Hide Your Boat’s Actual Age

Unfortunately, Dr. Oz doesn’t have the secret formula to keep your boat looking youthful. But if you want to shave years off your boat’s appearance and keep it from aging prematurely, here is a list of things you can do to keep those liver spots at bay. 

1. Bald’N’Beauty
   If your boat was a person, its hair would be the vinyl, clear plastic, and canvas surfaces. Over time, sun and water damage will wear on these surfaces and give your boat that aged appearance we are trying to avoid. Replacing your canvas and cushion surfaces will breathe new life into your boat and make it look cared for:
2. Wax On, Wax Off
   Your boat’s skin, or, gel coating, will slowly wear off with time and exposure to the elements. A double coating of wax every spring is as important as applying sunscreen on a sunny day. Doing this routinely offers a seasonal protection from contaminants. And if you truly care about your boat’s upkeep, washing it down after every outing with boat soap containing carnauba wax will maintain a lustrous shine. If your gel coating already looks chalky and old, anti-oxidation agents like Meguiar’s #49 heavy-duty oxidation remover is an affordable fixer upper. Yellow water stains can be removed with Davis FSR stain remover and a little elbow grease. But if all this fails to rejuvenate your gel coating, contact the manufacturer to get the brand of gel coating applied to your boat model and don’t be afraid to ask for some helpful pointers. Often times a wet sanding can restore that new-boat shine, but be careful, certain brands don’t react well to sandpaper.
3. RUBRAIL REPLACEMENT
   If you’re trying to get rid of those unwanted scuff marks, a rubrail replacement is simpler than you might think. Applied heat can loosen the rubber to the point where you can pop it off. Replacement parts should snap right into place.
4. DECK DETAILING
   As time takes its toll on your boat, your deck shows its true age with the most visible wear. Coating the deck with a liner, such as Rhino Hide’s Flexible Tuff Hide II, is always a safe and cost-effective bet. Another upside…This coating utilizes rubberized beads that offer a non-slip surface.
5. BLEACH BURNS
   The sun isn’t the only culprit frying the skin of your boat. Bleach-based cleaners have a tendency to age your boat’s gel coating. If you do use cleaners with bleach, be sure to thoroughly rinse the surfaces you cleaned.
6. TAKE IT EASY
   Your boat is your baby, so treat it like one. You don’t bathe an infant with an SOS pad and acid, you use baby oil and soft fabrics. So when you clean your boat, stay away from stiff-bristled brushes. Rags, sponges and soft-bristled brushes are the way to go, especially when working on vinyl decals, gel coatings, and other glossy surfaces.