A clean boat!
It is a windy Tuesday in April. In the port of Locmiquélic, just across from the better known port of Lorient in Morbihan. Not a soul in sight, or almost, because the Kerboat Services team has just arrived and immediately set to work. From their van, the three operators take out the equipment necessary for the cleaning, and load it into a very practical wheelbarrow lent to boaters by the harbor master's office. The team then takes the pontoon that leads to the catamaran - 14 meters long - to be washed, euros "scrubbed" even, as the boat has not sailed for two years, following a damage and works. The owner, now that his boat has been restored and is in the water, wants to sail on it the following weekend
Specialized operators
" Since I don't want the operators to forget something or lose track of the cleaning, I prefer not to spread the washing out over too many days "Sébastien David, the founder and manager of Kerboat Services, explains. " I can put from one to six people on a performance ". For this catamaran, they are three: Anne-Françoise, Victor and Arnaud. They connect the water and electricity to the terminal on the pontoon, and take their equipment on board, dividing it up according to whether it will be used outside or inside. The first two operators go inside, while the last one positions himself on the deck. And all of them make sure that the portholes are well closed of course!
On the ponteuros
For the exterior, Arnaud starts with the teak. The first operation is the "degreasing", an option ordered by the owner to restore the wood to its original shine and color. Then Arnaud moves on to the rest of the exterior plastic surface. He can use rust remover and yellowing agent for stubborn stains. Then it's shampoo and rinse. The whole process is done in a precise way: from top to bottom and from front to back. This ensures a logical flow that doesn't dirty what has just been cleaned!
High pressure water ?
Sébastien is not a fan of high pressure: " I think that with a spear in hand, we have less eyes on the dirt, we see it from further away "The contractor adds that too much pressure can also damage the joints on the teak. In short, he only allows his operators to use it on really dirty non-slip surfaces to remove lichen, if the products are not enough. Chromes are treated last, and Arnaud takes care not to leave fingerprints or water drops. If there are windows, they can receive a film of wax for more shine.
In the euro cabin
Meanwhile, inside, the smell of cleanliness rises from the holds! " It's a sign that things are moving forward down there "Sébastien points out. And it's not the scent of some perfumer, he insists. " We don't use that kind of thing: the smell of our products is enough, and I'm always afraid that an additional smell is more of a cover-up than anything else for the customer ". Anne-Françoise and Victor tackled the sanitary facilities in each of the hulls. The yellowed or greyish surfaces must be made white.
Gesture after gesture
Sponge and rag the grooves and nooks. Take care of the mirrors and the inside of the windows. Go to the bottom of the trunks to clean them. Shine as much as possible the cooking plates and stainless steel, often pitted here and there. And also treat the textiles: alcantara for example, this kind of velvet that sometimes covers the ceilings of the cabins. So many operations that require the use of elbow grease without moderation! However, the operators have products at their disposal.
On the product side, from the exclusive
If the operators use classic household products, degreasers, cleaners and polishers, they also use products specific to the nautical world. Several of them are produced by a Breton producer called Greenplaisance. " They are eco-designed since they are created with natural ecological elements "This "green" aspect is important to Sébastien. The washer and the chemist are working together to develop new products, such as a degreaser and a cleaner that can be used in contact with food and are non-foaming.
euros and respectful!
Operators also use other products, which the founder of Kerboat Services wants to have the least possible impact on their environment. He is particularly concerned about their non-hazardousness, a quality that Greenplaisance also displays on its products. " I assume that if the products are not dangerous for nature, they will not be dangerous for the people who use them or for the materials of which the boats are made. This is an important point for me ", makes a point of specifying Sébastien, who states a sort of golden rule of the company: " at Kerboat Services, we clean without altering! ".
And what about the hardware?
" Do not damage "The promise is also valid for the tools used. For example, the two pads, more or less abrasive, used for the treatment of teak: " brushes that are too hard will dig into the wood "explains Sébastien. For exterior plastic, however, hard brushes are used for the floor and softer ones for the windows. White magic sponges are also used to erase stains. Strong gloves are also used, even if the products are not dangerous, and buckets again. The team also uses wet and dry vacuum cleaners. And, as work clothes, practical clothes that can be soiled. The operator who works outside must wear a waterproof suit.
In addition to washing?
Kerboat Services does not take care of operations such as polishing, paint fittings, oil or hydrocarbon residue removal, or small repairs. Sébastien leaves these interventions to your shipyard. But he has developed other services. For example, the washing of sails, tops, biminis and lazy-bags. These elements are recovered from your boat, washed in the company's workshop or at a subcontractor's, to be rid of greenery (algae) and mold (fungus). They are dried and folded in a dry place. Then, they can be returned to you on board, or stored for wintering. A technical control of the sails is proposed to you by a professional, to avoid any bad surprise at sea! You can also opt for a waterproofing of the rates, capoteseuros Your ends can also be washed.
Wintering too!
Kerboat Services operators can also manage the wintering of your boat: from the search for a dry berth to the pre-embarkation cleaning, through the thermobasking at the waterline or integral, the installation of moisture absorbers, the revision of the safety equipment on board, the monthly visit to check the condition of your boat
euros your care
You don't want to delay your departure because of a full tank of food? The provisioning can also be taken care of: one of his operators will pick up your "drive" at the nearest supermarket, and will store your purchases in your boat. He can also take care of your linen in the same way. More anecdotal without doubt, but which can interest you from time to time: your transfer from the airport or train station to your boat; its decoration or setting for a particular occasion such as a birthday, a romantic outing, a weekend among friends; the convoying of your boat from one port to another; the offer of customized cruises; the "personalized training" to better master the navigation
