The clocks have changed, the days seem longer, the sun is shining (well, for a lot of us anyway!) and a few boats are beginning to leave their winter moorings in the coming weeks. It is a great time to use boat cleaners and a boat polish to bring back the shine and carry out your boat engine service work before setting sail!
Let's start the big Spring clean! With your boat having been winterised for a while its time to get the boat wash, boat polish, and boat canopy cleaner out to brighten up the outside of your boat ready for the season ahead.
An important project for boats out of the water is the routine re-antifouling. Antifouling helps protect the bottom of your boat from the build-up of unwanted matter, algae, and mussels that can be obtained from a season afloat. Launching with fresh boat antifoul paint and waterline paint gives the hull a fresh layer of self-eroding protection.
Now that the boat has survived the winter months it's time to recommission the engine so that you can enjoy the Spring and Summer sun. Cleaning, renewing or replacing serviceable engine parts is a good way to start. Boat engine spark plugs, fan belts, oil filters, contact sets and oil are all available for a comprehensive recommission.
It is important to make sure that your boats engine water pump is running correctly and smoothly so that the water can cool the engine down effectively. Replacing the boat engine water pump impeller regularly and keeping a spare on board can go some way to keeping you moving on the water. Replacing seals, gaskets, o-rings and grease we all help keep the water pump running smoothly.
Over the winter most of us empty the fresh drinking water tanks to prevent the water from freezing and causing problems throughout the pipes. When recommissioning it is a good idea to clean out the tank with water tank cleaner and add or replace the drinking water purification so that the water is fresh and drinkable.
Boat canopy hood repair and maintenance is an essential job at this time of the year. The canopy bars will have had some use by now so check that everything is in order for the winter; the canopy still has to work during the autumn months too! Everything from boat canopy clips, canopy pegs, hood slide kits and the latest split jaw canopy clamps are available to help repai or improve boat hood configurations.
With so many boats likely to be on the waterways this season make sure you are prepared and looking smart with a set of new boat fenders.
Ensure you have safe, clean mooring ropes during the year so they work safely. Pre-spliced mooring ropes are very popular as they can be used straight out of the bag; but for long mooring ropes it is a good idea to buy boat rope by the metre.
Painting a boats deck is a very fulfilling job to achieve at the beginning of the season. Once completed, the results of a finished deck paint are very pleasing and you can really see what you have achieved. Degrease the area, masking tape the borders and apply Deck Paint with anti-slip granules; then simply admire!
Anti-slip floor covering can be used on boat decks and in cockpit areas to improve safety onboard and can leave an attractive finish. Select from smaller, self-adhesive, grip pads to larger sheets that can be cut to fit different layouts, or, cleaners and colour restorers can help with repairs to existing anti-slip flooring.
Sitting comfortably on board your boat is of the upmost importance! If the captain is not happy the ship is not a happy environment. Choose from a selection of boat captain seats, boat navigator seats, boat seat pedestal frames and economic boat helm seat to exquisitely crafted hand made British boat helm seats.
A boat interior clean and freshen up could be exactly what is in order. With a mild, and actually quite warm winter the boats have become a little damp inside so may need some sprucing up! Boat vinyl seat shampoo and interior shampoo along with marine mildew stain remover can help brighten your boat ready for the spring.
When cleaning a boat it is important to use all the correct equipment and tools. From clean cotton cloths to water fed cleaning brushes, classic boat deck mops to wet and dry sand paper and boat brush kits for all your boat cleaning requirements.
