There is one thing many boat owners have in common – water stains. No matter how much you care for your boat and how often you clean it, as a boat owner, if your boat is not on a lift, you will find that there is always those stubborn water stains that just won’t go away.  After spending so much money getting a fiberglass boat, it is important that you do your best to make sure that it stays clean, attractive and safe as much as possible.

You may already know that fiberglass has what can be said to be a high level of rigidity and strength that also maintains a low level of weight. However, this makes it very easy for stains, especially water stains to build up very fast. The porous nature of the fiberglass gel coating which is meant to protect it, sadly makes it even more susceptible to damage or at least abrasion as a result of ultraviolet radiation.

Fiberglass like many other boats needs proper maintenance so that it doesn’t look worn out and unattractive, which aside from being unsightly, may reduce its resale value. Additionally if not cleaned regularly, your maintenance cost will increase. To ensure that you keep enjoying your fiberglass hull while getting rid of those annoying water stains, these 4 steps will do the work:

Clean Regularly

We really can overemphasize the importance of regularly cleaning your boat. Apart from water stains, cleaning your boat on a regular basis will reduce the chances of boat accidents from slips. So, whenever your boat is not on water, take some time to wash the hull deck and hull sides thoroughly with any soap that you would use for dishwashing. This will usually prevents water stains from building up. If you cannot wash your boat after every time you use it, make sure to at least rinse off the salt water on the fiberglass hull as well as other parts of the boat anytime you remove it from water. Doing so will prevent the degenerative effect the salt water can have on your boat.

Scrub Off The Stains

If you see a stain starting to set in, scrub it off as soon as possible. The earlier you attend to a stain, the better chances you have at getting rid of it. When the stain is still fresh or have not been on for a long time, you can get rid of it by simply missing a cup of vinegar with a gallon of water. Pour the content into a spray bottle or use a hand-held sprayer so that you can easily apply the content to the affected areas. After about a minute, wipe off the mixture with a cloth. If the stains remain, spray the spot again and wait for a longer time before wiping it off.

Use a Cleaning Product

Some stains are very stubborn and will therefore require a chemical cleaning product to get rid of them. If the water and vinegar mixture did not work for you, there are some good products that you can make use of. 3M Marine Compound and Finishing Material which is both for cleaning and getting rid of stubborn water stains, scratches, swirls and blemishes from your fiberglass boat while waxing it at the same time.

So, you get that extra shine so that your paint and gelcoat remains attractive. MaryKate On and Off – Hull and Bottom Cleaner is another fantastic product. With a product like MaryKate On and Off – Hull and Bottom Cleaner follow the instructions when you using it because while it is amazing at removing tough stains, it contains chemicals so you will want to avoid direct contact with your skin or breathing them in so gloves and wearing a mask when applying.  If you are still hesitant on spending money on chemical cleaning products, you can make use of the cleaning product you use in cleaning your shower and bathtub. Just make sure you read the manufacturer’s instruction first before using the product. From experience, it is best to make use of these products when your hull is still wet.

Wax Hull

If you made use of other cleaning products like the water and vinegar mixture, or other cleaning products we recommend apart from 3M, there may be need for you to re-wax your fiberglass hull. Why this process is important is that when you clean or scrub off stains, there is a tendency that the protective wax coating will be affected. If you don’t want to witness damage to your fiberglass hull as a result of oxidation and stains, you should try to put back the lost wax coating of the hull before using it on water. Waxing will make cleaning future stains easier and faster as well.