How to Get Rid of Hard-Water Spots for Good

Hard-water spots are mineral deposits left behind when sprinkler water, rain, or dock spray dries on your gelcoat. The longer they bake in the sun, the harder they are to remove.

Remove what's there

Spray the affected area with an all-purpose cleaner like Deck Hand, let it dwell for a minute, and wipe with microfiber. For stubborn, older spots, a second pass usually does it.

Stop them from coming back

The real fix is to keep minerals from bonding to the surface in the first place:

• Dry the boat after every wash instead of letting it air-dry.
• Apply a hydrophobic ceramic coating so water beads and rolls off before it can dry.
• Coat the surface once it's clean — slick gelcoat gives minerals nothing to bite.

On a coated surface the minerals don't get the same grip — fresh spots wipe off with a damp towel instead of needing a scrub.