Many Boat Clubs add special cleaning in response to Covid-19 concerns.
Do I Need to Disinfect the Boat?
Many boat cubs, like Freedom and Carefree Boat Clubs—along with other rental and club organizations have made disinfecting their boats between uses a standard practice, at least for the time being.
In any case, you may want to disinfect the boat prior to use for your own peace of mind. If so, remember:
- Wear nitrile or latex gloves prior to disinfecting the boat.
- Wipe down solid surfaces with EPA approved disinfectants.
- Some approved disinfectants, like bleach or acids, can harm certain surfaces of a boat. So make sure you’re using product that’s safe for boats and be particularly careful about the canvass and vinyls. These are a bit more susceptible to damage from chemicals.
- Rinse down the entire boat after disinfecting, to make sure chemicals don’t remain behind.
Some peer to peer services may be a bit less regulated. However, most people are being pro-active and doing what they feel is best for the boating community.