When it\u2019s time to work on your boat, some common items found around the house can save time and money and are readily available. Many work as well as high priced, specialty items.<\/p>\n
TOOTHPASTE<\/strong> Rub it briskly on glass lenses on boat lights to remove foggy appearing films without leaving deep scratches. Use it on dull and tarnished stainless and make it sparkle without scratching. Do not perform these tips in direct sunlight or on hot surfaces.<\/p>\n NAIL POLISH<\/strong> Small screws that vibrate loose can be hard to replace. A coat of nail polish before re-installing them will hold the screw tightly. Replace the screws before the polish dries. <\/p>\n LIQUID DISH SOAP<\/strong> LEMON PLEDGE<\/strong> COOKING OIL<\/strong> NYLON STOCKING<\/strong> I’m sure you know of items that we have not listed. Leave a Reply with the common household items you use to help maintain your boat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When it\u2019s time to work on your boat, some common items found around the house can save time and money and are readily available. Many work as well as high priced, specialty items. TOOTHPASTE A very fine abrasive that cleans without scratching. Use white because pastes with color added could leave stains. Coat a stubborn […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[242,238,241],"tags":[35],"class_list":["post-2201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-boat-insurance-2","category-boating-tips","category-life-on-the-water","tag-boat-maintenance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2201"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2201\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2204,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2201\/revisions\/2204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nA very fine abrasive that cleans without scratching. Use white because pastes with color added could leave stains. Coat a stubborn stain on a fiberglass deck with toothpaste, let set a few minutes than scrub with a soft brush. Try it to remove spots on vinyl tops. <\/p>\n
\nMoisture can penetrate wood resulting in ugly dark discolorations if a varnished finish gets chipped or scratched. It will also cause it to peel. A light coat or two of clear nail polish, filling the chipped area, creates an unnoticeable seal that will protect the wood and prevent staining. Clear nail polish on a snag or small hole in a fiberglass screen will prevent unraveling or further deterioration.<\/p>\n
\nIf your glass or Plexiglas windows have a haze that window cleaner won’t remove, mix a few drops of Dawn or Joy in a pail of water and wash the haze away with a rag, sponge or brush. Rinse with clear water and wipe or squeegee dry. Clean Plexiglas windshields and gauge covers without etching like many glass cleaners do. Dish soap also works well to clean up oil spills while working around the motor.<\/p>\n
\nA coat of Pledge keeps vinyl dashboards and trims soft and pliable, even after long exposure to sunlight. It helps stop cracking and discoloration and leaves a pleasant order. Wipe off consoles and instruments, which always seem to be covered with fingerprints and use it to clean your outboard motor cover. It may even restore brittle and cloudy isinglass windows and restore them to a clear, flexible state.<\/p>\n
\nA small container of plain cooking oil can be used as lubricant on doors or deck hinges. Remove black grease marks from decks or even some carpets. Rub clear cooking oil into the grease and immediately blot off with a clean rag then clean with soap and water. Wipe out window guides on sliding window channels with cooking oil leaving a light film on them so they will slide smoothly.<\/p>\n
\nHave a partial can of paint that\u2019s lumpy and will not apply evenly? Stretch a nylon stocking over an empty can and strain the old paint through the stocking and mix thoroughly. It can be used as a temporary V belt on your I\/O or inboard engine to allow you to get back to shore. Loosen the belt adjustment and place the stocking around the pulley, tie a tight knot in the stocking and tighten the tension. Run your boat at a moderate speed with this temporary repair. Once ashore be sure to replace the belt.<\/p>\n