How Often Should The Hull of Your Boat be Cleaned?
If you are a boat owner, then you must pay special attention to the cleaning of your boat this way you will be able to avoid any kind of expensive and lengthy repairs. Roughly, you should proceed with the cleaning of the boat’s hull at least once a month. Here you will learn how often you should clean the hull of your boat.
It is no secret that hull cleaning is a bit of a detailed and lengthy process so it requires your regular care. Remember that the frequency of cleaning the boat hull is often variable. This is because it greatly depends on the environment in which you live. However, hull cleaning becomes so important when it comes to the prevention of fouling.
How fouling increases the demand for hull cleaning?
Fouling is the process of accumulation of plants and marine growth on the hull. So the rate at which fouling occurs on the hull of the boat greatly depends on the material and the environment. For example, the seasonal circumstances in Miami Florida give rise to significant fouling issues.
Ideally, how often should I clean the hull of the boat?
Generally and ideally, you should try your best to prevent fouling because when the breeding cycle starts, the chances of accumulating the marine animal and plant species on your boat will significantly increase.
As discussed, the frequency of cleaning the hull of the boat also depends on the environmental conditions. If your boat is in warmer water such as in the Southeast region, there are greater chances of fouling. In such conditions, it is better to clean your boat’s hull once a week or once every two weeks.
On the other hand, if you are in an area where the temperature is considerably low, you will observe very little chance of fouling. So cleaning the hull of the boat once a month will be totally fine.
Why is monthly cleaning of the boat’s hull necessary?
If you are also thinking:
“It looks normal when I see a barnacle beard on my boat”, then you are neglecting a very important aspect of cleanliness that will greatly reduce the life of your boat.
Here are some of the primary reasons to clean your hull at least monthly.
Blister Accumulation
Most of the boat hulls are made up of fiberglass. When the water seeps inside the fiberglass, it gives rise to a blister-like appearance on the material which is clear evidence that your boat is going to face significant damage. Keep in mind that repairing fiberglass costs more money than you may expect.
Weakening Of The Boat’s Bottom
The accumulation of dirt and marine life on the edge of the boat results in the corrosion of the prop, shaft, or any other metal that is used at the bottom of the boat. If you do not pay special attention to the cleanliness of your boat, the diver will tell you shocking news about the corrosion of the bottom region.
Final Advice
In the end, it is important to mention that fouling not only causes repair problems but also results in a reduction of the boats speed and increases cost in fuel. If you are living in a warmer region you should consider cleaning your boat once every two weeks. Otherwise, it is extremely important to clean your boat’s hull on a monthly schedule.