Welcome to April! I apologize if you have been impatiently waiting for this month’s post. I have no excuse this time-especially after having quit my day job for good on April 1. In my “newbie” role as a retiree, I have spent the last two weeks doing all the things that don’t include sitting at a desk (or sitting at all, for that matter), and I am only just now getting back to being somewhat responsible.
April brings some wonderful weather for lake activities, and here in the Upstate is the month that pre-season fun begins in earnest on the water. April also brings all sorts of tree pollen. The yellow waves of pollen cover the lake, docks, and your boat. This stuff gets everywhere -which is the mission of pollen, I suppose, but pollen presents some challenges for boat captains.
Some of you may prefer to cover your boats during April and some don’t. In my experience, it doesn’t matter-pollen is going to make its way onto your boat upholstery, regardless. The good news is that some great products are out there to make life easier with pollen. These products can be applied either before or during the month of April.
The following list is subjective. Remember, the only thing I am a “Captain” of is/are my opinions. And no, I have not been paid to endorse any of these products. (Although, come to think of it, that might be something for me to consider now that I have no day job!)
- Locally Sourced Honey: OK, this is NOT for your boat, but if you suffer from seasonal allergies as I do, taking a teaspoon of this stuff each morning is better than any antihistamine I have ever been prescribed. Best to get honey that has been farmed in the local area and best to start consuming daily in mid-March before pollen season gets underway. But there’s not harm in starting now if you want a great way to start the day.
- MDR Mold-Away: The best product I have used to remove any winter mold/mildew stains from marine upholstery. This is great stuff to apply early in the year.
- Knight’s Marine Spray Nine: This is very effective for quickly removing pollen and any other dirt and grime that may have built up on your boat. Good for both upholstery and other surfaces on your boat.
- 303 Aerospace Protectant: Once your upholstery is clean, this product generally protects it for the entire season.
Hope to see you soon on the lake! If you're not at the lake yet, Sandy is a great local resource to guide you from ideation to moving to your home at the lake.
