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Every boater has some magical cleaning concoction they swear by. As you peel back the cover and consider your spring cleaning regimen, here are the products our editors return to year after year.
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Murphy Oil Soap
If you have any wood furniture in your cabin, it could be holding onto “boat smell” within its microscopic pores. To wipe away the grime and give your saloon table a nice glow without damaging the finish, Murphy’s is a top-notch choice. With 98% natural ingredients, just spray it on and wipe it down. Bonus: It leaves behind a refreshing citrus scent. $5.19/16 fl. oz. | murphyoilsoap.com
Woody Wax
As the name suggests, Woody Wax is a wax primarily intended for decks and nonskid — but Longman likes to use it as a metal polish. “It gives a nice shine and makes future cleaning much easier,” he reports. It’s a “wipe on, wipe off” product that claims to tackle oxidation, corrosion, and water spots on aluminum, stainless steel, and chrome. $30.26/8 oz. | woody-wax.com
Smoove Purplelicious Ultimate Boat Soap
“It does a great job and has the added benefit of not stripping existing wax,” reports Mike Longman, contributing editor. Everyone has their own preferred deck soap, but the standout feature of Smoove Purplelicious — besides being biodegradable and phosphate-free — is the infused wax within the soap that helps keep your existing wax shining. $24.99/qt. | smoovewax.com
Davis FSR
“Scrub on rust stains in the gelcoat for hours and nothing will happen. Brush this stuff on, wait a few minutes, and stains be gone! True, this is an acid-based product and must be used with care. But when all is said and done, it works wonders and, when used properly, won’t hurt a thing. I love it,” beams contributing editor Lenny Rudow. As a gel, FSR works on both horizontal and vertical surfaces — perfect for eradicating that brown bow-wave mustache. $19.99/16 fl. oz. | davisinstruments.com
Salty Hull Boaters’ Foam Gun
“I started using a foam gun to get the suds on all parts of the hull quickly and easily. The foam sprayer attaches to the hose nozzle with a quick-release mechanism,” says Mike Vatalaro, contributor and former executive editor. In addition to saving you time, a foam gun may also save on soap, spreading it more efficiently than you could with a deck brush alone. $59.99 | saltyhull.com
303 Clear Vinyl Protective Cleaner
For vinyl and plastics, contributing editor Frank Lanier turns to 303: “Easy to use and provides great UV protection,” he says. The manufacturer claims that the spray repels dirt, doesn’t leave streaks, and prevents fading, cracking, and yellowing on materials like Eisenglass and Strataglass. $21.79/32 fl. oz. | westmarine.com
Pettit EZ Speed Strip Max Strength Marine Coating Remover
This volatile goop ought to be a last resort because it will strip anything it touches. Although advertised as a paint and epoxy remover, I use it to dissolve barnacle butts off underwater metals. Use extreme caution and follow all manufacturer instructions – it will melt through plastic and disintegrate brushes. But used sparingly, it will save you loads of time scraping off that pesky calcified residue left behind on your propeller. $77.99/1 gal. | pettitpaint.com
