Month: November 2020

Your boat is a major investment, so you need to protect it with cleaning, maintenance, and overall care. While boat owners are usually familiar with cleaning and maintaining a boat, they may be less likely to understand how to clean boat upholstery properly. Simply wiping down the upholstery is not enough, as you need a complete strategy to ensure your elegant upholstery lasts for years.

If you’d like to purchase a new craft, design one to fit your exact needs with our Build Your Scout tool. You can add features for fishing, sporting, entertainment, and more to best enjoy your boating experience!

Remove Upholstery If Possible

Many boats available on the market allow you to completely remove the seat cushions, which gives you easier access to the nooks and crannies of the upholstery. It also makes overall cleaning much easier and more thorough. Removing your upholstery, if possible, should be your first step in the cleaning process.

Gently Clean and Dry

To begin cleaning, thoroughly but gently scrub the boat’s upholstery with freshwater and mild soap. Rinse thoroughly to ensure all soap has been removed, then dry the upholstery with a clean towel. Be diligent to remove all moisture, especially around the seams where water likes to hide. Make sure it’s completely dry so mold and mildew can’t grow during storage.

Deep Clean and Treatment

With the upholstery washed down and rinsed, you can start to focus on deep cleaning. This will help preserve the material and make it look brand new for decades. There are a variety of materials that can be used to preserve the upholstery, and choices will often depend on the specific material covering your seats. Whichever product you purchase, follow all directions and apply treatments with care. You may also want to check the boat manufacturer’s recommendations for product selection.

Cover When Not In Use

One of the most important things you can do for your boat’s upholstery is to cover it when not in use. A boat cover, which wraps the entire interior of your vessel, will reduce sun exposure, dust, and pests. A cover will also help keep your boat dry and ensure that when boating season starts again, you’ll have excellent upholstery waiting for you to enjoy.

Expert Tip: Avoid Harsh Chemicals

Finally, we’d like to remind you to avoid using harsh cleaning chemicals, as they can damage and stain your elegant upholstery. Only use marine-specific upholstery cleaners and avoid acetone, bleach, glass cleaners, or anything containing ammonia or paint thinners. These chemicals can remove tough household stains, but they can also create havoc on your boat’s upholstery.

Purchase a Luxury Craft from Scout Boats

You deserve an amazing boat that delivers comfort, reliability, and outstanding performance. With precision-designed hulls and high-quality upholstery, Scout Boats has everything you need for a wonderful boating experience. Plus, you can design the exact craft of your dreams with our Build Your Scout tool. Your new vessel awaits!

Cleaning a boat after a long day on the water is not a favorite chore for most. But if you want to keep your vessel in top shape for years to come, cleaning is essential. Fortunately, if you use these tips, this task will be fast and easy. Read on to learn how to clean a boat after it’s been in saltwater.

If you’d like to purchase a new craft, design one to fit your exact needs with our Build Your Scout tool. You can add features for fishing, sporting, entertainment, and more to best enjoy your boating experience!

Wax Your Boat

It’s important to wax your boat regularly to ensure salt and grime can’t stick to the hull. Applying a good marine wax at least twice a year will help you maintain a high-quality craft. This can also help reduce the time you need to scrub and wash your boat after it’s been exposed to saltwater.

Rinse Thoroughly

Before you start washing the boat, rinse it thoroughly with a hose or your wash-down system (many boats, including some Scouts, can be equipped with an onboard wash-down system). This will remove salt before it crystallizes and causes scratches on the hull. If you’re loading the boat onto a trailer, hose down the trailer frame as well. It’s especially important to wash it down when grime is still wet, as it’s far easier to remove.

Use the Right Brush

Using the right type of brush is essential. If you use the wrong type, you could damage the hull. Make sure the bristles are not too stiff, as they may scratch your hull and leave an ugly mark. A medium-soft brush works well for cleaning the boat, and you can do a final cleaning with something softer, such as a microfiber rag or a wash mitt.

Select a Soap That Doesn’t Harm the Wax

You can find a wide variety of boat soaps ranging from expensive options to generic brands. No matter what price range you choose, always check the label to make sure the soap will not remove wax from the hull.

How to Wash Your Boat

After you’ve rinsed your boat, take the following steps to further clean it:

• Gently wash the vessel with soapy water using a wash mitt or soft rag. Start at the top, allowing soap to flow down the hull.
• Rinse the soap with fresh water, and be sure to spray down the fish boxes and live wells.
• Let the boat dry or wipe it clean with a squeegee blade. A squeegee blade will remove excess water and left-behind debris, creating the best results for your vessel.
• Leave hatches open so they can dry thoroughly.
• Use polishes and vinyl coatings to protect the metal and vinyl components.

With your boat sparkling clean, it will look great the next time you head out for a saltwater adventure.

Purchase a High-Quality Craft from Scout Boats

Now that you know how to clean a boat after it’s been in saltwater, if you’re ready to purchase a new vessel, browse the lineup from Scout Boats. From the hull to the cabin, our boats are designed with the highest standards. Plus, you can customize your craft with additional features using our Build Your Scout tool. Your dream boat awaits!

Choosing the right type of motor for your boat is essential. Use this simple boat motor guide to learn everything you need to know for making the right selection!

If you’d like to purchase a new craft, design one to fit your exact needs with our Build Your Scout tool. You can add features for fishing, sporting, entertainment, and more to best enjoy your boating experience!

Types of Engines

There are many different types of engines available to boat owners, including the following:

• Outboard motors. These are a very common type of engine that is mounted to the rear transom of the boat’s hull.
• Inboard motors. Most of the engine and mechanical parts are stored inside the boat itself, with only the propeller and supporting components located outside the boat.
• Diesel-powered options. Generally, diesel is only used on larger boats that need more torque and power for hauling large cargo. Many commercial boats use diesel fuel.

Find the Right Size and Horsepower

Regardless of the type of motor you choose, you need to ensure that it has enough horsepower to suit your needs. One of the main causes of people becoming bored and disinterested in their boat is a simple lack of horsepower. Make sure that the motor you choose for your boat has the ideal amount of horsepower, and you’ll get much more enjoyment from the craft.

The choice is not as simple as mere speed. Yes, more horsepower will give the boat top-end speed, but it will also give the boat better acceleration, which is ideal if you are pulling skiers or wakeboarders. Ideal horsepower also gives the boat better handling at mid-range speed, and it can even help the boat maintain stability when cruising through choppy waters.

How much horsepower do you need? There are several factors that you should consider, but it’s most important is to consult the manufacturer’s limits and recommendations, as these will give you the best guide for horsepower. You also need to consider the horsepower-to-weight ratio, fuel efficiency, and how you plan to use the boat.

Another important factor for horsepower is the number of people that will usually be riding in the boat. Especially for smaller boats in rougher waters, more people can greatly diminish the speed, acceleration, and handling of a boat. If you expect to have large groups on your boat, you may want more horsepower to maintain ideal performance.

Fuel Efficiency

Fuel efficiency also matters when choosing a motor, although fuel use is impacted by hull design, load weight, and other factors. Higher horsepower does not always mean higher fuel use, so consider manufacturer’s ratings before buying, and don’t just assume that a low-powered motor will deliver better fuel efficiency.

Purchase a World-Class Boat from Scout!

We hope this boat motor guide assists you. If you’re ready to purchase a new craft, Scout Boats offers luxury vessels that are engineered to deliver a high-quality boating experience. Plus, you can customize your selection to include features for fishing, entertainment, sporting, and more with our Build Your Scout tool. Create the boat of your dreams today!