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TIME TO CLEAN UP THE 'BU-CLEANING TIPS NEEDED


wakesettin_05

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After a great first summer as a boat owner, a cold, rainy winter has left my Wakesetter filthy. Now I'd like to get it shined up again from top to bottom and was hoping to get some advice from my fellow Malibu owners. Here's my questions:

1. What the best AND safest way to clean both the cover and bimini top? I have an Illusion X tower (so the bimini that goes with that) and a cover that says "Malibu" on it (I think it's that Sunbrella material). I thought about trying a front loading wash machine for the bimini.

2. What about washing the boat? What are some good products for washing, waxing, etc. Should I buy the expensive stuff like Babe's or Meguirs or just some stuff I can find at Wal-Mart?

3. What's the best way to restore my lifeless Teak step? I know that this question probably comes up like a thousand times at the beginning of every summer, but I'm not sure how to do it. Should I use stain/varnish, oil, so some other product? I prefer that it's not to slippery if I can do it, too.

4. What the best thing to wipe the boat down with after the lake? I used the Babe's stuff last year, and it seemed to work well. But I've also heard of people using vinegar and water or other things, which would also be cheaper.

Please feel free to comment on any or all of the questions. You're feedback is much appreciated. Thanks

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After a great first summer as a boat owner, a cold, rainy winter has left my Wakesetter filthy. Now I'd like to get it shined up again from top to bottom and was hoping to get some advice from my fellow Malibu owners. Here's my questions:

1. What the best AND safest way to clean both the cover and bimini top? I have an Illusion X tower (so the bimini that goes with that) and a cover that says "Malibu" on it (I think it's that Sunbrella material). I thought about trying a front loading wash machine for the bimini.

Cleaning Subrella fabrics

2. What about washing the boat? What are some good products for washing, waxing, etc. Should I buy the expensive stuff like Babe's or Meguirs or just some stuff I can find at Wal-Mart?

I use Starbrite Hull Cleaner when it's really dirty from mutliple days on the lake. After every trip to the lake I use either 50/50 vinegar and water or 70/30 if the lake I'm going has hard water. For waxing I use Stabrite as well after 8 years of use it's served me well. I've started using Babes Boat Bright just before I dip the boat in the water will a full waxed hull and then reapply this after I've given the boat the vinegar/water treatment. This really helps to prevent any buildup of scum or waterspots.

3. What's the best way to restore my lifeless Teak step? I know that this question probably comes up like a thousand times at the beginning of every summer, but I'm not sure how to do it. Should I use stain/varnish, oil, so some other product? I prefer that it's not to slippery if I can do it, too.

Teak refinishing

4. What the best thing to wipe the boat down with after the lake? I used the Babe's stuff last year, and it seemed to work well. But I've also heard of people using vinegar and water or other things, which would also be cheaper.

Keep in mind the vinegar solution will remove wax while cleaning, therefore appyling babes is easy and you're ready for the next trip.

Please feel free to comment on any or all of the questions. You're feedback is much appreciated. Thanks

Other posts

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We had a leaky cover last summer and the rest of the fam was pretty lazy about letting the back end compartments and engine compartments dry out. There was a nice layer of mildew over the entire engine and transmission this spring. What should I do to clean? So far I've just used soap and water, but I doubt the mildew is gone. Would the sun be enough? If not, would a mixture of bleach water degrade some of the polymer components, e.g. hoses, spark plug wires? Thanks for any help.

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We had a leaky cover last summer and the rest of the fam was pretty lazy about letting the back end compartments and engine compartments dry out. There was a nice layer of mildew over the entire engine and transmission this spring.

Fingerwag.gif You should give you're boat back, on the grounds of sub-standard upkeep... Isn't there a 'bu protective services or something that rescues boats from becoming fungi farms? Dontknow.gif

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