A Man and His Toys: How to Protect Your Boat and Other Outdoor Vehicles

Boats, campers, motorcycles, ATVs and other outdoor vehicles all tend to make life far more fun and enjoyable. Of course, you obviously have to pay to experience this type of enjoyment, and none of these outdoor toys come cheap. For this reason, it is essential that you know how to properly take care of all of your toys to prevent damage and deterioration. By being diligent about maintenance and taking these few simple steps, you’ll give yourself a much better chance of ensuring that you can continue enjoying those toys for years to come.

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Wash, Rinse, Repeat

The majority of outdoor toys are made to get dirty, which is obviously a good thing considering the type of environments they’re used in. However, this doesn’t mean that you should see this as an excuse to let your toys stay dirty while they’re sitting in your driveway or yard. Over time, dust, dirt and grime will begin to damage the exterior. Worse still, all that mud and dirt could potentially lead to rust and mechanical issues. For this reason, it is always recommended that you thoroughly wash and dry your boat, ATV or other outdoor toys each and every time you use them. By doing so, you should ensure they continue to look and perform better.

Keep Those Toys Covered

Nothing will harm your toys more than being continually exposed to weather, and it’s not just wind, snow and rain that you have to worry about. The sun’s powerful UV rays will also quickly cause colors to look old, dull and faded and can also damage the seats and any interior surfaces as well. For this reason, it is recommended that you always keep your toys shielded with a cover or tarp whenever they’re not in use. Alternatively, if you can’t be bothered to remember to cover your boat or ATV every time, you might consider hiring a company like Coast to Coast Carports, Inc. to install a carport for you to park your toys under.

Prepare for the Weather

The weather can do more than simply harm the way your toys look. Extreme heat and cold can also negatively affect your engine, which means you’ll want to make sure that your outdoor vehicles are ready for the season. This is especially important in winter, as sitting idle in those cold temperatures can quickly damage a vehicle’s performance. In this sense, it is essential that you make sure to winterize your boat and other outdoor vehicles before the cold temperatures set in. Otherwise, you might find that your engine no longer wants to start when summer finally rolls back around.

For many men, their toys are one of the most important parts of their life after their wife and kids. In this sense, it is essential that you make sure to take the time to treat your outdoor toys as you would anything else that’s that important to you. Just as neglecting your spouse is a good way to end up divorced, neglecting your boat or ATV will generally mean that you’ll be forced to part with your toys eventually. Therefore, you’ll want to do whatever it takes to protect your toys to ensure they remain in good condition for years to come.