well as wear and tear. Waxing the outside of your boat will also help it maintain its professional finish and look.
Take Out Cushions
You don't want to leave items on your boat that could get infected with mildew. Take out all fabric and soft items from your boat, including cushions and curtains. Wash all of the cloth items that are inside of your boat. Then, store those items outside of your boat. Store those items inside of plastic storage containers where they will be safe from mildew while your boat is in storage.
Clean The Floors
Next, you need to clean the floors on your boat. If you have an interior cabin on your boat with carpet, use a steam cleaner to really clean the carpet and remove all the built-up layers of dirt. Just be sure to allow enough time for your carpet to dry out properly after you steam clean it.
For other types of flooring, be sure to clean the floor using the appropriate methods. You want the floor to be as clean as possible when you put your boat in storage. Food and crumbs can reside on your floor and attract pests to your boats if you don't clean up your floor correctly.
Protect The Upholstery
For any upholstery on your boat, you are going to want to protect it. You can protect it by spraying it with a marine protectant that is specifically designed for boat vinyl. These protective sprays will help keep moisture out of your boat vinyl and upholstery, and ensure that mold and mildew doesn't develop in your upholstery over time.
