Spring Cleaning & What Works For You

[j&lgray]

It is only fitting that on the opening day of boating season, at least in the Pacific Northwest, that we talk about what we do to clean up our Ranger Tugs and what works for you.

On the Laurie Ann, we use Star Brite brand rubbing compound and boat wax on the hull, the cabin and the visors to remove the oxidation and shine up the gelcoat. I found that the stainless rails clean up very nicely by using the same cloth used to buff the wax. That little bit of wax in the cloth works very nicely to shine up the stainless rails.

The holding tank is filled with fresh water, by using the deck fitting, and a solution of Dawn soap and RV holding tank deodorant is added, let is sit for a day, jostle it around by trailering or boating and pump it out.

The lines are soaked in a 5 gallon bucket of fresh water with a little Dawn, agitated with a toilet bowl plunger, and a whole bunch of salt and grit comes out, rinse and air dry.

Check those batteries for water level and add distilled water.

Pop those little screens out of the cockpit drains with a long nail and pry them up. Put a hose in the drain and flush out those drain lines of the amazing amount of stuff that has collected in them.

Change the engine oil and the fuel filters.

What do you do?

 

[RProffer]

I like my boats to be bright and shiny, and I do not want to spend a lot of time keeping it that way. I would rather be fishing than polishing brass. I learned in the Navy the easiest way to keep all my metal shiny is to first polish it, then paint it with clear lacquer paint. The clear lacquer keeps it nice and shiny for almost forever. You can get the clear lacquer at WalMart in a spray can.

 

[Stella Maris]

My idea of good cleaning supplies is, whatever John is using on the Laurie Ann while I sit in the cockpit of Karma with a glass of wine in my hand assisting him by pointing out all of the areas he missed. I must say, he did a pretty nice job on the Laurie Ann today. Only missed two spots! Those cleaning supplies of his worked pretty good!

 

[Nellie Too]

We used Mirage by Prism on our hull and it has worked extremely well. The hull is very smooth and shiny. The suggestion to use Mirage came from a fellow tugger and we love it. It is very easy to apply, and we are told, holds up very well. Apply it with a cloth and buff it with a paper towel. People who have looked at our hull have purchased it.
Bob

 

[tuggertoy]

David - LOL!

I second the Prism polish and Mirage polish. I used it for the first time yesterday and after high humidity and heavy rain - the port lights were still shiny this morning!!

Moria

 

[doke01]

Me too on Mirage and Prism. Used it for the first time this year and it was excellent. Some neighbors dropped by to take a look before we launched it for the season and they thought the boat was brand new.

We paint the bottom, fix any nicks and scratches in the gelcoat, polish/wax, touch up the varnish, clean the head, hook up the plumbing and run three tanks of water through it, wash the anchor line and bow/stern lines, power wash the anchor, install new zincs, change the oil, oil filter and fuel filter, clean the raw water, A/C, and toilet supply filters, check the belt, top off the batteries and clean the terminals, check the wiring, top off the anti-freeze, check the bilge pump, clean out the cockpit drains, make sure all plugs are in place, attach a hose and fire her up and let her warm up to operating temp. Check all the lights, power wash the screens, and don't forget to put the drain plug in before you launch😉

Come to think of it...I think David's idea is better.