Bill gets to grips with the big pre-season clean, looking at restoring the teak, cleaning the decks and much more.

With the weather improving and the Easter weekend very warm, my attention has turned to the final push of readiness for the season – the “spring clean”. If I’m to have any chance of getting ‘The Admiral’ (her indoors) out on the water, the boat will have to be ship shape and Bristol fashion.

With so many areas of the boat to consider when cleaning – bilge, hull, deck, teak, interior, soft furnishings, sail cover, fenders, fuel and the list goes on – I will again be turning to the proven Starbrite range of cleaners purely because it still appears to be the most comprehensive. That said, I must confess that I have been spending time looking into a range of newer products to the market, August Race, Semco, Iosso, Vistal, Wessex, Renovo, Owatrol etc…

My philosophy (especially with an older boat) is to do as much protection to all areas of the boat after cleaning. I have been disappointed in the past when having only used cleaners. The area instantly looks good, but it doesn’t last very long. In recent years I have been using more of the “combination” type products that do all three aspects of maintenance – cleans, shines and protects.

I tend to start with the parts of the boat where, despite it being the greatest above water area, I am likely to get the greatest instant gratification once completed – the hull and deck. With an aged gelcoat hull the fade, due primarily to the lack of TLC over the winter period, is quite remarkable. I suppose I should be using a cleaner, polish and wax and do it in a three-step process, but aching joints no longer allow such lengthy activities. I will again be opting for Premium Marine Polish. This I find to work exceptionally well on reviving the colour of the GRP as well as working just as effectively on painted and metal surfaces. When it comes to the deck, I always revert to my tried and tested Non-Skid Deck Cleaner. This is one of the few products in the cleaning/protecting armoury that I tend to use all season long. Very easy to use and probably one of the best products at cleaning the textured fibreglass deck, I always keep a bottle of it in the cockpit locker for a quick spruce up.

Once I have the outside of the boat gleaming and looking like new (well not really, but to me she will look stunning) I focus my attention on the potentially most offensive area of the boat – the bilge. It is mind blowing how clean water (salt or fresh) can enter the bilge and there some mysterious action occurs turning the water foul in colour and smell. I have spent countless hours over the years on my hands and knees with my head in the rancid bilges trying in vain to clean every nook and cranny. Only recently I was given what I consider to be golden advice – pour a good cup full of Bilge Cleaner into the bilge water and leave it. The gentle rocking motion of the boat on the mooring “sloshes” the water and cleans whilst doing so. The best part for me is that when it’s time to empty the bilge, I don’t feel guilty as the product is biodegradable. Win – win all round and The Admiral is happy I’m being eco-friendly.

Now we come to the fiddly job – cleaning, restoring and rejuvenating the teak hand rails and hatch supports. Within the portfolio of start of season projects, this must be the ultimate 1-2-3 step process – Cleaner then Brightener then Oil to preserve the ‘as new’ look. Imagine my delight when I found that Starbrite have now developed a Cleaner & Brightener in 1 Step and 1 bottle!

This new combination saved me significant time, and it was still simple after I had rinsed the wood down to finish off with the traditional Premium Golden Teak Oil. Even better as I had half a bottle of this left in the locker from last season.

Rather than me ramble on about how good this process is and how to do it, I suggest you visit the very informative Starbrite website – www.starbrite.com or scan the QR code below. When done correctly the wood stays in pristine condition for months. As and when mid-season top ups are required, I give a good wipe down of the teak with the Premium Teak Oil. I always find this to be the clincher with The Admiral – a job well done in this area of the boat is well rewarded with hours of happy cruising whilst admiring the woodwork. Sounds sad on my part, but very enjoyable.

With the exterior of the boat completed and the bilges no longer making spending time below decks a nightmare, my attention will be focused on the numerous cleaning tasks below decks. Watch out in my next article for how I tackle soft furnishings, interior vinyl trim, water treatment and the all-important treatment of the fuel tank.

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