7 Steps to De-Winterize Boat's Upholstery

Getting ready to de-winterize your boat? When you pull back that cover for the first time, hopefully you see a pristine interior, but if not, with the help of our friends at Paradise Upholstery we have prepared a few key tips for boat de-winterization upholstery care.

1) When to start.  

It is prudent to attack the interior cleaning process after the mechanical de-winterization process. Engine and mechanical fluids and greasy hand prints can make their way on to upholstery. So, wait until the boat is running, then attack the interior last.

2) Do a survey.  

Don’t just jump in and start cleaning. Take time to survey the entire boat stem to stern to look at your upholstery including seat covers, carpeting, and other coverings.  Hopefully your issues are few, but in some cases mildew or worse – varmints – may have had months to degrade upholstery.  Once you have your list, start with the worst problems and work your way up.

3) Repairing cuts, rips, burns, and tears.   

Vinyl repairs smaller than a quarter can typically be repaired with a vinyl repair kit.  A caveat is when the damage is on a seam, which typically require professional repair. For small repairs, we recommend the following kits: 3M, Restor-It Quick, and Tear-Aid vinyl repair kits. Follow the manufacturer instructions and watch how-to videos on YouTube to help with the process. Most importantly when repairing small cuts and burns in vinyl, clean up the damaged area by trimming edges and frays.  You want a clean, crisp edge to start.  With burns, cut out the burn and insert a cotton or canvass backing below the burn hole before applying the patch.

4) Professional repairs. 

For larger rips, cuts, burns or discoloration, seek out a professional marine upholsterer. They are more familiar with the harsh outdoor and UV conditions that boat upholstery will face.  We suggest you make such repairs over the winter and simply reinstall after the de-winterization process. There are some OEM and aftermarket upholstery kits available that can also make this a DIY job. Shop around, check references.

5) Boat carpet cleaning.  

Most boat carpeting, except for fishing boats, is removable.  If removable, take it out and lay in the sun on your drive way, dock, patio or wherever you have a large flat surface. If possible, vacuum the carpet first. Then soak with a hose.  We recommend using Dawn or Simple Green as the shampoo or any of the marine carpet shampoos will do. (Note, Dawn can remove boat wax, so be careful with using it near waxed surfaces.)  Use a soft bristle brush and a moderate amount of detergent (two cap fulls per gallon max). Work the shampoo in circular motions into the carpet. Let it sit for a few minutes, then hose off. For extra dirty carpets, repeat. If possible, hang the carpets and continue rinsing the suds out, keep rinsing until the water runs clear with no suds.  Hang in the sun to dry.  Some people like to power wash carpets. This can be done, but use the wide spray head from about 10” above the carpet. Marine carpet has a rubber backing and intense spay can blow it right off the back of the carpet. Reinstall the carpet after the final interior wipe down and after all surfaces have thoroughly dried.

Car Wash Warning:  While taking your boat to the self-car wash may seem like a good idea, the soaps used on cars can remove boat wax and UV protectant. A garden hose and mild dish washing soap or marine grade detergent is all that is needed.

6) Wipe Down.

Cleaning Mildew.  Address any mildew growth before a general wipe down.  The best home-brew mildew cleaner is made from 1 ½ cups of ammonia and ½ cup hydrogen peroxide. Wear rubber gloves and wipe off the mildew areas. Maintain good ventilation to prevent nausea from the ammonia fumes.  There are many over the counter mildew cleaners too. The key is to kill the mildew spores before attempting a general wipe down.

Wash & Final Wipe down.  Use a mild dish washing detergent or marine grade vinyl cleaner for the final all-surface wipe down.  A half-gallon of water to 2 tablespoons of detergent is the appropriate strength.  Change the water often for heavily soiled jobs. Wipe down hard surfaces and appliances using appropriate surface cleaners.

Note: Use copious amounts of fresh water to remove soap and disinfectant residue before adding a UV protectant – see #7.

7) Apply a UV vinyl protectant.  

Like your skin, the sun’s UV rays can damage vinyl if left unprotected. Products such as 303 Marine Vinyl Protectant and 3M’s Vinyl Conditioner & Protectant will help keep your boat upholstery looking great all season.  Reapply as directed.

After you have your boat looking spanking new, get her in the water and take some great photos and turn those photos into a Stern Memories boat name portrait.  It will be a keepsake you will cherish forever.

Happy boating in 2017!

THE MOST UNIQUE BOATING GIFT YOUR WILL EVER GIVE OR RECEIVE!

www.SternMemories.com

314.403.2142

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Mother’s Day Boating Gift Ideas

Mother’s Day, Sunday May 14th, is fast approaching and if you are looking for a unique boating  gift at the Lake of the Ozarks for Mom, we’ve come up with the following suggestions.

First, take a minute to think about what Mom likes to do when boating.  Does she like to float in the water or does she avoid getting in? Is she your main organizing force for your boating day, or just along for the ride?  Is she comfortable on your boat or a reluctant passenger?  Answering these few questions will help guide your gift giving imagination.

For the active boating mom, consider personalizing a towel with your boat name or her name.  You can embroider your boat name and her name, nickname or “Happy Mother’s Day.”  Anyone can give a towel, but embroidering a boating towel with a custom design or message really tells Mom how much you care for her.

If Mom likes to enjoy a nice adult beverage while boating, we have a few ideas:

- Full color imprinted 12oz can or bottle koozie:  Add your boat name and your favorite family boating photo to turn the common koozie into a boating keepsake Mom will use and cherish.

- Custom imprinted insulated tote bag:  Help Mom keep her favorite wine or drinks chilled and close at hand.  Add your boat name or Mom’s name to make it personal.

- Custom imprinted RTIC tumbler –keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for hours.  We can personally attest that an RTIC tumbler on the boat is a must - keeps drinks from getting watered down due to melting ice and keeps them from splashing about.  Mom will love a 30oz RTIC tumbler personalized with your boat name, her name or personal sentiments.

Last, but not least, keep Mom looking great on and off the boat.  A personalized polo-style shirt or custom embroidered cap, is the perfect gift for the boating mom.

Hopefully these boating gift ideas for moms have stirred some thought. You’ll find options for all these boating gifts, and more, for Mom on SternMemories.com under our Mother’s Day Collection.

THE MOST UNIQUE BOATING GIFT YOUR WILL EVER GIVE OR RECEIVE!

www.SternMemories.com

314.403.2142

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The Ultimate Guide for Boating Resources at the Lake of the Ozarks

The owners of Stern Memories are boaters on Lake of the Ozarks. As such, we created this Lake of the Ozark resource guide for those new to Lake of the Ozarks boating or planning a trip/vacation to the area. For all you need to know about boating at the Lake of the Ozarks, see our information below!

Photo Credit: Fun Lake

Lake Ozark Facts: 

Lake of the Ozarks is a fresh water lake in central Missouri, created by the damming of the Osage River in 1931. The Lake is privately owned by the utility company, Ameren UE.  The Lake is 90 miles long with over 1200 miles of shoreline.  Our recent blog post on Lake Ozark Fun Facts covers many more details.

Public Boat Ramps:

There are 9 public boat ramps on Lake of the Ozarks.  For a map of the Lake Ozark public boat ramps visit www.funlake.com. In addition to the public boat ramps there are numerous private marinas that will allow public use for free or a small fee.  If you are staying at a condo or resort, it is likely that the complex has its own boat ramp too. Call first!

Boat Rentals:

There are many boat and PWC rental facilities on Lake of the Ozarks. Virtually all marinas have rental facilities as do the larger resorts. Resort rentals are usually open to the public not just guests. The most common boats rented are pontoon boats, PWC and runabouts under 26 feet. If you have a choice between a tri-toon and bi-toon pontoon, rent the tri-toon as they handle the waves better. If you are a novice, go pontoon over runabout – much easier to handle and more enjoyable for all. Larger cruisers can also be rented on Lake of the Ozarks as well as large house boats. Iguana Water Sports rents cruisers.  All persons born after 1994 must have a valid boater’s license in Missouri in order to drive a boat or PWC.

Lake Traffic:

Lake of the Ozarks is a very busy lake on the weekends during the summer – Memorial Day to Labor Day.  The lake is moderately busy on weekdays during the summer, especially around the larger resorts (Tan-Tar-A and Lodge of the Four Seasons) and the dam area where there is heavy vacation rental traffic. For a more enjoyable boating experience, during the summer boat Monday – Thursday if at all possible. Over the years boat size on the lake has steadily increased, with cruisers exceeding 40 feet very common. The cruisers make large wakes coupled with the narrowness of the lake makes for some pretty choppy water.  Recently, off-shore style racing boats, “cigarette-style” boats and other “go-fast” boats have become quite popular.  There are many no-wake areas on the late that are seasonal and permanent. The permanent no-wake areas tend to be in residential coves while the seasonal ones tend to be in high traffic areas, such as under the Grand Glaise Bridge. On summer weekends fishing boat traffic is heaviest before 11 AM. Pontoon boats and personal water craft tend to travel in all directions so watch for them!  The absolute best time to be on the Lake of the Ozarks, in my opinion, is from Labor Day to the end of October. The water is still warm, the lake is quiet and many of the restaurants are still open. It’s like having a private 90 mile lake!

Coving Out:

One of the most common activities on Lake of the Ozarks is coving out…anchoring in a quiet cove and just hanging out on the water. If the cove gets busy, boaters will start to “tie up” to each other. Be sure to ask before you tie up and try to pick a boat about the same size as yours.  Look for coves with few docks and pristine shoreline. It is considered bad boating behavior to cove out directly in front of a residential dock.

Lake Ozark Anchoring Tips:

Anchoring on Lake of the Ozarks can sometimes be challenging, mainly because of the water depth. When coving out, head for the back or sides of coves. The bottom is usually mud and gravel. Plow type, fluke style and heavier anchors are recommend. Point the boat nose into the wind, let the boat come to a stop then let out twice as much rope or chain as the water depth.  Let the anchor hit bottom and then gently back up to dig the anchor into the bottom.  The boat will swing around the anchor in the wind, so make sure you are far enough from other boats and the shore.

Party Cove Lake of the Ozarks:

Party Cove is an icon of Lake of the Ozarks attracting visitors from across the country. Party Cove at Lake of the Ozarks is Located at the 4 mile-marker on the Grand Glaise Arm within the State Park; the entire cove is no-wake Memorial Day – Labor Day. On any given summer weekend over a 2000 boats may anchor in Party Cove forming a line around the cove perimeter and row after row across the middle.  The waterway created between the outside boats and inside rows is called “the Gauntlet.”  Boats not tying up must travel through the Gauntlet and are subject to water guns and cat calls. Party Cove at Lake of the Ozarks is really just a bunch of fun-loving, swim suit clad people people-watching and having a good time.  However, it can be a dangerous place with lots of drinking and close quarter boat maneuvering. Drownings happen frequently in Party Cove, so be careful.

Photo Credit: Fun Lake 

Water skiing, Wakeboarding and Tubing:

Tubing is very popular on the lake and is done just about everywhere, especially in the state park and in the larger coves.  From personal experience, most of the skiing and wake boarding that I have seen happens early in the day before lake traffic gets too heavy, in the state park and the larger coves and quieter ends of the lake.  Wakeboarding is more popular than water skiing from what I have experienced.

Fishing Lake of the Ozarks:

Lake of the Ozarks is a world-class fishery featuring large and small mouth bass, striped bass, white bass, crappie, catfish, walleye, carp, spoonbill and many other species.  There are numerous fishing tournaments on the lake each year, especially bass and crappie.  A great resource for Lake Ozark fishing is the Bassing Bob website.   The most prominent fishing structure on Lake Ozark is the many private residential and condo docks that line the shores. The most pristine area is the Lake Ozark State Park that encompasses the Grand Glaise Arm. In general, fishing on Lake Ozark is great all year round, however when Ameren UE is pulling water off for generating electric, the bass fishing is at its best. The lake is actually a river with a very slow current and when electric is being generated, that current spikes and helps pull bait fish downstream. Bass will set up off main channel points and ledges facing upstream into the current.  Typical water draw off the lake is 900 cubic feet per second, but when generating electric the pull can spike over 20,000 cubic feet per second.  Visit the Ameren UE Bagnell Dam water release website to check water pull rates.

Missouri Water Patrol & Law Enforcement:

The Missouri Water Patrol is a constant presence on the Lake during the summer, especially on the weekends and in high traffic areas.  In addition, the US Coast Guard frequently deploys teams to spot check the lake.  Many of the larger boats on the lake are registered with the US Coast Guard and the teams may board 30+ boats a day for routine boating safety and registration checks. The water patrol publishes rules and regulations for boating on Lake of the Ozarks. All persons born after 1994 must have a valid boater’s license in Missouri in order to drive a boat or PWC. The Water Patrol is very serious about lake safety and will stop any boat that is operating in an unsafe manner or disobeying lake rules.

Dining on the Lake:

There are numerous waterfront dining options on Lake of the Ozarks. Some of my personal favorites are Shorty Pants (great food!), Red Head Yacht Club (wild pool fun!), Fish Company (great pizza), Paradise (best view!), Coconuts, Captain Ron’s, Backwater Jack’s (great oysters!) and Miller’s Landing (great breakfast!). Most have excellent docking and during the summer have dock attendants on hand to help tie up. Tipping the dock attendants $5-$10 is a standard practice.

Visit the Lake of the Ozarks this Summer!

There is so much we could share about Lake of the Ozarks. It is truly one of the gems of Missouri and boating in general. We hope to see you on the lake soon and when your lake visit is over, be sure to visit Stern Memories to create a boat name portrait or boat name gift.

THE MOST UNIQUE BOATING GIFT YOUR WILL EVER GIVE OR RECEIVE!

www.SternMemories.com

314.403.2142

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Searching for a great boating gift? Start with the boat name!

If you are searching for a unique gift for the boater in your life, start with the boat name.  To a boater their boat is always unique, but what really makes a boat unique is its name.

As the saying goes, it’s the thought that counts. A personalized gift for a boater with their boat name takes it to a whole new level of thought and consideration. Recently good friends of ours, who spend a lot of time with us boating at Lake of the Ozarks, surprised my wife and I with bar towels embroidered with our boat name – Why Knot. We were floored and now proudly use our new bar towels on each outing.

The boat name is the most personal item on the boat. A good boat name is often a very quirky personal statement, either conveying a loved one’s identity (Rosie’s Ride) or conveys their love of life, an inside joke or their personality.

When personalizing a gift for a boater, it is important to re-create the boat name as closely as it appears on the boat. The font and script style are all part of the personality of the boat name. At Stern Memories we are experts in re-creating boat names and personalizing boating gifts. If the customer does not have their original boat artwork, our graphic artists can often match the font, script and style off of a clear photograph of the back of the boat.

Stern Memories offers a wide range of boating keepsakes, all personalized with the boat name with gift items to match any budget or occasions.

Boat Name Portraits

A Stern Memories boat name portrait celebrates the boat name, displaying it front and center in a wall hung portrait, surrounded with memorable boating photos and boat manufacturer emblems/logos. The result is the most unique boating keepsake that a boater could ever give or receive.

Neon Boat Name Displays

Nothing screams fun like neon, so why not display your boat name in neon! A neon boat name display is perfect for the man-cave, boat dock, lake house, or office. Stern Memories neon boat name signs are hand made in the U.S.A. We offer multiple styles from full custom to our popular Welcome Aboard sign. Just share your ideas for a neon boat name sign and we will bend and light it into shape!

Personalized Boating Products

Make your boat party complete with personalized boat products such as koozies, cups, tumblers, tote bags and hand-crafted fender covers and deck mats. Our goal is to provide items useful to boaters, but emblazoned with their boat name. Why promote someone else’s brand when you can promote your own? Our line of personalized deck mats and fender covers are like jewelry for your boat. Seriously, they are stunning and really set off your boat, while helping to keep it clean.

Order Your Personalized Boat Gear Today!

We all know how many GREAT memories are made boating on the Lake of the Ozarks; we want to help you commemorate the good times your boat provides for you and your family. Whether you want an item for yourself or for the ideal gift for the boat lover in your life, visit our website to start designing your Stern Memories item today! So, when thinking of a great gift for the boater in your life, start with the boat name and start with Stern Memories.

THE MOST UNIQUE BOATING GIFT YOUR WILL EVER GIVE OR RECEIVE!


www.SternMemories.com

314.403.2142

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