What You Need to Know About Maintaining Your Aluminum Boat
There's nothing like enjoying a day on the water in your boat. Whenever you put your boat in the water, though, substances in the water begin to attack the surfaces on your boat. Over time, this could lead to significant corrosion and even a complete hull loss. Fortunately, with the proper care, your boat can stay in like-new condition even after many seasons on the water. Along with proper service from White's Marine Center, you won't have to worry about expensive repairs due to corrosion. For more information on quality boat care, visit our location in Pittsburg, Missouri, serving Kansas City and Springfield.
Know What You're Buying
When you purchase a boat, it's important to invest in a boat with quality materials. Though not impervious to the effects of long-term water exposure, anodized aluminum and stainless steel resist rust and corrosion far more effectively than other materials. If you already have a boat and notice it is made from subpar materials, you can have special coatings put on these materials to help protect them from corrosion.
Wash Frequently
At first glance, washing your boat doesn't seem like the most intuitive activity. After all, your boat spends a lot of its time in the water. Frequent washing with fresh water, though, will help to remove contaminants from the surface of your boat that can cause corrosion down the road. This is especially important if you ever use your boat in saltwater because salt can be highly corrosive. If you only use your boat a few times a year, washing after every outing is your best bet for keeping corrosion at bay.
Use the Correct Cleaners
When trying to protect your watercraft from corrosion, it's important that you don't cause damage by using the wrong cleaners. Any type of harsh or abrasive cleaner can quickly damage the built-in protective layer that your watercraft needs to prevent corrosion. Plus, if you're washing your boat near a marine environment, using harsh cleaners can damage the aquatic ecosystem and potentially put you on the wrong side of the law.
Move Quickly
Even with the best care, most boats will eventually show evidence of some type of corrosion. To help prevent extensive damage, it's important to act quickly at the first sign of rust. In addition to thoroughly cleaning your watercraft, you'll want to polish using a car chrome polish and protect it with a fiberglass or car wax. If you can't control the rust, you may want to have your boat refinished to restore the metal's protective properties.
Although corrosion is a real concern with any type of watercraft, don't let this issue get in the way of enjoying your day on the water. For assistance with watercraft maintenance, reach out to White's Marine Center. We're glad to take care of you at our location in Pittsburg, Missouri, serving Kansas City and Springfield.