It’s that sad but inevitable time of year when I take the batteries out of my boat and do my annual deep cleaning. It marks the end of boating season and the start of home maintenance season. I actually find that obsessing over the cleanliness of my boat is strangely relaxing; it takes my mind off the troubles of the world. It’s something I must do before it gets too cold to work in my unheated garage.
Over the last two weekends I’ve waxed the hull on my back, polished all the stainless steel rails, washed the windshield, oiled the teak boarding steps, and even applied Armor All to the rubber rub rail which encircles the boat. I gave it the deepest cleaning it’s had since I bought it three years ago. I cleaned and waxed my grimy anchor locker and the even grimier bilge, and even waxed the bilge pump. I waxed the battery compartment after removing the batteries. I even waxed parts of the trailer. I left no stone unturned.
This cleaning is a gift to my future self. Next spring I will have a good-as-new boat to drive. I still have to fix a couple of things, especially one of my trailer lights. My nonfunctional crab pot puller is at John’s Sporting Goods awaiting repair. Other than that, it’s in beautiful shape.
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