Proper care and storage of your raft will give years of life to one of the greatest toys we can own. Keeping your raft clean will prevent unnecessary wear and tear on the boat and will make it shine. In this article, we will discuss how to clean and care for your raft.
Why Clean Your Raft?
Keeping your raft clean throughout the year, with a deep clean at least once a year, will help maintain the condition of the rubber. Over time, dirt, debris and exposure to the elements can cause wear and tear. Cleaning your raft will prevent unnecessary degradation and extent the life of the raft.
Further, when it’s time to sell your raft, a boat that has been cleaned regularly and maintained will fetch you more money from a buyer.
The steps to cleaning your raft are simple but it can take some time to do it right. Plan on minimum 2-3 hours of time, depending on the size of your raft and how dirty it is.
How To Store Your Inflated Raft
If you are lucky enough to have room to store your raft inflated, do it! Here are the steps for storing your inflated raft.
- The preferred method for storing a raft is partially inflated, off the ground, under a cover, and indoors. However, we know that storing an inflated raft in a garage isn’t an option for most people.
- The next best option would be to store your raft on a trailer, outside, but still under a cover and out of the sun.
- Best Raft Cover: We enjoy using the covers from Over It, a local Colorado company that makes great products. These raft covers are a touch pricey (around $400 for a 12-14-foot raft cover), but are super durable and highly UV resistant. These covers are a much better solution that using a tarp that will degrade in the sun after only one season. Further, tarps don’t have the airflow that an Over It raft cover does and will tear easily when they get caught on your oar towers.
How To Store Your Deflated Raft
If you don’t have enough room to store your raft inflated (which most people don’t), it is completely acceptable to store your raft deflated and rolled up.
Here are the steps for storing your raft for the winter.
- First, clean your raft well. Rafts will last longer when stored clean, dry, and free of debris. We recommend applying 303 Aerospace Protectant with a damp cloth to apply a UV protectant that will soak into the rubber. Instructions for cleaning your raft are detailed below.
- Deflate your raft. We recommend using a shop vac to suck every last bit of air out of the boat.
- Fold and roll your raft. Rafts made with a hypalon material will be easier to roll and store than rafts made with PVC, such as the Phat Cat from Rocky Mountain Rafts. The boat bags that RMR provides are nice, but, honestly, they are only good for transfering the boat when it is packaged by the factory. Good luck getting your raft back into that boat bag on your own.
- Attempt to roll your raft loosely to avoid pinch points.
- If you can’t get it back into the boat bag, we suggest securing it with a couple of cam straps.
- Store your rolled up raft in a cool, dry area out of the sun (ideally inside, and off the ground).
Supplies Needed to Clean A Raft
- – Mild household soap, fresh water & bucket
- – Inflatable boat cleaner
- – 303 UV Protectant
- – Clean Rags and Sponge
- – Vacuum
- – Access to a fresh water hose
Step 1: Remove all excess debris from the raft. Sticks, twigs, leaves (and sometimes rogue string cheeses) find themselves into the bottom of our rafts every season. Remove them by hand or use a shop-vac style vacuum to suck up these items.
Step 2: Give your boat a wash with a mild-soap and some fresh water. I like to use Dr. Bronner’s soap but any mild soap such as Dawn would do. DO NOT use harsh chemicals such as bleach, Ajax or anything abrasive. These chemicals can damage the rubber permanently.
The purpose of this step is to clean off the dirt and first layer of grime that’s accumulated. Rinse down the raft with fresh water when done.
Step 3: Clean with an Inflatable boat cleaner. With fresh rags or a sponge, hit the tougher stains and marks with this product. The marks left from your aluminum frame should come off for the most part with the inflatable boat cleaner. Rinse the boat again with fresh water and wipe dry or let air dry.
Step 4: Apply 303 UV Protectant. This is a product that will coat the boat with a layer of UV protection and is crucial to apply at least once a year, depending on how heavily you use the raft. Spray the liquid on to the rubber directly and distribute across the boat with a clean, dry rag. You may also apply the liquid to the rag and rub it on that way.
Conclusion
Cleaning and storing your your raft properly is an essential part of maintaining your boats appearance and integrity for many years. A clean raft will last longer and give you a sense of pride that you’ve taken care of your investment.
By removing dirt and grime, you minimize unnecessary wear on the boat for which could decrease its life. Applying 303 UV Protectant at least once a year will further help your raft deflect harmful UV rays that permanently damage the rubber.
Reach out to us at info@slackwaterco.com for more information or questions about cleaning your raft.
Thanks for reading.