Maintenance Tips for Fiberglass Boats

If you keep your fiberglass boat in good shape, you’ll be able to enjoy it for many years to come. The good thing is that you don’t need to do a whole lot of work to maintain your boat—you may need to polish it every now and then, or repair some cracks here and there, but it shouldn’t take anything extremely labor intensive to keep it looking good.

Here are some tips and information about boat repair in Walnut, CA to keep your fiberglass boat in great condition:

• Keep up with a maintenance schedule: You must be consistent with the steps you take to maintain your boat. Have a calendar that plots out when you’ll paint your boat, when you’ll clean it and when you’ll perform certain maintenance tasks.
• Wash your boat: This is one of the simplest and best things you can do to maintain your boat. Try to keep it clean from any buildup of saltwater, stains, dirt and other debris. Wash down the boat periodically, and you’ll also uncover other maintenance needs before they become severe. Do not use any heavy abrasives—a combination of warm water and dish soap should be more than sufficient.
• Fix cracks as soon as you notice them: The longer you let a small crack go without being repaired, the more likely it is to turn into a much larger crack. You can purchase fiberglass repair kits at many hardware stores. The epoxy in the kit will spread out onto the boat’s surface and harden, creating a nice, smooth finish. You will barely be able to tell there was a crack there when you’re done!
• Use a high-quality polish: After you wash your boat, protect its exterior with a high-quality wax. The wax helps the paint maintain a nice shine and a hard, protective coating, preventing the paint from fading or discoloring. Make sure you are careful if you’re using a powered buffer—you don’t want to dig into the hull.
• Replace the pump: You should replace the pump every year as part of your regular boat maintenance, or every other year if you do not frequently use the boat. This is a simple process you can complete with hand tools, and it helps you prevent one of the more common problems with fiberglass boats—pump failure.
• Wear safety equipment: Whenever you’re maintaining or cleaning your boat, make sure you’re using personal safety equipment such as goggles, gloves, respirators and other protective apparel. This will help you avoid breathing in the particles or exposing yourself to harsh chemicals in the cleaning supplies.

These are just a few tips to help you get through your regular boat cleanings and maintenance. Follow these guidelines and you’ll have an easier time keeping your boat in attractive, high-quality condition for many years to come.

For more information about boat repair in Walnut, CA, we encourage you to contact the team of technicians at Pete’s Auto Body today with your questions.

Categorised in: Boat Repair

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