Bass Boat Care Essentials

[Toeshots]

Have a new boat incoming and need to stock up on general maintenance/care items. 
 

What are your must-haves in keeping your boat looking and running great?

 

Thanks in advance. 

[jbsoonerfan]

I'm also new to owning a boat, but I can tell you what I do. I try to spray and wipe mine down from above the rub rail with BTS after every couple trips. I do everything from the hull, seats, instrument panel, steering, everything with it. I use 409 carpet cleaner and a deck brush to clean the carpet about every other trip (depending on how it looks), this doesn't really take as long as one would think. I try to take it to the car wash and give it a good cleaning when I see a little bit of build up of haze on the gel coat below the rub rail, seems like this depends more on conditions of the roads more than the lake. If there is water on the roads my tires will throw the road gunk all over my boat. This is what I do and I am sure I am doing something wrong, but my boat is a bit older and I assume my cleaning regimen would be different if I owned a brand new one.

[OnthePotomac]

Hull and motor maintenance after fishing depends on the water you fish.  After a day on the Potomac I do not leave the dock yard without wiping down my hull and engine with Lucas Slick Mist.  It is a must.  For regular maintenance buy a quality grease gun and keep the engine properly lubed.  Buy the right plugs for your engine and replace them on a regular basis.  In my case it is an annual thing.  Finally, use the proper lower unit oil for your lower unit.  I change mine in November each year into a glass jar so I can look for water in the oil (and none ever so far)  I clean the carpet once a year, but then I am paranoid about slopping anything on it during the year.  If my wonderful school teacher daughter gets scent on the carpet I clean it immediately.  Keep your vinyl protected with a quality vinyl protector.  The baking sun will eat your vinyl.  Keep your bilge clean. Safe boating to you.  Taking care of your boat can be very rewarding.  I was launching my G3 one day at the state park last year  and a fellow was watching me on the dock.  As I walked by him after I tied up he commented "new boat huh" and when I told him it is a 1991 he dropped his teeth. 

[Toeshots]

3 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I'm also new to owning a boat, but I can tell you what I do. I try to spray and wipe mine down from above the rub rail with BTS after every couple trips. I do everything from the hull, seats, instrument panel, steering, everything with it. I use 409 carpet cleaner and a deck brush to clean the carpet about every other trip (depending on how it looks), this doesn't really take as long as one would think. I try to take it to the car wash and give it a good cleaning when I see a little bit of build up of haze on the gel coat below the rub rail, seems like this depends more on conditions of the roads more than the lake. If there is water on the roads my tires will throw the road gunk all over my boat. This is what I do and I am sure I am doing something wrong, but my boat is a bit older and I assume my cleaning regimen would be different if I owned a brand new one.

Thanks for your input. 
 

Do you do a quick wipedown right after pulling the boat out? If so, what do you use? My boat will be black so I feel like I’ll have to do this as soon as I possibly can after taking the boat out of the water. 
 

Like you said, the boat will likely get dirty again on the ride home but the sooner I get water spots off, the better. Once I got home I would fully clean and polish. 

2 hours ago, OnthePotomac said:

Hull and motor maintenance after fishing depends on the water you fish.  After a day on the Potomac I do not leave the dock yard without wiping down my hull and engine with Lucas Slick Mist.  It is a must.  For regular maintenance buy a quality grease gun and keep the engine properly lubed.  Buy the right plugs for your engine and replace them on a regular basis.  In my case it is an annual thing.  Finally, use the proper lower unit oil for your lower unit.  I change mine in November each year into a glass jar so I can look for water in the oil (and none ever so far)  I clean the carpet once a year, but then I am paranoid about slopping anything on it during the year.  If my wonderful school teacher daughter gets scent on the carpet I clean it immediately.  Keep your vinyl protected with a quality vinyl protector.  The baking sun will eat your vinyl.  Keep your bilge clean. Safe boating to you.  Taking care of your boat can be very rewarding.  I was launching my G3 one day at the state park last year  and a fellow was watching me on the dock.  As I walked by him after I tied up he commented "new boat huh" and when I told him it is a 1991 he dropped his teeth. 

Great info. Thanks. 
 

Do you use any fuel additives?

[jbsoonerfan]

Being black, I would do it right after you pull out. Just a quick wipe down for the trip home. I usually use BTS, but I picked up some Meguires Quick Wax to try out.

[OnthePotomac]

22 hours ago, Toeshots said:

Thanks for your input. 
 

Do you do a quick wipedown right after pulling the boat out? If so, what do you use? My boat will be black so I feel like I’ll have to do this as soon as I possibly can after taking the boat out of the water. 
 

Like you said, the boat will likely get dirty again on the ride home but the sooner I get water spots off, the better. Once I got home I would fully clean and polish. 

Great info. Thanks. 
 

Do you use any fuel additives?

I do not and use E10.  I keep the tank to the brim when not in the water and therefore  no condensation.  Just brought the boat to the house from state park winter storage since last October 14, put on the muffs with water, turn the key and bam, no problem.  This a is 1991 60 Yamaha with 350 hours.  I used Bass Boat Saver for many years and now use Marine Lucas Slick Mist on my painted tin hull.  A-Jay on here also has a black hull and uses Slick Mist.

[HenryPF]

18 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Being black, I would do it right after you pull out. Just a quick wipe down for the trip home. I usually use BTS, but I picked up some Meguires Quick Wax to try out.

 

You can also use wax as you dry - works great, do not put on a heavy application a little goes a long ways.

 

Wax As-U-Dry™

[gim]

Boat Bling makes some fantastic spray and wipe products. The hot sauce, vinyl sauce, and toon sauce are all very effective with microfiber towels and eliminate the need for water/soap all the time. I don’t have carpet in my boat for the specific reason that it gets old trying to clean and maintain it.

[Jig Man]

If you put on 3 coats of BTS you won’t need anything besides a wet cloth and a dry towel for a couple of months.