Sportfish Boat Interior Maintenance: Keep Your Cabin Clean & Fresh

A while back we wrote a blog about “keeping your sportfish smelling good inside” and we thought it was time to revisit the topic and expand a bit into interior maintenance in general.

Most crews keeping their hulls shiny and systems tight — but interiors often get overlooked. After all, who really enjoys scrubbing showers and polishing cabinets? The truth is, just like everything else on board, the more you stay ahead of it, the easier it is to maintain.

At Sportfish Outfitters, we stock a full line of interior cleaning products that make the job quicker and more effective. In fact, many exterior products work just as well inside the boat. Here’s a breakdown of the best ways to keep the interior of your sportfish yacht looking sharp and smelling fresh.

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Cabinets & Finished Surfaces

Whether your cabinetry is matte, satin, or high-gloss, the right approach keeps it protected:

• Always use microfiber cloths — they won’t scratch like paper towels or rags.

• Matte or satin finishes: Clean with distilled water or a diluted isopropyl alcohol solution.

• High-gloss finishes: Use the same alcohol solution, but add a detail spray or quick wax to bring out the shine. This also protects the surface against fingerprints and contaminants. 

• Tip: Avoid Pledge or strong window cleaners — they can cause smudges or strip the shine.

• Treat high gloss cabinetry like exterior gelcoat: clean regularly, protect with sealant or spray wax, and it will look new longer.

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Showers & Bathrooms

Showers need more attention than most areas, but regular upkeep saves you from heavy scrubbing later.

• Start with a deep clean using Spray Nine or Dish Soap, household shower cleaner, or water spot remover or even a Magic Eraser for heavy grime (test first to avoid scratches). Always make sure you ventilate the area you are working in when using cleaners.

• Wipe surfaces down with an isopropyl alcohol solution.

• Protect with ceramic coatings or polymer sealants to repel water.

• Keep a chamois or water blade in the shower and dry it after each use — this simple habit prevents hard water buildup.

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Glass, Acrylic & Mirrors

Clear acrylic, mirrors, and windows can lose their shine fast or show light scratches without protection.

• Use glass cleaner, alcohol spray, or Novus #1 Plastic Clean & Shine.

• For clear acrylic or shower doors, apply spray wax, polymer, or ceramic coatings to help prevent water spots.

• For salon windows use a tint safe non ammonia or automotive window cleaner

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Odor Control & Air Quality

A fresh-smelling cabin makes all the difference on long trips.

• Keep bilges and shower boxes clean and dry.

• Use baking soda–based carpet powders occasionally to neutralize odors.

• Add air-quality tools like:

• GT50 Air Purifier

• Damprid moisture bags for closets

• Tea tree oil gels

• Dometic Breathe 4500 integrated into your A/C system

You can find all of these products and more in our "Interior Maintenance" Collection 

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Pro Tips from The Local Stew

We also reached out to Margo at TheLocalStew.com, who runs a sportfishing yacht interior cleaning business in South Florida. She shared her go-to products for keeping interiors spotless.

Her recommended products:

• Novus Plastic Clean & Shine (#1) – TVs, screens, faux glass

• Aquatech or Starke Water Spot Remover – shower doors, glass panels

• Flitz Metal Polish – restores tarnished metal

• Starke Revolution Wax – protects showers when ceramic coating isn’t applied

• Murphy’s Oil Soap (diluted) – conditions satin wood surfaces

• Alcohol + water mix – streak-free cleaner for gloss and varnished finishes

• Leather CPR – cleans and conditions helm seating and leather trim

• Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser – everyday stainless polish

• Clorox Wipes / Clorox Toilet Cleaner – disinfects heads and toilets

• Lysol Foaming Bathroom Cleaner – shower walls without bleach

• Soft Scrub or The Pink Stuff – textured/non-skid surfaces

• Easy Off Oven Cleaner – restores neglected ovens

• Star Brite Mildew Stain Remover – mold & mildew trouble spots

• Bona Hardwood Cleaner – laminate flooring

• 3M Adhesive Remover – tough adhesives (use cautiously)

• Goo Gone – safer alternative for adhesives

• Magic Erasers – scuffs and shower inserts

Items she recommends keeping on board:

• Kanberra Gel – AC vent areas

• Arm & Hammer Fridge Fresh – odor control

• GT50 Air Purifier – cabin air quality

• Damprid Bags – closets and storage

You can find many of these products through Sportfish Outfitters, with others available at local retailers.

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Final Thoughts

Maintaining the interior of a sportfish boat doesn’t have to be a long process. With the right products and a little consistency, you’ll keep your cabin looking sharp, smelling fresh, and lasting longer.

👉 Shop our complete collection of interior cleaning and maintenance products here.