It’s
the most important part of your boat. Yet how often do you make it a point to
keep your boat engine clean and in proper working condition? Too many boat
owners focus on keeping their hull shiny and brand new while they ignore the
basic function of their motor. But there’s no reason you can’t clean your engine
as part of a regular boat cleaning routine and have the best of both worlds.
Here’s what you need to know.
Prepping Your Boat Engine for Cleaning
As you
might imagine, the process for cleaning your boat engine starts with adequate
preparation. This isn’t something as straightforward as your boat hull or even
your upholstery, so it’s important that you take the following steps before you
clean:
- Make sure
the engine is off and properly cooled. You’ll want to work with an engine
that’s been off for quite a while to ensure that it’s as easy to work with as
anything else on your boat. - Inspect
the filters and see if they need changing. Your engine filters—such as the
fuel filters—have a dramatic impact on the way your engine functions. Cleaning
your engine is a great opportunity to have a look at these filters for
inspection. - Inspect
the rubber hoses. Your engine needs its connections in proper working
condition if it’s going to function at its best. Inspect rubber hose
connections as well. - Remove
any debris first. If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your boat
engine, you might want to think about removing larger debris before applying
any specific cleaning products. Clearing out this debris with gloves and paper
towel will help you reach all of the areas you need to reach as you clean the
engine. - Cover up
any boat engine entry points that you don’t want to get water in.
Waterproof, marine-grade tape or plastic are your best bets here.
With
the engine properly prepped, you’ll find the next stage is far easier: cleaning
the engine itself.
How to Clean a Boat Engine the Right Way
Here
are the essential steps for cleaning your engine:
- Apply a
de-greaser to the engine, which will help you clear out the grease that can
make traditional cleaning much more difficult. Without this step first, you’ll
find that a simple spray-and-wipe method won’t always work to your
satisfaction. - Combine Boat
Cleaner with water to create a mild solution that you can use to
wipe down your engine.
Properly
dried, make sure that you remove any waterproof tape you’ve applied and that
you re-establish any connections you might have taken out during the cleaning
process. You should now have a clean boat engine!
Want
more products that can help you keep your boat as clean as possible? Continue
browsing the boat cleaning
products available here at BoatLIFE to cut down your cleaning time
and maximize your enjoyment.
