Your boat lettering isn’t just an investment. It’s a
personal statement about what you want your boat to look like. As such, it only
makes sense that you invest the time and care necessary to maintain your boat lettering
to the best of your ability. With the right tools and a little know-how, you
can clean and protect your boat lettering with just a few simple steps.
How to Clean Boat Lettering
Soap them up and wash them off, right? It’s a little more
complicated than that—at least if you want to make sure the letters stay
adhered to the boat and keep their original color. Here are a few tips:
- Avoid products
with petroleum distillates. These can put some adhesives binding the
letters to the boat at risk of dissolving. Instead, make sure that you read
each boat cleaner label thoroughly or use a specific type of cleaner
designed specifically for boat hulls. - Use
gentle cleaners. It’s possible to clean your boat lettering thoroughly
without harsh chemicals that can wear at the color of your lettering. We
recommend trying a product like Boat Cleaner. - Be wary
of power washing. Power washing can be harsh enough to strip off lettering
and other graphics in some cases. That’s why you’ll want to use gentle washing
methods in addition to gentle chemicals. - Avoid
abrasives. Avoiding abrasives is also a good idea when working with
lettering, as you don’t want to rub them off or damage them.
Once you’ve cleaned your boat lettering, it can be tempting
to think your job is done. But maintenance
is an entirely different stage that requires its own attention.
Maintaining Your Boat
Lettering
Maintaining your boat lettering means protecting it so that
you can enjoy its color and adhesion for a long time. That means periodically
checking in on the lettering and making sure that you don’t notice any sections
lifting from the hull.
You’ll also want to
concentrate on UV protection. One way to do this is to apply a coat of wax
on your boat after you’ve applied the lettering and effectively cleaned the
hull. We recommend Graphix
Wax, as it contains UV filters that will slow the damaging effects of the
sun. This product will not deteriorate graphics like other solvent-based waxes,
which is an essential feature when working with lettering. It is also strong
enough to maintain much of its protective quality for up to a year and more,
which means you won’t have to continually reapply throughout the boating
season.
Finally, pay attention to everything you’re doing. If you
try a home-made cleaning product and find that your boat lettering doesn’t
respond well to it, keep trying to find the right match for your specific needs. Understand what
your boat lettering requires, use the right boat cleaning
products to keep your lettering in great shape for years to come!
