For best performance, keep your ATV or truck winch clean and dry.

The best way to keep your winch looking and working like new is to keep it clean and keep it covered. Regularly maintaining your winch helps you avoid costly repairs and saves you money in the long run.

Keep It Clean

After a muddy or dirty ride, spool out your cable and either wipe it down or use a hose. Aim the spray at an angle to your rope. A direct spray can lodge dirt and debris deep into the fibers of your cable, but an angled spray nudges dirt out of nooks and crannies and washes it off.

Let the rope dry completely before respooling. This is especially important for synthetic rope, as it can become susceptible to rot if it’s not properly maintained. Steel rope can rust and weaken without proper care, but it tends to be hardier than synthetic rope.

Keep It Dry

If your winch and cable get wet, spool out the cable and let it dry after your ride. Never leave wet cable to dry on the spool. The easiest way to keep your winch clean and dry is to protect it with a winch cover.

If it’s not covered, your winch can get muddy and wet even on rides where you don’t need to use it. The best winch covers are made from neoprene material–the same material used in wet suits. Not only does this material keep out water and debris, but it also provides a snug fit.

Keep It Tuned Up

Periodically inspect your winch to keep it working right and to help prevent accidents caused by faulty parts. Check all of your connections. Tighten screws as needed. Replace any rusted or corroded parts. Remove all debris from the winch housing. A winch maintenance kit is an easy way to freshen up your winch.

Inspect your winch cable before and after every use. Replace the cable at the first sign of damage, such as excessive fraying, spliced wires, or other signs of wear and tear that could cause your cable to snap under load.

Learn the difference between storage, mooring, and trailerable boat covers.

There are three basic types of covers for boats. Which type you need depends on how you plan to use your cover. Storage covers are designed for indoor or outdoor storage out of the water. Trailerable covers, or travel covers, are designed to protect your boat on the road. Finally, mooring covers are designed to protect your boat while it is anchored in the water.

Storage Covers

Unless you store your boat indoors in a controlled environment type of storage facility, you will want to choose a thick enough material to provide complete protection for your boat. If you store your boat outdoors, choose a heavy duty material that will protect your boat from rain, snow, moisture, wind, and UV rays. Even if you store your boat in a shed or garage, moisture could be a problem. To prevent moisture damage, choose a cover that is waterproof and breathable.

Trailerable Covers

A trailerable cover must be highly durable to withstand the wear and tear of highway travel. The wind whipping at your boat cover can rip the material if it is too thin or pry the cover loose from your boat if it is loose. Your trailerable marine cover should be tight enough for a snug fit and should include tie downs to secure the cover to the boat and trailer. The material quality should be heavy duty, such as 100% marine polyester, to hold up against harsh weather and high-speed travel.

Mooring Covers

Mooring covers provide in-water protection for docked boats. The best material for mooring covers is a cotton poly blend. The combination of cotton and polyester gives best combination of durability and breathability that you can find in a mooring cover.

Conclusion

If you use your cover for both trailering and storage, look for a trailerable boat cover that is also approved for storage. This will save you the expense of buying two separate boat covers.

Follow these 3 simple tips to maintain your jet ski.

1. Keep It Covered

Simple but true. The sun’s rays will fade your paint faster than you think. Cover your jet ski during storage (long term or short), during trailering, and basically any time you’re not riding it. The best jet ski covers protect against UV rays, water damage, and mildew. Look for a PWC cover that allows air circulation through a special venting system. This allows any remaining condensation on your watercraft to evaporate without getting trapped under the cover and causing damage.

2. Keep It Purring

If you use your personal watercraft mainly for recreation, it may be easy to forget that it needs regular maintenance. So while maintenance may be a necessary evil for many PWC owners, it’s also what keeps your jet ski running and lets you relax out on the water without worrying about a breakdown. Take your jet ski to the boat shop for scheduled maintenance, or if you’re mechanically skilled, do it yourself. Just don’t wait until your jet ski breaks down to give it some lovin’. Prevent problems before they happen—and save some money in the long run.

3. Keep It Clean

Give your jet ski a quick rinse with the hose after each ride. Regular washing will keep your PWC looking like new and make your overall maintenance quicker and easier because you’ll spend less time rubbing out ingrained grit, salt, and marine growth. If you neglect to wash your PWC regularly, these abrasives can eat away at your wax and paint job. You may not even notice the damage until it’s too late. If you want to keep your jet ski looking new, it’s worth taking the time to rinse it down.

Follow these steps to clean your golf cart and protect the finish.

Step 1    If possible, park your golf cart in the shade and in an area that allows the water to run off onto a permeable surface, such as a gravel driveway, patch of dirt, or grassy area. This prevents any chemical pollutants from running directly into the storm drain, where they make their way untreated into nearby lakes and streams.

Step 2    Remove any equipment from the cart that could be damaged if it gets wet. Take out the floor mats and clean the floorboards with a broom or shop vac. Scrub the floor as needed and rinse with water. Let dry.

Step 3    If you have removable seat covers, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to wash and dry your covers. Wipe down the vinyl seats with a damp cloth and a mild cleaner if needed. Wipe down the dash, steering wheel, and any interior plastic parts with a damp cloth and mild cleaner.

Step 4    Next comes the body of your cart. Fill two buckets—one with an all-purpose golf cart solution diluted in water and the other with clean water. A soft sponge will do; however, to avoid scratching your cart’s finish, you may want to use a sheepskin wash mitt. This is your best bet to avoid catching dirt or grit and grinding it deeper into your cart’s finish.

Step 5    Rinse the wash mitt in clean water and rinse the cart. Clean your cart in sections to avoid letting the soapy water dry on your finish before rinsing. Dry off the cart with soft, clean towels, such as microfiber or waffle-weave. Apply a fresh coat of wax if needed. Scrub the tires with soapy water and a stiff brush. Detail tires as needed.

Step 6    Take extra care when washing your windshield. There are two basic types of windshield material: acrylic and polycarbonate. Both materials can scratch, but poly scratches more easily. Use mild soapy water and a soft cotton or microfiber cloth to clean your windshield and mirrors. Never use paper towels or glass cleaners such as Windex on your windshield. These could scratch the surface. You can add a bit of automatic dish detergent to prevent spotting. Blot your windshield dry.

Step 7    If your windshield is already scratched, you may be able to rub out surface scratches with a special windshield polish. You can also use a restorer to freshen up fiberglass, plastic, rubber, and other surfaces on your golf cart.

Step 8    Cleaning your golf cart on a regular basis will help keep your cart looking as good as new. You can also keep it clean between washes for longer with a golf cart storage cover that slips on and off easily and includes a zipper for convenient access to the interior.

Regular cleaning and polishing keeps your boat looking sharp and protects the resale value of your boat.

Dirt, grime, mold, mildew, and water line marks build up over time and can wreak havoc on your boat’s finish. Keep your boat in top condition with these boat cleaning tips.

Rinse your boat regularly with plain water to remove surface dirt and grime. If you rinse after boating every time, your boat will require less deep cleaning overall. More thorough cleaning should be done several times a year, depending on the length of the boating season in your area, the type of waters you boat in, how often you use your boat, and how well you protect your boat during storage.

Clean your boat out of the water and far enough away from the shore that runoff during rinsing will not pollute the water. Use marine cleaners specifically formulated to clean and protect your boat’s finish. Conventional or all-purpose cleaners can damage your sealant and lead to oxidation down the road. Harsh cleaners can also leave behind residue.

Oxidation occurs gradually over time. You won’t notice it until the damage is done. Prevent damage to your boat by using high quality cleaners and degreasers. Harmful ingredients to watch out for include petroleum distillates, carnauba wax, and silicone. Boats with water-based rather than lead-based paint are more susceptible to oxidation.

The quality and ingredients of your cleaning agents affects water quality and marine life. Even if you clean your boat out of the water, any residue that remains can seep into the water when you launch your boat again. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, phosphate-free and biodegradable cleaning agents are gentle on your boat and the environment. Avoid the use of detergents containing ammonia, sodium hypochlorite, chlorinated solvents (bleach), petroleum distillates, or lye. Alternative cleansers include baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice for cleaning and natural oils for polishing.

After you apply the cleansing agent, let it sit for a few minutes to let the grime dissolve before scrubbing. Use a soft, clean rag or sponge to scrub or wipe down the surface. For larger areas, rinse with a hose. Wipe the boat down with a clean, dry cloth.

Protect your boat’s finish with a coat of sealant. This prevents dirt from becoming ingrained in the boat’s surface. Keep your boat’s interior clean with a marine cover. A high quality boat cover protects your boat from UV rays and the elements during storage and on the road.