Beta Beta — hiring neighbors on Papalocal is new; what you see here is real, and it's still growing.
Boat cleaning Beta
Washing and wiping down your boat on its trailer or at the dock: hull sides, deck, seats and vinyl, before the season, after trips or before storage.
- How often
- Seasonal
- Where the work happens
- Outdoors
- Who it suits
- Can suit a teen working alongside an adult
These open your Papalocal account. You'll be asked to log in or sign up first.
Boat cleaning is the work after a day on the lake: washing off dirt and water spots, scrubbing the deck, cleaning and protecting vinyl seats, wiping the console, and emptying the trash and coolers.
It's wanted at the start of the season, after a busy weekend, before a sale, or before the boat is put away. Pontoon and ski boat owners who'd rather spend weekends on the water than in the driveway often hand it off.
A neighbor can clean the boat right where it sits, on its trailer at your house or at a nearby dock, and come back after the next big outing.
Also called: boat washing, boat detailing, pontoon boat cleaning, clean my boat, boat interior cleaning, boat wash and wax.
What's usually included
- Rinsing and washing the hull sides, deck and rails with a marine-safe soap
- Cleaning and protecting vinyl seats
- Wiping the console, gauges and windshield
- Emptying trash, coolers and storage bins, and airing out wet gear
- Waxing the hull or topsides, if agreed
What to ask before you hire
- Where will the boat be: on a trailer at home, in a slip, or at a storage lot, and is the cleaner allowed in?
- Which products are safe for your gelcoat, vinyl and canvas?
- Is this a quick rinse after use, or a full spring or fall clean?
- Does the marina or HOA have rules about washing on site?
- Should covers be taken off and put back, and who does it?
Staying safe
- Work on a stable, chocked trailer or a tied-up boat at a calm dock
- Wear non-slip shoes, since wet decks are slick
- Teens should work alongside an adult, and nobody should clean a boat in the water alone
- Keep soap and cleaners out of the lake as much as you can, and follow marina rules
Boat cleaning by town
Questions people ask
Can the boat be cleaned while it's in the water?
Decks and seats can, if the dock and marina allow it. Cleaning the hull below the waterline is a different job that needs the boat out of the water or a specialist.
Does boat cleaning include the engine?
Usually nothing beyond a wipe-down. Engine service and winterizing should go to a marine mechanic.
Is boat cleaning a good teen job?
Washing and wiping down a boat on a trailer can suit a teen working with an adult. Keep teens off docks and ladders without supervision.
What about kayaks and canoes?
They're quick to clean, and some neighbors will add them on with a boat or clean them on their own.
Thinking of offering this yourself?
- Stock marine-safe soap, soft brushes, a vinyl cleaner, towels and a sturdy step stool for reaching the deck
- Make sure the trailer is unhitched or the tow vehicle is off with the keys out before you climb on
- Know what not to touch, such as electronics, engine controls and anything with a warning label
- Set your own price by boat length and what's included, after seeing what others near you ask
- Boat owners clean at the same points every year, so ask to put them on your list for next spring and fall
