TIME TO CLEAN UP THE BOAT-CLEANING TIPS NEEDED

After a great first summer as a boat owner, a cold, rainy winter has left my Wakesetter filthy. Now I'd like to get it shined up again from top to bottom and was hoping to get some advice from my fellow Malibu owners. Here's my questions:

1. What the best AND safest way to clean both the cover and bimini top? I have an Illusion X tower (so the bimini that goes with that) and a cover that says "Malibu" on it (I think it's that Sunbrella material). I thought about trying a front loading wash machine for the bimini.

2. What about washing the boat? What are some good products for washing, waxing, etc. Should I buy the expensive stuff like Babe's or Meguirs or just some stuff I can find at Wal-Mart?

3. What's the best way to restore my lifeless Teak step? I know that this question probably comes up like a thousand times at the beginning of every summer, but I'm not sure how to do it. Should I use stain/varnish, oil, so some other product? I prefer that it's not to slippery if I can do it, too.

4. What the best thing to wipe the boat down with after the lake? I used the Babe's stuff last year, and it seemed to work well. But I've also heard of people using vinegar and water or other things, which would also be cheaper.

Please feel free to comment on any or all of the questions. You're feedback is much appreciated. Thanks

1. there are a few other threads regarding cleaning of the covers. do a search.

2. washing with any good boat soap should be fine. The key is keeping it waxed. I like to use Meguiars cleaner wax at the beginning of the season and then the carnuba wax the rest of the year. Meguiars is more on the expensive side but it does a great job... most importantly, it's easy to get off.

3. there are also many threads about teak.

4. if you keep your boat clean and waxed, you can easily wipe it down with a towel after your day on the water. I keep a shamey in the boat and use that. Others might use 303... again do a search.

Hope this helps.

If you can get with a vendor or dealer TEXT BRITE butter wax or cherry wax is good. Goes on thin and comes off easy. Very good wax....

How often should you wax the boat during the summer?

As far as the bimini, I have used 303 products for fabric with excellent results.

Someone told me something a while back and i thought they were full of it but i tried it anyway. And low and behold if it was one of the best things ever. Instead of spending a lot of time waxing my boat i just wipe it down with lemon pledge every time i get done in the water. it feels like wax and removes a lot of smudges and dirt surprisingly. and it only takes me about 10 minutes.