Your boat could be a masterpiece, but one small thing can spoil its beauty — grimy fenders hanging over the rails left neglected. Considering that boat fenders accumulate all kinds of dirt, sediment, and mildew from years of use, these detrimental build-ups can transfer to your boat’s hull as well when the fenders scrape against the smooth exterior.
While boaters use several methods to keep their fenders clean, some of them end up causing more harm than good. In this article, we’ve shared some of the basic dos and don’ts of cleaning boat fenders so that you know how to keep them in the best shape possible. These include:
1- Do Use Safe Household Cleaning Solutions
While using common household solvents for fenders can’t eliminate the tougher stains, they can still be a great option to keep the sediment from building up.
2- Don’t Use Strong Cleaning Solvents
Moreover, no matter which products you use to clean your boat fenders, it’s essential to ensure that they don’t comprise harmful chemicals toxic to marine life.
3- Do Use a Stiff Brush
You can use a stiff brush to scrub away the stubborn build-ups without exerting too much pressure on the surface. Dipping the brush in safe cleaning solvents can help remove the toughest of stains in a matter of minutes.
4- Don’t Attempt Painting the Fenders
Even if your fenders are dirty beyond saving, you should never attempt to paint them to hide the undesired scuffs and stains. While it may seem like an easy quick, the paint inevitably chips away and begins to rub onto the boat’s hull while scraping the sides.
5- Do Use Fender Covers When Needed
Instead, it’s best to use external covers when the boat fenders are well beyond the point of cleaning. However, even then, it’s best to remember that while fender covers are an inexpensive way to help cover the stains, you must also make an effort to keep the covers clean to prolong their functionality.
6- Do Use a Pressure Washer
Furthermore, you can try pressure washing the fenders from a safe distance to blast away the grime and mildew accumulating on the surface.
7- Do Use Marine-Grade Erasers and Cleaning Products
Using marine-grade erasers is an excellent environment-friendly option for cleaning boat fenders since they don’t contain any harsh corrosive chemicals. Moreover, they can help you clean the stains that the basic household cleaners are usually unable to despite several tries.
Lastly, even with the best maintenance tips and preventive measures, you should know when to replace boat fenders instead of cleaning them. We suggest checking them out throughout the year to ensure they’re working properly and not putting your boat at any unnecessary risk because of excessive wear or inadequate air pressure. Questions about EZ Dock? Surf through our website check out our options, or contact us at (800) 654-8168 for more information!
