Brunswick Boston Whaler 21 Guardian Series, Operation & Maintenance Manual

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6-4
Section 6 Boat Maintenance
Waxing
The interior and exterior fiberglass parts of the hull
should be waxed a minimum of twice per year to pro-
tect the gelcoat from salt, dirt, and ultraviolet degrada-
tion. Use a wax that is formulated for fiberglass and
gelcoat surfaces. DO NOT wax the boat in direct sun-
light. The gelcoat could “haze” over if waxed in direct
sunlight or extreme heat. DO NOT wax the non-skid
surfaces on the decks.
Compounding
It might be necessary to compound the hull and inte-
rior fiberglass components to remove stains, light
scratches, and hazed film on the gelcoat. Compound-
ing should only be done after the boat has been thor-
oughly cleaned to remove all dirt and oil. Use a fine
grade compound formulated for gelcoat and fiberglass
parts. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
After compounding, re-wax all surfaces following the
above steps.
Gelcoat & Fiberglass Repair
The interior and exterior of your hull might sustain
damage that cannot be compounded or waxed out.
Typical damage would be cracks, gouges, holes, and
chips. They can be caused from dropping heavy items
inside your boat, or hard impacts with other things
such as docks, other boats, and submerged objects. If
you strike an underwater object while underway, the
boat should be hauled and thoroughly inspected for
damage.
!
WARNING
Gelcoat surfaces are always slippery when wet.
Use extreme caution when walking on wet
surfaces to avoid slipping or falling. Never wax
portions of the boat that have a non-skid
pattern.