How To Wash Your Boat Cover?
#1
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How To Wash Your Boat Cover?
My boat sat outside and I had the cover on it with a plastic tarp over the cover. I went out of town and came back to find the sun had toasted the tarp and it fell apart exposing the boat cover. I live on a big (for SoCal) one acre lot and most of the back yard is dirt so now the cover has dirt all over it.
I blew it off with a leaf blower and then broomed it but the dirt is very fine, like dust and the cover still has dirt coming off it when I shake it. I'd take it off to shake the whole thing but it is way too big (32' foot boat).
Whats the best way to clean a boat cover? Just wash it while it is on the boat and let it air dry? It's been brutally hot here all summer so it would probably dry in less than a half hour.
When I take the cover off I roll it up over itself to the front of the cockpit instead of just rolling it up. That way the dirty side stays against the dirty side. Then I fold the remainder of it (part over the cabin deck) in half lengthwise (again, upside to upside) and then roll it up. This way the bottom side that goes against the boat stays clean. It is a bit of a chore to do this by myself.
Is this how most of you do it or do you just roll it up?
I am building a dedicated boat garage and plan on using PVC pipe to build a frame that I can attach the cover to. The frame will match the shape of the rub-rail. It will have a pulley and rope system attached to the rafters of the garage. When I want to pull the cover off I will just undo the cover straps from the trailer and wrap them around the PVC frame. Then pull the ropes and the whole cover will raise along with the PVC frame. I'll post photos when it is done.
I blew it off with a leaf blower and then broomed it but the dirt is very fine, like dust and the cover still has dirt coming off it when I shake it. I'd take it off to shake the whole thing but it is way too big (32' foot boat).
Whats the best way to clean a boat cover? Just wash it while it is on the boat and let it air dry? It's been brutally hot here all summer so it would probably dry in less than a half hour.
When I take the cover off I roll it up over itself to the front of the cockpit instead of just rolling it up. That way the dirty side stays against the dirty side. Then I fold the remainder of it (part over the cabin deck) in half lengthwise (again, upside to upside) and then roll it up. This way the bottom side that goes against the boat stays clean. It is a bit of a chore to do this by myself.
Is this how most of you do it or do you just roll it up?
I am building a dedicated boat garage and plan on using PVC pipe to build a frame that I can attach the cover to. The frame will match the shape of the rub-rail. It will have a pulley and rope system attached to the rafters of the garage. When I want to pull the cover off I will just undo the cover straps from the trailer and wrap them around the PVC frame. Then pull the ropes and the whole cover will raise along with the PVC frame. I'll post photos when it is done.
#3
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I use a kiddie pool and some Iosso detergent made for boat covers, then I drape it over a fence to rinse and air dry. When completely dry it gets recoated with water repellant spray.
#4
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: monroe michigan
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I took my cover to the coin laundry packed it in a front load washer I think 60 # it did get it clean but left some surface dirt in the folds, after a few rains it looked good. Also used the dryer the cover fit better in it.
#6
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be carefull...I had on on the old nova had made new.after a couple seasons it was looking a little dingy so I took it to the coin carwash, cleaned it good and threw it over the fence to dry in the sun. It shrunk so bad it was worthless. 2 inches or so on a 14 foot long cover may not seem like much but it can be all the difference in the world.
#8
I just bought some 303 multi surface cleaner (first time buy) to use in the power washer this year. Power washer has the bottle to feed chemicals on the low pressure nozzle, spray on, scrub with soft car wash brush, rinse from a good distance to not tear cover. Then follow up with 303 fabric protector after it dries. I do all this while on the boat, then remove cover and wash boat. Normally I try to do at least twice a year, missed my spring application. However, will do this fall for winterization.
#9
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All I have ever done is hose it down with warm water - I haven't had issue with staining - our boat is on a covered lift and the cover is basically to keep the dust out.
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