SOLUTIONS

Owning and maintaining a boat is not just time consuming, it can also be frustrating. There are so many boat detailing products on the market to choose from it can be difficult to determine which ones actually work and provide longer-term protection.

As a boat owner you always want your investment to look as good as the day you bought it, but what is the best way to achieve this result? And how can you make it last?

When it comes to your boats paint or gel coat surface, both types will degrade quickly when exposed to tough marine "salt" environments and high UV levels, such as in South Florida. These conditions cause oxidization. Oxidation is a chemical reaction of oxygen and moisture in the air or water on the surface of your gel coat or paint and is identifiable when you start to see the surfaces shine begin to dull and the reflection degrade. Overtime, the surface will get cloudy and even chalky - a white powder will come off on your hand as you wipe over the surface. Remember, even a brand-new boat is vulnerable to this damage. 

Therefore, it is important the surface is properly prepared (corrected or restored) for a protective treatment, such as wax or a ceramic boat coating, so it will deliver an optimum lifespan of protection.

Using a professional, licensed and insured boat cleaning and detailing company, such as TEN-TEX Boating, which has been in business since 2006 (nearly 20-years), will ensure your boat receives the most cost effective and boat specific surface treatment that it needs to look good at all times.

Ten-Tex Boating's detailers are covered by Workers Comp & Ship Repairers Commercial Liability coverages, which gives you peace of mind.

Before you actually purchase a boat, it is worth considering discussing your expectations & the associated, potential maintenance costs with a local boat detailer, so you can factor in an adequate budget from the outset.

4- STEPS TO MAINTAINING YOUR BOATS GELCOAT OR PAINT SURFACE

STEP 1 - WASH

Frequent washing with a good quality, neutral balanced pH boat soap, such as Presta Marine Boat wash or Sudbury's All Purpose Boat Zoap, is vital to remove loose contaminants from the surface and keep the finish in pristine condition. 

STEP 2 - CLEAN

Surface preparation of your paint or gel coat will remove embedded contamination and surface defects, such as oxidization, swirl marks and water spots. These can be removed using a combination of a good quality compound, a Makita rotary buffer or RUPES orbital polisher together with a wool or foam pad. When selecting a compound, firstly test with the least aggressive grade first and then go harder or more aggressive until you find the level to which the surface can be restored. The process of compounding may need to be repeated several times.

STEP 3 - POLISHING

Once the surface is smooth as glass and free of defects, the polishing process will restore it to a deep, high gloss and reflective finish. 

STEP 4 - PROTECTION

The only way to keep your surfaces finish looking great for an extended period is to apply a protective coating, such as a wax or boat ceramic coating. This protective layer will preserve the brilliant high gloss. 

Repeat Steps 1 to 4 to maintain your surfaces finish.

FOR BEST RESULTS, HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WAX? 

So how often do you need to have your boat washed and waxed to appropriately protect your boat?

The time interval between coats will depend on a number of factors:

• Age & previous maintenance of the boats paint or gel coat surface.
• How well the surface was originally prepared, i.e., compound and/or polished.
• The type of protective coating applied.
• The environment conditions it sustains.
• Where the boat is stored - outside, under a boat cover or stored undercover in a shed facility. 
• The boat's geographical location. 

In South Florida, if the boat is kept outside and without any type of boat cover, it will degrade due to the effects of the weather conditions and the sun's UV. This process known as weathering of the paint or gelcoat surface will occur much more rapidly and oxidation will begin to dull the surface, so the shine will eventually disappear. To combat this, ideally you should wash and wax your boat within 12 weeks or 3 months, i.e., Quarterly or 4 times annually.  However, for boats kept undercover, you should be able to reduce this schedule to between every 4 months to bi-annually. 

Boats that are kept in Northern states, with more seasonal conditions, may only need to be waxed every 6 months to annually.

Firstly, there are a significant number of wax products available for the marine market, so it can be very confusing to know which one is the most effective. You have straight hand buffing waxes and then there are alternative "cleaner" waxes - which contain a small quantity of compound to remove very light oxidation - that can be either removed using a machine or buffed by hand. 

When wax is initially applied to a clean surface it will visibly improve the shine or reflective properties, while also providing a level of protection from dirt, salt water, and UV. The key point is that generally almost all waxes provide a similar level of gloss and protection. So, it is usually down to the applicators personal preference based on ease of use and experience. 

The biggest downside of wax products is the length of protection and shine they can provide. The first day that wax is applied to your boat it will have a fantastic shine and give you the protection that you need, but each time you use your boat and/or wash it down the shine and protection decreases as more and more of the wax is removed. The reason for this is the fact that wax does not bond with the surface, it simply sits on top of the paint or gel coat, so inevitably it will deteriorate quickly in the harsh salt marine environment.

As a general guide, assuming the surface is free of contamination, traditional "waxes" that you buy from your local marine store will generally last up to 3 months. In the extreme heat of states such as Florida, this time can be greatly reduced.

You can buy more expensive Nano "sealers" that may protect the surface for up to 6 months. However, like waxes these tend to be more effective on painted surfaces rather than gel coat. Finally, you have boat ceramic coatings that deliver the longest protection, usually between 12 and 18 months. They come at a "front-end" premium price (between $100 and $150.00 per ft.) but have the significant advantage of providing the ability to maintain the boat with minimal effort - a simple light wash down with a ceramic boat soap after each boat use is recommended.

PRO'S AND CONS OF BOAT CERAMIC COATINGS VERSUS WAX

Boat ceramic coatings, unlike traditional waxes, create a semi-permanent bond with the surface of the gel coat or paint. This bond creates a smooth, hydrophobic barrier over the surface. Although this barrier prevents any contaminants from getting into the pours of the surface, they do not prevent your boat from getting dirty. However, any contaminant will only be sitting on top of the surface and will easily rinse off with water. This allows you to use your boat more often without the hassle of having to wash it after every use.

When boat ceramic coatings are first applied, they are in a liquid form, but as the product cures it transforms into a solid. This allows the boat coating to fill in any microscopic pours and scratches on the surface, creating an extremely smooth and hard protective barrier over the surface. The bond created by the coating and the surface always the coating to provide superior protection from UV damage, scum lines, dirt, salt water and an amazing shine, while lasting between 4-6 times longer than traditional wax. 

So now rather than up to 3 months of wax protection, you can expect generally between one (1) year and eighteen months (18). There are exceptions, especially in the hot & humid conditions of South Florida, with some product manufacturers claiming 5+ years. Remember the longer the overall protection period, the greater the upfront cost. Based on your budget, TEN-TEX Boating utilizes premier boat specific ceramic coatings including UndrDog and Starke's Marine Nano Shop Liquid Crystal Armour Pro HD Ceramic coating.

In conclusion, traditional waxes provide a short-term fix to the ongoing struggle of maintaining your boat. 

While the initial cost of boat ceramic coatings exceeds the cost of wax, the overall protection of boat ceramic coatings is far superior to wax, and the maintenance effort is reduced. Boat ceramic coatings give you the peace of mind knowing that your investment is being protected in the longer-term, and it allows you to enjoy your boat without the constant headache of tedious maintenance.