cause your boat’s surface to show a variety of
changes, including:
• Chalking (fine, powdery whiteness on the
surface)
• Fading (gradual loss of color)
• Yellowing
• Loss of gloss
Darker colors tend to exhibit these changes
more rapidly than light colors because they
absorb more of the sun’s rays (ultraviolet and
infrared).
NOTE: Before using a particular cleaning solu-
tion or method for cleaning, it is a good idea
to test the material to be cleaned in a hidden
or inconspicuous area for possible adverse
reactions.
The deck and hull can be easily cleaned with
Meguiar's Marine Boat Gel Wash and water
(with the exception of oil or heavy grime). Use a
clean cloth or sponge. Dirt, sand, or grit in a
dirty rag could scratch the gelcoat surface. DO
NOT USE abrasives to clean your boat.
Boat surfaces, even textured walkways and
steps, can be very slippery when covered with
soap suds. Use caution to protect yourself and
others from slips and falls. Wear deck shoes or
boat shoes whenever you are in your boat.
After you have thoroughly cleaned your boat,
you are ready for a wax application to bring back
the original sheen of your hull. If the deck or
hull has oxidized (appearing as a light white
milky film), you may want to use Meguiar’s
Heavy Duty Oxidation Remover or Mirror Glaze
Color Restorer before waxing. It is a good idea
to wax your boat at least twice a year. In south-
ern climates, waxing more frequently may be
necessary to protect the boat from the sun’s
rays.
NOTE: Do not use a spray wax. Wax accidentally
sprayed on nonskid surfaces will make them
very slippery.
If nonskid or textured surfaces on decks, walk-
ways, and steps become stained, clean them
with a bristle brush and a bathroom fiberglass
cleaner.
Be careful! Scrubbing smooth gelcoat
surfaces with a bristle brush may scratch the
gelcoat.
Keeping both the interior and exterior of your
boat in good condition and inspecting your boat
regularly to keep minor problems from becoming
major ones are good rules of thumb for proper
boat care. REMEMBER, A BOAT KEPT IN NEARLY
NEW CONDITION, REGARDLESS OF AGE,
RETAINS A HIGH RESALE VALUE.
FIBERGLASS REPAIR
Although your deck and hull have been designed
to withstand normal use, it is inevitable that
surfaces will become scratched or chipped over
a period of time. Superficial scratches can usu-
ally be rubbed out with Meguiar's Heavy Duty
Oxidation Remover.
“Hairline cracks” or “spider webbing” may
develop in the gelcoat surface of a hull or deck.
This can be caused by weathering, impact or
other factors. Small blisters or gouges may also
occur through normal wear. These do not affect
the strength of the hull or deck and can easily
be repaired by you or your dealer.
The affected area should be chipped or sanded
away and a thin layer of color-matched gelcoat
applied. This layer is then sanded smooth and
buffed back to its original luster. Your dealer
can obtain color-matched gelcoat and provide
further instructions from the manufacturer.
Fiberglass hulls are tough, but like hulls of any
other materials, they can be damaged. A fiber-
glass hull has virtually no internal stresses.
Thus, when a part is broken or punctured, the
rest of the hull retains its shape. A severe blow
will either be absorbed or result in a definite,
localized break. In the case of a break of this
nature, the boat should be returned to your
dealer for repair.
You will need the following items for minor
repairs:
• Gelcoat
• DDM (clear liquid catalyst)
• Putty knife or equivalent
• Razor blade
• Fine sandpaper (400 to 600 grade)
• Wax paper (piece big enough to cover repair)
12-4
Wire brushes, scouring pads or other
abrasive type materials/solutions
should never be used on the deck or
hull of your boat. They create small
scratch marks that will collect marine
growth and other foreign materials.
