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.
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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.
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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
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
Sky's Boat Buying Tips
Thinking of buying a pontoon? Are you overwhelmed by the choices and all the different manufacturers and dealers? Here are some tips to help you out!
Five Gadgets You Don't Want to Leave the Dock Without
We’ve got the line on five gadgets boaters can bring with them to enhance the boating experience and the fun. Christmas is closer than you think, and these are great gift options for the boater on your list.
Fish Finder
This is the perfect gadget for the avid fisherman. Why spend hours looking for that elusive school of bass? The technology exists for you to hone in on where the fish are congregating. A fish finder is an instrument used to locate fish underwater by detecting reflected pulses of sound energy, as in sonar. This is cool tech for any angler worth his salt.
Waterproof Camera and Tripod
Capture memories on the water with a waterproof camera. A tripod will allow you to set up and snap the perfect shot. There is so much magic that happens when you are enjoying life on your pontoon. Keep the memories forever and share the moments with your friends.
Spill-Proof Dog Dish
What does your ol’ pup love more than speeding across the water with you on your Bennington pontoon? You love spending time with your furry best friend, swimming and fishing on the lake, but don’t leave the dock without a spill-proof dog dish for your canine companion. Dogs need to drink a lot of water to keep cool since they don’t perspire as humans do. You don’t want them to be thirsty or feel overheated, and you don’t want to have to turn around on a perfectly gorgeous day of boating. A spill-proof bowl keeps your dog hydrated and happy.
Emergency Kit
Part of what is exciting about boating is that anything can happen. Some surprising moments are positive, such as spotting a rainbow or meteor shower, while others can throw you for a loop. Don’t let an unexpected incident upset your entire day on the water. A well-packed emergency kit includes some first-aid essentials, such as bandages and antibiotic ointment, a whistle to be heard across great distances, a flare in case you get stranded in the dark, a warm sweater in case someone ends up overboard and the night air is setting in, and a knife, which could, quite literally, save your life.
Waterproof Phone Case
Whether you are trying to photograph that perfect summer sunset from the back of your pontoon or are using your phone’s flashlight to investigate something in the water, if your hand is wet, your phone can easily slip and fall into the water. Even a big splash from your cannonballing child or the shower that inevitably accompanies a wet dog can soak a phone innocently resting on a previously dry seat. We all need to have our phones when we’re out boating. How did we ever get along without it for safety, convenience, and comfort? It is the ultimate boater’s accessory. However, it’s no good to us when it gets wet. Keep it safe and dry with a sturdy waterproof phone case.
Which of these gadgets do you think you’ll use most on your boat?
For All Your Accessories and/or Vinyl Flooring Visit Pontoon-Depot's Shop Site
- Amy Cabanas
- Tags: Boating Pontoon Accessories pontoon boat pontoon boat deck tips
2020 Lowe Pontoons & Fishing Boats: You Can Be The Captain!
By: Lowes Boats
Admittedly, taking the helm of a boat for the first time can feel intimidating. But aboard a pontoon boat, it doesn’t have to be.
When most people think of boating, they picture driving a speedboat or a cruiser — something with a big engine (or two) and a deep-V hull. That hull allows the boat to “plane”; after rocking and bouncing through the water, it jumps up and rides on top of it. Fast.
While that seems exciting, to a newbie it also may paint a picture of too much power and too much happening. A first-timer might not want to worry about popping onto plane, trimming the boat correctly and reading waves to cross them at just the right angle.
Pontoon boats, on the other hand, are as user-friendly as they come. Just think: A new pontoon boat is basically a stable, flat deck attached to long, wide tubes for flotation. And although some pontoon boats can be equipped with high-horsepower engines and specialized performance equipment that allow them to get onto plane, the majority just slide comfortably through the water on their pontoons.
That means sitting in the captain’s chair on a best pontoon boat just may be one of the easiest, most rewarding things you’ve ever done. Turn the key. Use the throttle to move the boat forward or, if necessary, in reverse. Use the steering wheel just as you would in your car.
If you’re not sure whether or not you’ll enjoy driving a pontoon boat, and if the decision to purchase a family pontoon boat hangs in the balance, consider renting one for a few hours to see if you like it. Pontoons are so easy to operate, they’ve become one of the most popular types of boat rentals around the country.
You can rent a pontoon at the seashore, on the Great Lakes, on an inland lake, at a reservoir and even on a river. The city of Milwaukee, for example, has a thriving pontoon rental scene in the heart of downtown. You can cruise along the river, take in the sights, and then tie up at one of the many popular restaurants and watering holes.
Just remember: Learn the rules of the road, be mindful of posted speed limits and no-wake zones, check to see if your particular waterway has any special restrictions, and ensure that all children under the age of 13 are wearing approved personal flotation devices (PFDs). And later on, if you discover a real passion for pontooning, consider taking a boater education course.
See you on the water!
For All Your Accessories and/or Vinyl Flooring Visit Pontoon-Depot's Shop Site
- Amy Cabanas
- Tags: Boating Boating Safety DIY pontoon boat Pontoon Boat Operating safe boating habits tips