Boat cleaning in Mallorca

Many owners with a boat in Mallorca do not live on the island, so the most requested service is the pre-arrival clean: deck, teak, windows, heads, galley and cabins, with the boat aired and ready to go. When you leave, a departure clean leaves the boat desalted, dry and locked up.

In between, a weekly or fortnightly cleaning contract in season keeps deck and teak in check against sun and salt. Polishing and waxing the gelcoat is best done in spring, before the strong sun starts, and again at the end of the season.

For the hull afloat, a diver can clean the underwater hull and propeller at the berth between haul-outs. Ask which products they use: Balearic marinas require products that are safe for the marine environment, and dirty water cannot be discharged into the harbour.

A fresh-water wash with neutral soap is the most common job and protects gelcoat, stainless steel and canvas from salt. Beyond that there is interior and upholstery cleaning, hull polishing and waxing, teak treatment, bilge cleaning and full detailing before a sale or the start of the season.

Under water, divers clean the hull, propeller and water intakes without a haul-out. It keeps speed up and fuel consumption down between haul-outs.

If you use the boat often or charter it, a weekly or fortnightly service works out cheaper than one-off cleans and stops dirt from building up. Many companies in Mallorca offer packages or monthly fees.

Before hiring, ask which products they use (harsh ones damage gelcoat and teak), whether they use eco-friendly products in the marina and whether they are insured in case of damage.