Every boat that sits through a winter loses a little of its finish. The salt, the sun and the rain each take a small share, and by spring the gelcoat looks tired even when nothing is actually wrong with it.
Why the first wash matters
The first wash of the season is the one that decides how much work the rest of the year will be. Use a soft brush and a marine soap, never a household detergent, and rinse from the top down so the grime does not run back over a clean panel.
What to check before it goes back in
Three things are worth ten minutes each:
- the bilge pump, run dry for a second to hear it spin
- every through-hull fitting, opened and closed twice
- the battery terminals, cleaned and greased
Waxing
A coat of wax on clean gelcoat is the cheapest insurance a hull can have. Work in the shade and in small sections, because wax that dries in the sun will haze and need to be cut back.
If you would rather hand the whole job to us, our spring service covers all of the above in a single visit.
