A clean boat is an effective way to social distance

A clean boat is an effective way to social distance © Stephen Flint

With large public events being canceled due to concerns over coronavirus COVID-19, boating is perhaps the most enjoyable way to spend time with immediate family while still social distancing.

Even away from the crowds, there are still everyday germs to contend with on a boat. Shurhold, the leader in marine cleaning and maintenance products, has a Clean-N-Simple Tip to help sanitize the boat using a quality soap and Serious Shine.

In a home, neatness counts when it comes to cleaning. But on a boat, almost every exterior surface is designed to get wet. This makes it fast and easy to use a quality soap such as Shurhold Brite Wash and liberal amounts of rinse water.

Because of the makeup of soap, it actually breaks apart the virus and dissolves the bond between the virus and the surface it's residing on. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this makes it more effective at combatting COVID-19 than alcohol or disinfectants. This makes it ideal for hands and large areas of a boat such as foredecks and cockpit soles.

There's little doubt that bleach kills germs. Bleach wipes are extremely handy to use and disinfect areas quickly. But it can also quickly degrade gelcoat and vinyl, discolor paint and corrode boat fittings. Shurhold recommends boat soap to protect these surfaces.

If harsher chemicals are used, only wipe the high-touchpoint areas. It's important to immediately rinse with fresh water and dry with a chamois. As a final step, detail with Shurhold Serious Shine. This removes the caustic effects of the chemical and protects surfaces against the harmful effects of UV rays.

Serious Shine is simply sprayed on and wiped off with a clean microfiber cloth. Once the solution begins to disappear, the cloth is flipped and the area lightly buffed. The result is a deep, germ-free, clean, attractive high gloss finish and no greasy residue.

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.

For more information contact Shurhold, Tel: +1-772-287-1313; Fax: +1-772-286-9620 or visit www.shurhold.com.