Care and transport

Kayak Cleaners and Protectants: What Makers Approve

by Akayak Editors

Choose cleaner and protectant instructions for your kayak’s maker and surface. A hull is the boat’s main body; a hatch cover and its seal are separate parts, so a product allowed on one may not be allowed on the other. Rinse off dirt first, use the maker’s named products and methods, and check the exclusions for your model.

Key Takeaways

  • Identify your kayak’s maker and hull material before choosing a cleaner or protectant.
  • Follow the maker’s instructions for the surface you are treating.
  • Keep protectants and cleaners away from surfaces or parts the maker excludes.
  • Rinse saltwater kayaks with fresh water as their maker directs.

What makers name for their own kayaks

A cleaner removes dirt. A protectant is a treatment intended to protect a surface from ultraviolet (UV) light. The examples below apply to the named makers’ boats and surfaces; they are not general approvals for every kayak of the same material.

Maker and surfaceCleaner or care methodNamed protectant or polish
Old Town polyethylene (a type of plastic), Superlinear, Royalex® (a named boat construction) and fiberglass canoe or kayak exteriorsWash with mild soap and water; Old Town also names Murphy’s Oil Soap. Rinse after every use if you use the boat frequently in salt water.For appearance, Old Town names “a vinyl protectant product such as Armor All®, 303 Products or Pledge.” It advises against paste wax (a thick wax such as most car waxes). 1
Eddyline Carbonlite exteriorRinse with clean, fresh water after use; use a light soap solution if needed. For stubborn marks, Eddyline permits isopropyl or denatured alcohol (an alcohol-based cleaner).Eddyline names Mer-Maid Boat Wash with Carnauba Wax and Shurhold Serious Shine for its kayaks. 303® Aerospace Protectant™ is a named UV protectant; Eddyline’s instruction is for rubber hatch covers. 2
Delta Solarkote-finished kayak (Solarkote is the finish name)Wash with warm soapy water and a soft cloth or sponge. Thoroughly rinse with clean fresh water after saltwater use.Delta recommends Novus Polish or similar polishing products for minor scuffs or abrasions. 3
Wilderness Systems PRO composite kayak, made of fiberglass or Kevlar laminateThe manual says a quick fresh-water rinse is usually enough, especially after saltwater paddling.For the kayak, it names an ultraviolet protectant such as 303 Protectant. The manual is from 2014. 4
Sea Eagle boats, including its kayaksHose off between uses if needed. For end-of-season cleaning, its FAQ names Simple Green and a brush, followed by toweling and thorough drying.For a boat left outside, Sea Eagle says to apply an unnamed UV vinyl protectant (a treatment for vinyl, a plastic material) every three weeks. 5
Advanced Elements inflatable kayaksHose down with fresh water and use soft liquid soap or a diluted Simple Green solution. Let the kayak air-dry before packing it away for extended periods.The FAQ does not name a protectant. 6
NRS inflatable boats, including kayaksClean and inspect after each use. The care page gives no hull cleaner, washing method, or cleaner/solvent “do not use” list. A separate NRS Inflatable Boat Cleaner page says to wet the surface, spray cleaner, let it sit for up to one minute, scrub with a brush, sponge, or cloth, and rinse; do not let it stand on painted or varnished surfaces.NRS recommends 303 Protectant for long-term boat care and says to coat the boat periodically. 7
AIRE inflatable kayaks with a PVC outer shellAt season’s end, clean with dish soap and warm water using a sponge or soft-bristle brush, then towel dry. Before rolling or extended storage, prop the boat on its side for 24–48 hours so it can dry completely.AIRE names 303 Aerospace Protectant, one or two times a year. 8

For Old Town, the exterior permission does not extend to the interior. The company says, “We DO NOT recommend using any of the above products or polishes on the interior,” because “the floor of your boat may become slippery.” Mild soap and water is permitted for interior cleaning. 1

Eddyline recommends treating its rubber hatch covers with 303® Aerospace Protectant™ at least once a year, more often in a very sunny region or if you store the kayak outside. That timing is for hatch covers, not the hull. 2

What makers say to keep off

Follow each exclusion on the maker’s boats and surfaces described here. The cited Sea Eagle and Advanced Elements FAQs give no cleaner, solvent, or protectant exclusion list; that does not establish blanket permission. Do not treat one maker’s permission as another maker’s approval.

  • Old Town: “We do not recommend waxing your hull with a paste wax, such as most car waxes.” The company says paste wax can dry white in scratches and make damage more apparent. 1
  • Eddyline: For Carbonlite 2000, “NEVER USE acetone, toluene, MEK, lacquer/paint thinner, or ammonia-based cleaners on Carbonlite 2000.” Its FAQ also says, “Never use acetone, other strong solvents, or ammonia-based cleaners on Eddyline Kayaks.” Here, ammonia-based cleaners means cleaners containing ammonia. Eddyline cautions that eraser sponges may dull the glossy finish. 9 2
  • Delta: Its manual says, “NEVER USE STRONG SOLVENTS, SUCH AS ACETONE OR LACQUER THINNERS ON YOUR KAYAK” (harsh cleaners such as acetone and lacquer thinner). Delta’s list does not say whether isopropyl or denatured alcohol is allowed; Eddyline permits those for stubborn marks. Delta also states, “We DO NOT RECOMMEND the use of 303 Protectant on our boats”. Its winter guidance names Armor All Original only for hatch gaskets, not the hull. 3 10
  • Wilderness Systems: For polyethylene scratches, its manual says, “Sanding or use of an abrasive rubbing compound is not recommended.” This is a polyethylene instruction; the manual separately permits rubbing compound for superficial composite damage. 4
  • AIRE: Its manual’s “DO NOT USE:” list includes anything containing silicones (an ingredient some products contain), spray lubricants such as WD-40, and greases, sealants, or other lubricants on the valve or zipper. It also says, “Do not use WD-40, Armor All, or any harsh astringent or chemical on any part of your boat”. 8

AIRE warns that water hotter than 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) can damage PVC and urethane. Its manual also says overuse, or in some cases any use, of certain protectants can make a boat unrepairable for welding or glue repair unless it is aggressively buffed. Follow its named protectant and schedule rather than applying it more often. 8

Why instructions differ

The makers’ instructions do not agree on every product. Old Town names Armor All® for the exteriors of its specified boats. AIRE bans Armor All and anything containing silicones. Delta names Armor All Original for hatch gaskets, while advising against 303 Protectant on its boats. These instructions apply to different makers and surfaces; they do not show that any one product is safe for all kayaks. Armor All Original Protectant’s maker says it contains water-based silicone emulsions; this does not establish the ingredients of every Armor All product. Gold Eagle’s 2019 ingredient disclosure lists silicone emulsion for 303 Aerospace Protectant Spray, while its current product page calls the formula silicone-free. These published statements conflict, and AIRE’s manual does not say whether its named 303 product contains silicones. Armor All 303 ingredient disclosure 303 product page 8 1 10

Wax guidance differs too: Old Town advises against paste wax on its hulls, while Eddyline names a wash with carnauba wax and Shurhold Serious Shine for its kayaks. Use only the product and surface your own maker names. 1 2

Treatment timing depends on the product, part, and conditions:

  • AIRE: Use its named protectant one or two times a year.
  • Sea Eagle: Apply an unnamed UV vinyl protectant every three weeks if the boat is left outside.
  • NRS: Coat the boat with 303 Protectant periodically.
  • Eddyline: Treat rubber hatch covers at least once a year, more often in a very sunny region or if the kayak is stored outside.
  • Old Town: Its FAQ gives no fixed routine washing or protectant interval. Rinse after every use if the boat is used frequently in salt water.
  • Delta: Its manual gives no fixed washing or polishing interval. Polish minor scuffs or abrasions and rinse after saltwater use; treat hatch gaskets when covers become harder to fit or remove.
  • Wilderness Systems: Its manual gives no fixed cleaning or protectant interval. Rinse particularly after saltwater paddling.
  • Advanced Elements: Its FAQ gives no recurring washing or protectant interval. Hose down and air dry before extended storage.

Use the guidance for your maker and part. 8 5 7 2 1 3 4 6

Where next

Footnotes

  1. https://oldtownwatercraft.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/frequently-asked-questions ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  2. https://eddyline.com/pages/faqs ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  3. https://www.deltakayaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-delta-kayaks-owners-manual.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  4. https://media.pelicaninternational.com/m/410782ee41ef26bc/original/WS_14_Owners_Manual.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. https://www.seaeagle.com/Faq ↩ ↩2

  6. https://www.confluenceoutdoor.com/pages/advanced-elements-faq ↩ ↩2

  7. https://www.nrs.com/learn/inflatable-boat-use-care-instructions?deptid=965 ↩ ↩2

  8. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0937/9905/5492/files/AIREOwnersManual2023.pdf?v=1750710358 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  9. https://eddyline.com/blogs/news/kayak-care-and-repair ↩

  10. https://www.deltakayaks.com/winter-storage-tips/ ↩ ↩2