News — pontoon boat hacks

How To Clean and Protect Your Graphics

No longer limited to pontoon, waterski and bass boats, head-turning vinyl graphics are everywhere these days, from luxury cruisers to sailboats. Whether it's an outboard engine logo, colorful image or entire hull wrap, they need specialized care. Shurhold Industries offers a few Clean-N-Simple Tips to keep graphics looking their best for years to come, with minimal effort.

The first step is to begin with a clean hull. Avoid pressure washers and instead opt for a deck brush with a combination head. These have soft bristles for general use around the vinyl and medium for scrubbing stubborn stains such as the waterline.

If the boat needs waxing, mask-off the vinyl with blue painters tape. Many products have built-in cleaners that are ideal for paint and gelcoat, but can degrade graphics. It also protects the edges of the graphic or wrap from lifting if using a polisher.

With the tape removed, spray the vinyl with a detailing product such as Shurhold's Serious Shine. It cleans accumulated dirt, polishes without abrasives and protects from the ravages of UV rays in one easy step. It also repels water to keep unsightly spots from forming. Simply wipe over the area with a microfiber towel, turn the cloth and lightly buff. The more often it's applied, the longer the graphics will last.

One-step quick detailers like Serious Shine also work on touch screens, clear coat, metal, glass and rubber. Above and below deck, it cleans a wide range of surfaces without leaving a greasy residue. Made in the USA, a 14 oz. aerosol can is $17.98.

Dedicated to educating boat owners, Shurhold provides key tips for boat value preservation at www.shurhold.com. Inventor of the One Handle Does It All system, Shurhold manufactures specialty care items and accessories to clean, polish and detail.

This article is courtesy of Pontoon and Deck boat Magazine, for this and more helpful information, go to pdbmagazine.com

Try these boating hacks to improve your next excursion

Pontoon Depot was founded out of a love for boats and the boating life. Over the years, we’ve learned a number of tricks that make life on the water a little easier, and we want to share what we’ve learned with you!

Ban the bugs

Anyone who hauls their boat back and forth to the water for a measurable distance knows that by the time you arrive, your boat isn’t looking its best. If you don’t have a cover, the front of the boat and the windshield are probably covered with bugs. Here’s our trick - spread liquid soap on the front of your boat and windshield before you hit the road. When you arrive at your destination, simply rinse the bugs away!

Fight the mold

Mold on your boat doesn’t mean you’re a bad boat owner. It just comes with the territory. To kill it on your boat seats quickly and cheaply, use white vinegar.

Stop cooler slide

If you bring a portable cooler along on your boat (and who doesn’t?), you know that it can slide around on your deck when you’re cruising. Here’s a really simple way to keep your cooler in place - just put a wet towel beneath it. That’ll stop cooler slide in its tracks!

Leave the bananas at home

This one is a little tongue-in-cheek, but it’s something many boat owners, especially fishermen, swear by. Bananas on boats are supposed to be bad luck and keep the fish away. Do you really want to take that chance?

Bring extra

Extra sunglasses, sunscreen, towels, life jackets, flip flops, even boat keys. Trust us. Someone will forget something, someone will lose something, and you’ll be very thankful you have a backup. We speak from experience.

We hope you take our advice and have fun out there!