H & M Boat/Yacht Care Guide
After a day of fishing or cruising, you must clean your boat to maintain the appearance and resale value. Clean the exterior then the interior. The following is a guide for caring for your boat/yacht using the proper procedures and the best in marine maintenance chemicals
The first step in cleaning a boat is a good rinse. Flood the
entire exterior with water and include the antennas, outriggers, bow rails, bridge
curtains, etc. Salt needs only a few days to pit a metal surface and discolor fiberglass
and wood.
Remove all stains, rust, grease, black rubber marks, and heavy dirt using T. L. Sea® . For difficult stains and rust make a paste from the powder and water. Scrub in a circular motion with a rag, sponge, or soft brush. Rinse well.
Wash the boat with a solution of 1 ounce OrPine
Boat Soap® or 1 ounce OrPine 
Wash & Wax® in 3 gallons of
water. Most soaps contain large amounts of water. OrPine Boat Soap®
and OrPine Wash &
Wax® are very concentrated products. These products are superior for removing salt and
leave no residue after rinsing. This eliminates streaking and spotting. Rinse the boat
well and chamois dry for a spotless clean appearance.
OrBrite® will remove small scratches and any film that may be present to "clear-up" your view. Apply OrBrite® with a soft rag, then towel dry and buff to shine the plastic. OrBrite® also works for cleaning mirrors, Formica®, and plastics. Treat zippers and snaps on the bridge curtains with Corrosion Block® to lubricate the zippers and eliminate corrosion that can cause poor operation of both metal and plastic parts.
Wax is probably the best protection you can provide to shield your boat
from the salt, sun, rain, snow, dirt, and environmental pollutants. 
Use a good metal wax/cleaner to clean all metal on
the boat including the bow rails, cleats, outriggers, fishing chair, ect. Treat rust and
corrosion with Corrosion Block®. The key to a good wax job is to apply two coats of
a good paste wax, evenly, to the entire boat using a soft cloth. Include fiberglass, wood,
and metals.
Allow 3-4 hours setup time. Buff to a
shine, then follow with another coat of paste wax and buff to a shine. This will give
exceptional protection that will last for 3-4 months for exposed surfaces, longer for
unexposed areas. washing your boat with OrPine Wash
& Wax® will leave a thin coat of wax on your boat that will extend the life
of the paste wax.
Proper engine room maintenance on a routine basis will extend the life of the major running gear of your boat. Observations made during engine room maintenance can eliminate costly breakdowns by spotting oil and fuel leaks, worn belts, faulty wiring, etc.
Take a wet/dry vac and several disposable paint brushes into the engine room. First remove all particles of debris (e. g., wood chips, wire ties, nuts & bolts, etc.). Clean the exterior of your engines and generator. This will allow you to spot oil leaks and general problems that may be overlooked. Use OrBilge®, 2 oz. per 3 gallons of water for cleaning. If the engines are extremely dirty, use "Gunk" to clean following directions on the container. Treat the engines and all electrical connections with Corrosion Block® to prevent rust and corrosion. Clean chrome or stainless parts on the engines with metal wax/cleaner and treat with Corrosion Block®.
Before cleaning the bilge, turn off the bilge pumps to avoid pumping
dirty bilge 
solution overboard. Also turn off the
electrical supply to the bilge for safety. Mix 2 ounces of OrBilge® in 3 gallons
of water and wash the bilge area thoroughly with the solution. Wait a few minutes, then
rinse. This will give the OrBilge® a chance to cut the dirt, oil, and fuel. A
toilet brush comes in handy for those hard to reach areas. Rinse well using hot water, if
possible. A second application of OrBilge® solution may be required for extremely
dirty areas. Vacuum up the dirty bilge water and dispose of properly using local
regulations.
Add OrBilge® to the water left in the bilge areas throughout the entire boat. Agitate the solution and allow it to stay in the bilge for 15 - 20 minutes. Turn on the bilge pumps and pump out the OrBilge® solution. This will clean oil and fuel from the pumps. IMPORTANT! Add salt water to the bilge. The salinity will eliminate the stagnate water, oil, and fuel in the bilge from producing the sulfur scum and odors. Proper cleaning and maintenance of your bilge with OrBilge® will improve the overall odor of your boat.
Cleaning products are potentially one of the biggest causes of teak deterioration. Teak is composed of hard and soft grains of wood with the soft grain being a sugar base material. Any protein based detergent or two part cleaner, used with a brush, will loosen the soft grain. After rinsing, a ridged effect will be left instead of a smooth surface. Do not use harsh two part cleaners!! Use a brush heavily as a last resort for this will necessitate dry sanding.
Teak can be cleaned and bleached using T. L. Sea® and water. Use a soft 3M scrubber and allow the T. L. Sea® and water to stay on the teak until the bleaching action of the T. L. Sea® has taken place. Always keep the area being cleaned damp. Rinse well and wash using a solution of OrPine®. Rinse well. T. L. Sea will remove wax, so wax affected areas as soon as possible.
Use a solution of sudsy ammonia and water for dirty teak, 1 quart in 1 gallon hot water. Use a green 3M® scrubber to get into all the corners. Be careful not to scratch any gel coat or paint near the teak. To strip oil from your teak, you may have to sand the surface. Wet sanding is the preferred method. When the teak cleaning is completed, rinse well. You should be aware that the ammonia solution will remove the wax from gel coat or wood. These areas should be waxed as soon as possible.
Select your teak finish from the many products that are available and follow the application directions carefully
In the interior of the boat, wash the floors, heads (including shower stall),and the galley. Wipe down the interior walls several times a year. You will be pleasantly surprised when you return for the next trip. the interior will have a pleasant odor instead of the musty mildew odor we all have encountered from time to time.
Electrical System and Electrical Connections
Treat the entire electrical system and the electronic connections with Corrosion Block® to kill corrosion, the green and grey stuff, and prevent future problems. Use Corrosion Block® in fuse panels, marina electrical posts, electric motors, electric switches and relays, auto electrical systems, and anywhere moisture creates problems. Corrosion Block® does not contain wax, tar, asphalt,or silicone.
Rinse tackle well with water and wash with OrPine Boat Soap®. Rinse, dry, and treat with Corrosion Block®. Corrosion Block® will not harm nylon or polyester line. Wipe guns until dry, clean, and treat with Corrosion Block®. Use Corrosion Block® in the barrel and internal areas to treat and prevent corrosion and rust. Wipe the outside with Corrosion Block® to prevent fingerprint rust spots.
H & M Marine Products
PO Box 16468
Surfside Beach, SC 29587
1-843-238-1585
Fax 1-843-238-4333
For further information email us at: sales@hmmarine.com
