Wash-down 101

A clean, gentle boat care routine

Five steps to wash down boat, dock, and gear without scratching gelcoat — and how to do it responsibly.

The tips below are general care guidance for cleaning. They are not safety, structural, electrical, or potable-water advice. Always follow the safe-use note on each product and your local rules.

Rinse first, top to bottom

Knock off loose salt and grit with a wide rinse before you touch the surface. A high-flow nozzle on a wide fan covers the hull quickly and saves your gelcoat from scratches.

Shop the High-Flow Wash-Down Nozzle →

Foam and soak

Lay down a layer of biodegradable boat soap with a foam cannon or wash bucket. Let it dwell briefly so it can lift salt film and grime before you brush.

Shop the Hose Nozzle Foam Cannon →

Brush with the two-bucket method

Work top to bottom with a soft hull brush, rinsing your brush in a grit-guard bucket so you are not dragging grit back across the surface. Use a telescopic pole for the hardtop and high topsides.

Shop the Boat Wash Brush Kit →

Rinse, sheet, and dry

Rinse the soap off completely, push standing water off the deck with a squeegee, and dry glass and stainless with lint-free microfibre cloths to keep spots away.

Shop the Deck Brush with Squeegee →

Don't forget fenders, lines, and gear

Scrub fenders and dock lines, then rinse boots, coolers, and tackle on a free-draining mat so the runoff drains away cleanly.

Shop the Outdoor Gear Rinse Mat →

Safe-use reminders

Hoses, nozzles, and connectors: for non-potable water use only. Inspect all connections before each use.

Telescopic poles and pole-mounted brushes: keep clear of overhead power lines at all times.

Biodegradable boat soap: keep away from children, not edible, and follow local waterway discharge rules when rinsing.

Get the whole routine in one box

The Boat & Dock Wash Master Kit bundles the hose, brush, nozzle, and soap to get you started.

View the Master Kit

Questions? Email support@rivercityplumb.shop.