Sure, it’s not a particularly sexy bit of kit, but you’ve got to admit there’s a case to be made for the salty nautical legacy of swabbing the decks. Fun fact: Pirates and navies alike were not meticulous cleaners just for the sake of it, there are actually quite a few Age of Sail benefits to swabbing decks including keeping the wood swollen enough to remain watertight, removing ash and gun powder that presented a fire hazard, and reducing rot because saltwater isn’t fungus-friendly!
Anyway, back to 2025 where it’s less about keeping your boat afloat and more about keeping it beautiful. Shurhold has developed 60 and 72” deck mops that can get your boat back to a water spot-free finish. The Water Sprite Deck Mops are ultra-absorbent and constructed so that there is nothing that could accidentally scratch the finish at any angle. An internal rubber guard keeps the rigid structure contained, while the fabric strips are made from a chamois-like PVA material, which is advertised as resistant to mold, mildew, and bacteria. If you’re covering a really large surface, there’s also an XL version of the Water Sprite Mop which is a third larger.
For the handles, Shurhold has opted for bamboo, which is strong, light, and durable, but also has the added benefit of floating—just in case. They are enameled for a shiny finish for years to come.
$109.98, shurhold.com
February 2025
