A boat hull can be subjected to a lot of weather. Things like salt water, dust, and oxidation can build up on the surface of a hull. It is important to clean your hull regularly to help keep it from corroding.
A lot of hull cleaners are on the market that look different and are made of different materials. It can be difficult to find the best hull cleaner that will clean your hulls without damaging them.
Below you will also get some tips on how to clean your hull.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| MaryKate MK2032 Marykate On & Off Hull & Bottom | Best Overall |  |
| MaryKate Aluminex | Budget Pick |  |
| BooYah Clean Boat Cleaning Gallon Duo | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. MaryKate MK2032 Marykate On & Off Hull & Bottom
Pros:
- Works well on all sizes of boats
- Cleans boat bottom and hull easily
- You can use it either in the water or on shore
- Works well on fiberglass, wood, metal, and even aluminum boats.
Cons:
- The smell can be too cleaning product-ish to some people.
The MaryKate MK2032 Marykate On & Off Hull & Bottom is the god-send of boaters as it makes it easier to clean your boat. It’s really easy to use and does a lovely job of cleaning. If you have a boat, check this out before doing your own hulk cleaning project.
2. Better Boat Hull Cleaner
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Quickly and easily removes algae, dirt, grass, and salt stains
- Cleans fiberglass, gelcoat, and painted boats
- Removes barnacles
- Neutral ph formula
Better Boat hull cleaner is a great cleaner for your boat hull. This cleaner comes in a variety of different sizes from 1 to 32 ounces. It’s effective in removing dirt, algae, paint, and rust from all types of boats.
Better Boat Hull Cleaner takes off any dirt, rust, or paint buildup. This cleaner is unlike other hull cleaners, it contains no acids. It is also safe on fiberglass, painted, gelcoat, and other surfaces.
Better Boat Hull Cleaner can be used inside and outside the rim, bottom and other areas of your boat. It will remove grease, oil, dirt and even barnacles.
3. Star Brite Instant Hull Cleaner
Pros:
- Works great on a wide range of boat types
- Completely safe nontoxic formula
Cons:
- Need to reapply it frequently
- Works only on the surface of the boat hull
In A Flash!
The best way to ensure the longevity of your boat hull is to clean it on a regular basis. One of the most time consuming parts of cleaning your boat is scrubbing off the scum that accumulates on the bottoms of your boat hulls.
Historically, an underwater hull scrubber or part of a suction hose for washing cars has been the go-to option. These methods are not effective in removing the scum and are extremely hard on your back.
4. STAR BRITE EZ-ON EZ-Off Hull & Bottom Cleaner
Pros:
- Saves a lot of time
- Magnets are powerful
- Low-maintenance
- Good for multiple hulls and bottoms
- Easy to use
- Great value for the money
- Can change the speed
- Will not scratch your boat
33-Pound.
The STAR BRITE EZ-ON EZ-Off Hull & Bottom Cleaner comes in a 33-pound canister. It can be used on aluminum, fiberglass, steel, and other types of boat hulls and bottoms.
It’s a concentrated formula that you simply mix with water before applying it directly onto the area you’re cleaning. You will get a fully-promoted bead of foam that cuts through dirt and grime while blasting away bio-fouling such as algae, mussels, barnacles, and more.
5. Sudbury 2032 All-Off Hull and Bottom Cleaner
Pros:
- Removes contaminants from the hull and bottom
- Very easy to use
- Makes the bottom look like new
- Directions are easy to follow
- Cheap
If you are looking for a cheap solution to cleaning your boat hull and bottom, this is the solution for you. The 32 ounce solution can be purchased for less than 10 dollars plus you can dilute it more and use the solution for up to eight months.
The manufacturer recommends that you use the cleaner to clean the bottom and parting first, then to the hull with a long-handled brush. This will remove pollutants that may be in the bottom and will make the bottom look like new. It’s also said to remove the “flash rust” caused by chlorides and other pollutants that wilt the steel.
This was a long review and some might even find reading through the content difficult. However, we have ensured that we went through the features of these products. Our reviews are up to date and have been written based on our personal experience as well as the feedback from other users. This should give our readers an idea about these products.
6. MaryKate ON & Off Gel Hull/Bottom CLNR QT
Pros:
- Ideal for boats that have only been in the water one or two times
- It’s a very easy to use and apply
- Does an okay job at cleaning
- Very affordable
- Good for use in a large boat
Cons:
- Doesn’t work very well at all on really dirty boats
- Doesn’t work very well on boats that haven’t been cleaned in a long time
- The gel isn’t very easy to apply hard to get a good coat of gel on your boat unless you apply quite a lot
Mary-Kate ON & Off Gel Hull/Bottom CLNR QT with 1-Quart is a great cleaning gel for use when you’re preparing your boat for storage.
While it’s not the best option to clean your boat, it’s great to use right after storing your boat for the winter.
This product is a gel, which is great for applying to hard to reach areas on a boat.
7. MaryKate Aluminex
Pros:
- Easy to use and works very quickly
- Cleans almost any type of boat hull
- Nontoxic formula that won’t harm you or the environment
- Contains a patented formula that will not scratch or etch the finish of your fiberglass or vinyl boat
- Extremely versatile can be used on many different types of boats
Cons:
- One customer complained the product didn’t work
- Most customers reported that the product didn’t work
- One customer complained the product didn’t work
MaryKate® Aluminex® is a high-performance, low-pressure cleaner that works on fiberglass, aluminum, steel, brass and plastic. It contains a unique patented formula that dissolves dirt and grime without etching or harming your boat’s finish. It works on all fiberglass and aluminum pontoon boats and trailers as well as other types of boats such as yachts, trawlers, cabin cruisers, catamarans, paddleboats, cabin cruisers, johnboats, rowboats, dinghys, canoes and kayaks.
How to use MaryKate Aluminex® on your boat:
Spray boat with mild liquid detergent and rinse with fresh water.
8. BooYah Clean Boat Cleaning Gallon Duo
Pros:
- Available as a gallon or 2 containers pack
- Works for all types of boats and vehicles
- Source of easy-to-use and effective cleaner that’s biodegradable and safe for use
- Costs less than other cleaning products
- Contains a bottle of cleaner and a bottle of protectant
- Protects surfaces from the sun and extends the life of your boat
- Free of harmful substances
- The cleaner doesn’t leave streaks
The BooYah Boat Cleaning Duo Pack is a cost effective way to keep your boat clean and protected from the sun.
This product comes with an exact mixture of the boat cleaning formula and the boat protectant formula.
You simply need to clean the boat with the first formula, and then apply the protectant to prevent the boat from sun damage.
9. Slimy Grimy Granular
Pros:
- * Fast dissolving action * Removes marine growth * Biodegradable * Reusable * Safe for aluminum * Ideal for use in marine aquariums * Leaves no residue * Use in fresh and saltwater * Does not contain phosphates * Available in 8 oz
- and 1 lb
- containers
Cons:
- * Product is messy * Must be rinsed after using
If you’re looking for a cleaner that is environmentally friendly and safe for aluminum, then Slimy Grimy is the one to go for. The beneficial algae in this product is what removes the slime, algae, and all other types of growth from staining your boat.
If you’re to use this cleaner, which is a granular version that you mix with water, simply apply it to the affected area and keep coating until the black growth goes away. To ensure that the growth is gone, rinse the area before it dries and then after it’s dried. Apply more product as needed.
If you’re using this in a saltwater pool, you don’t need to rinse after the product has dried. The way to tell how effective this cleaner is is by how dirty the water is. The cleaner works to keep the water clean.
10. Bio-Kleen M01609 Fiberglass Acid Hull Cleaner
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Also effective against algae, scum lines, and even rust
- Fast acting
- Safe to use
- Powerful formula
- pH of 5.5 to 6.5
- One gallon treats a 40 foot boat
- Can be applied directly on hull or used as a pre-wash
- Comes with a pH test strip
Fiberglass acid is the way to go. It’s acid — so we recommend wearing gloves, eyewear, and protective clothing while applying the boat hull cleaner. You’ll also need to keep pets and kids away from the boat while it’s being cleaned as it does have some harmful fumes.
Before using, test the pH of a spot on your boat and if the pH is too low or high, adjust the cleaner accordingly. If it’s too acidic, neutralize it with baking soda (or something alkaline). If it’s too alkaline, neutralize it with vinegar (or something acidic).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best boat hull cleaner?
The best hull cleaner depends on a few factors. If you want a cleaner to work overnight, for instance, you may want something different from what you would want for a product that you use every couple of weeks. The type of boat you have will also impact the type of cleaner you might use.
Most cleaners are safe on fiberglass, although some are more gentle than others. Stainless and painted hulls may be damaged by cleaners in certain ways.
As for specifics, I stick with one brand over the others for my boat. There is an important difference between this brand and others, though. It isn’t a cleaner per say. It is just a paste. It is called Pinnacle Sticker Remover Paste, and it works really well.
The manufacturer of this paste says it can be used on fiberglass, stainless, and painted hulls, but I have only tried it on fiberglass.
What is the best boat wash?
Boat hulls are often the most durable and inaccessible part of your boat. Additionally, they are usually the dirtiest section. Hulls are likely to accumulate dust, dirt, and other debris. Over time, hulls can actually break down. This does not only result in a less attractive boat, but it also causes a much larger problem.
Cleaning your boat hull is a necessary part of caring for your boat. If you are tired of never quite getting your hull to shine, however, you might want to consider doing something different.
The following are a few of the most effective hull cleaners for boats so you can get your boat looking great.
These cleaners are used on both fiberglass and painted hulls. They should not be used on gel-coat hulls as they may etch and change the texture of the boat.
How do you get stains out of a boat hull?
That will depend on the material of your boat. If it is made from fiberglass, petroleum jelly is the best bet. If you have a wooden boat, the hull cleaner you want is called 16-ounce Timbermate. The product comes in powder form and is used for cleansers, stains, and water repellants.
What is the best thing to clean a fiberglass boat with?
For fiberglass boat hull cleaning, I recommend keeping everything simple.
Unless you’re hoarding anchor chains and other yucky stuff, you probably want to focus on general hull cleaning. A good fiberglass cleaner will help you accomplish that in the easiest way possible.
Fiberglass cleaners are nice because they contain a lot of the same natural acids that make it work on your fiberglass so easily. Even better, they can also be used for cleaning other things as well. So in case you clean your hull up only to find that the amount of work you’ve done has raised your stress level to the point where you need an entire weekend to unwind, you can still use the cleaner you just used on your boat for other places in your home or on your car.
Conclusion
So you’re thinking of sprucing up your boat to get her looking as attractive as possible for a summer on the water. And that’s excellent news!
There’s nothing better than taking your center console out on to the water and onto your favorite fishing grounds in order to unwind after the stresses of your day.
But, after some years in the sun and salt water, your boat’s hull might require some cleaning.
Not to worry. We’re here to help you out and equip you with the best boat hull cleaners.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| MaryKate MK2032 Marykate On & Off Hull & Bottom | Best Overall | |
| MaryKate Aluminex | Budget Pick | |
| BooYah Clean Boat Cleaning Gallon Duo | Upgrade Pick | |