Tips for Cleaning and Protecting Inflatable Boats and RIBs.
To extend the lifespan of your inflatable boat or RIB, it’s important to do this regularly and at least once a year thoroughly. Maintaining your Hypalon or PVC inflatable boat or RIB is very easy to do yourself.
This includes cleaning the tubes, the boat’s interior and bottom, from the seating to deposits on the hull’s gelcoat and mold spots. More information about the various cleaning products for different applications on your boat follows below.
Sand and dirt are bad news for inflatable boats, so after each trip, rinse your boat with a garden hose set to low pressure, ensuring sand and dirt are removed from the tubes, seams, transom connections, etc.
Avoid household or car cleaning products, as they may contain ingredients that can leave residues on your inflatable boat that may prevent UV protectors or adhesives from properly bonding in the future. Especially with PVC boats, the boat can become sticky and the fabric more rigid and harder because the plasticizer is affected. We recommend August Race products because they are specifically developed for inflatable boats.
Oxidation is a natural process that leaves your inflatable tube or float dull with a ‘milky’ tint. This is particularly noticeable on boats with Hypalon tubes with heavily pigmented colors, where they are regularly exposed to high levels of UV and a UV protector/wax hasn’t been routinely applied.
If your inflatable boat material shows signs of oxidation, August Race Liquid RIB is the solution! This is THE professional RIB and inflatable boat cleaner.
Keep in mind that once you decide to use Liquid RIB, your inflatable boat will look like new, so you need to apply the cleaner to the entire boat to ensure an even finish. Use a soft, lint-free cloth (ensure you have enough clean cloths on hand, as this process removes a lot of oxidation and dirt) and work on small areas with small circular movements, apply Liquid RIB sparingly but work as quickly as possible. It’s normal for the fabric color to remain on the cloth after cleaning with the cleaner.
Often the boat is cleaned well, but people forget the crucial step of applying an inflatable boat protector and conditioner. Specifically for RIBs and inflatable boats made of PVC and Hypalon, HIBS has a high-quality protector and conditioner LR Sealer Coat available here link
General car protectors or conditioners should be avoided, as most contain silicones, oils, or waxes that aren’t resistant to the harsh marine environment or prolonged UV exposure and often lead to problems when repairs are needed in the future. Apply August Race according to the instructions on the packaging.
Always use a non-scratching cleaning cloth, such as a microfiber cloth, to work the tube cleaner into the pores of the fabric. Use a soft brush with nylon bristles to clean D-rings, trim, etc. To clean. Always allow your inflatable boat to dry afterward.
As mentioned, we recommend the cleaning products from August Race these maintenance products are number 1 in England and now exclusively available in our webshop. For more information, visit the page of: August Race
A selection of the different products; August Race Boat Wash Pro is the ultimate boat cleaner, providing protection and leaving a deep glossy finish. Liquid RIB is specially designed to give dirty hypalon and PVC tubes a like-new finish. To protect your boat permanently, we also have the right products such as August Race LR Sealer Coat for the tubes. If you have stains on the gelcoat, August Race Bright Coat is THE solution. And for a deep after-treatment of the gelcoat, we have August Race Smooth Opacity UV Wax. Then there’s also August Race Spot off which is a mold stain remover. And August Race Vinyl Bright restores tired-looking vinyl boat upholstery in one quick step.
