Re: [Paddlewise] Cleaning fibreglass kayaks

> I always see fiberglass kayak owners washing their boats every chance they
> get, i.e. when a hose is handy.  And I thought it was overkill.  Your
> comments confirm this.  Can't see what harm saltwater can do.  

   I rinse off my boat every time I take it out of the water. I do this not 
for the benefit of the boat, but to protect my car! I ruined my last car with 
the accumulated salt dripping from my boat. It just ate through the paint and 
metal and rusted up everything. Once the rust starts, it's pretty near 
impossible to stop it. 
   I couldn't care less about the boat being salty or dirty. If your boat has 
a rudder then an occasional rinse will help keep the rudder working smoothly, 
and help keep the salt and sand from jamming your rudder cables and sliding 
footpegs. But besides that I have never understood these anal types who wash 
and wax their boats after every outing. I take my boat out, beat it up some, 
and then put it back away until the next time. So much for maintenance :-)

Scott
So.Cal.

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