HOW do I keep this boat clean?

[MaryRoseErie]

I scrub and I scrub. I scrub the deck. I bleach the deck! I scrub the cabin floor. I bleach the cabin floor!

But it just gets dirty again. Footsteps create more dirt, and then that dirt sticks. Nothing scrubs off easily! I think it's due to the no-slip surface.

The boat is going in the water May 2. Does this get easier then, since I won't be tracking mud in? Or will I have to resign myself to it NEVER being clean? It there an easier way to clean it, perhaps hosing it down?

[deniseO30]

wax will help seal out some of the crud. Footwear with white soles helps. Are you getting an airborne mold that makes the decks turn gray?

[dhays]

I just spent the afternoon, among other things, washing the deck of the boat and vacuuming the cabin. My marina is tucked into the back of a harbor surrounded by forested areas. Lots of blown pollen, plus road dust, bird droppings, along with constant wet with little sun causes a green slime to develop all over the boat. I'm afraid it is a never ending struggle for me. Maybe your area will be different.

[MacGyverRI]

Keeping it clean is always a problem but those "Mr Clean Magic Erasers" work very well for cleaning.

Try some "Tire shine" as a protector instead of Wax.

[MARC2012]

My marina has limestone with concrete wash with the am dew foot prints on deck.marc

[labatt]

You can be a jerk and not allow "land shoes" on board. It's amazing how much dirt is carried on shoes that look clean. We have a friend who doesn't allow land shoes on his boat and I'm amazed at how clean he is able to keep it. We allow shoes and get a constant amount of grime and grit.

[centaursailor]

Keep a heavy washable mat at the top and bottom of the boarding ladder or at the step on if afloat.
All the boats I have sailed on had rules about suitable foot ware and no one minded changing to boat shoes on arrival.
For cleaning I hose down the deck and scrub with washing up liquid, cilit bang is good for stubborn grunge, leave it overnight, and I use cif on the white finishes.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat! Mary Rose Eire
Safe clean sailing

[fordo]

It will get better when you are in the water, especially if you are out on a mooring, away from the mud, dirt, pollen, etc. of the land. Clean shoe rules are easier to obey. On the other hand, out on the water, you will have the birds...

[dnf777]

I'm glad to see I've found a pursuit where everyone is as OCD about cleanliness as I am! Why are we so finnicky about our boats? Are all of your bedrooms and kitchens as clean as your boats? (mine aren't. My wife is trying to figure out how to transfer that quirk from the boat to the house!) Ain't workin'.

[CLucas]

Originally Posted by MaryRoseErie

I scrub and I scrub. I scrub the deck. I bleach the deck! I scrub the cabin floor. I bleach the cabin floor!

But it just gets dirty again. Footsteps create more dirt, and then that dirt sticks. Nothing scrubs off easily! I think it's due to the no-slip surface.

The boat is going in the water May 2. Does this get easier then, since I won't be tracking mud in? Or will I have to resign myself to it NEVER being clean? It there an easier way to clean it, perhaps hosing it down?

Never use regular wax on non-skid -- it becomes very slippery when wet and pollen will only make it worse. I've had great experience with a product called Woody Wax. Woody Wax is made specifically for non-skid -- it is very slick when applying until it is rinsed (part of the application process). Applied properly, "dirt, soot, bird droppings, and even fish blood will rinse right off."

For non-non-skid areas (where you won't be walking), proper detailing and wax will help to level and fill the microscopic imperfections in the surface caused by, among other things, uv damage. You need to use a system that starts with a rubbing compound and finishes with a polish and wax. Look here for Mainesail's excellent guide: http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-m...olish-wax.html. If you're waxing, then scrubbing with harsh chemicals, you may be removing the wax you previously applied.

If you want an easier process, you can look at PoliGlow for an older boat, but it doesn't come anywhere near the results of a true compound/polish/wax system (Mainesail's pix are truly inspiring, and are attainable with hard work).