Boat Detailing: Doing It Yourself

Detailing your boat yourself can be rewarding activity. You put on your sunscreen, pack a cooler of cold drinks, dial in your favorite tunes, and spend the day in one of your favorite locations in the world: On your boat. True, you’re not out fishing, sailing, skiing, or just loafing around — but there are other rewards. Not only will you save money, but you’ll learn a great deal about your boat in the process.

First, you’ll want to gather all the needed detailing supplies. Nothing slows down the boat detailing process like running to the store every hour to pick up more cleaning supplies. Pick a day when you can devote the entire day to the detailing job; detailing is done best when it’s not rushed or hurried. If your yacht is large, detailing it may require more than one day. If you have a choice of where to locate your boat during the detailing, a shady spot can make for a more pleasant environment. Having a nice view and being in a location with a light breeze and free of engine fumes from cars or other boats will also help.

Here are the primary parts of your boat that you’ll want to be sure you detail properly:

See the Boat Detailing Checklist to be sure you cover all the important areas of your boat.