Should You Wax Boat Hull?

Waxing Your Boat’s Hull

Waxing your boat’s hull protects against corrosion, chemical breakdown from salt, barnacles, and organic buildups below water. You can wax a boat in sun—heat helps wax spread evenly. Use quality boat wax; car wax damages finish.

  • Keep hull clean, don’t allow dirt and growth to accumulate. Wash after every outing. Occasional wax coat won’t hurt. Wax as far down hull as comfortable with boat on trailer. Once a year, crawl underneath and wax whole hull.

Protection Against Marine Life and Conditions

Wax hull twice a year for excellent protection. Saltwater erodes boat, barnacles attach themselves, and algae, oil buildup. Marine wax durable against these. Also makes cleaning easier, dirt sticks less to waxed surfaces.

  • Car wax designed for roads. Boat wax combats water exposure, sunlight, extreme heat/cold. Should wax boat every three-four months, especially if used often and kept outside. More sun exposure means more waxing needed.

Choosing the Right Wax

  • Wax to protect graphics, seal out scum/mildew, keep finish fresh. How often depends on sun/debris exposure. Garage-kept boat may need yearly waxing. Year-round water-kept needs waxing every three-four months.

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