Marine Ceramic Coating — Fort Lauderdale
Marine ceramiccoatingthat actually lasts.
A professionally applied ceramic coating puts a hard, chemically bonded layer over your gelcoat, paint, stainless and glass. Salt rinses off instead of etching in, waterline scum releases with a wipe, and UV hits the coating rather than the pigment underneath. Done correctly in a controlled prep, it lasts years — not the weeks you get from wax.
- 2–5 year systems
- Gelcoat, paint, glass & metal
- Full prep included
- Annual inspection
What a ceramic coating is — and isn't
A marine ceramic coating is a liquid polymer, usually silicon-dioxide (SiO₂) based, that cross-links into a semi-permanent glass-like layer when it cures. It bonds to the surface rather than sitting on it, which is the entire difference between coating and wax. Wax is a sacrificial film measured in weeks in South Florida. A coating is a cured layer measured in years.
What it is not: scratch-proofing, or a reason to stop washing the boat. A coating makes cleaning dramatically easier and stops chemical etching, staining and UV fade. It does not stop dock rash, and a coated boat still needs regular washing — just with plain soap and far less effort.
Why prep is 80% of the job
A coating locks in whatever is underneath it. Apply one over oxidised, contaminated or waxed gelcoat and you've sealed the damage in for two years and wasted the money. That's why our coating jobs are quoted as prep-plus-coating, and why prep is usually the larger share of the invoice.
Full prep means: acid wash the waterline, chemical and mechanical decontamination, compound and polish the gelcoat to the finish you want to keep, then a solvent wipe-down to strip every trace of polishing oil so the coating can bond to bare surface. On a chalky boat that's a multi-day process before a drop of coating is applied.
The coating systems we use
| System | Typical life | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sealant / hybrid ceramic | 6–12 months | Boats sold soon, tight budgets, seasonal use |
| Single-layer SiO₂ coating | 2 years | Well-maintained gelcoat, dry-stored boats |
| Multi-layer professional system | 3–5 years | New boats, post-correction boats, slip-kept vessels |
| Glass & isinglass coating | 1–2 years | Windshields, hardtop glass, enclosures |
| Stainless & metal coating | 1–2 years | Rails, towers, hardware — slows tea-staining |
Application and cure
1. Assessment & test spot
We verify gelcoat condition and confirm the correction level needed before quoting.
2. Decontamination
Acid wash, clay/chemical decon, tape-off of all trim, rubrail and hardware.
3. Correction
One to three stage machine polishing to the finish that will be locked in.
4. Panel wipe
IPA or dedicated prep solvent removes polishing residue so the coating bonds to bare surface.
5. Coating
Applied panel by panel, levelled at the right flash time, inspected under LED for high spots.
6. Cure
Boat stays dry 12–24 hours. Full chemical cure takes about 7 days — avoid harsh detergents in that window.
Living with a coated boat
- Rinse and wash with pH-neutral soap only — no waterline acid on the coating
- Skip the wax; it sits on top and dulls the hydrophobics
- Wash every 2–4 weeks so nothing sits long enough to bond
- Annual inspection and topper coat keeps the warranty and performance alive
- Report any dock impact — impact damage isn't self-healing
What it costs
Ceramic coating is quoted per vessel because the price is driven by prep, not by length alone. A brand-new boat needing only a decon and single-stage polish costs far less than a five-year-old hull needing three-stage correction. All prices include prep.
- Hull sides & transom — 2 yr systemup to 25ft, includes single-stage correctionfrom $2,400
- Hull + deck & superstructure — 3–5 yrup to 25ft, correction scoped after inspectionfrom $4,200
- Glass, isinglass & stainless add-onfrom $450
- 40ft+ / yacht programsCustom quote
Questions people actually ask
How long does marine ceramic coating really last in Florida?
A properly prepped multi-layer system on hull sides lasts three to five years with annual maintenance. Horizontal surfaces — decks, hardtops, swim platforms — take the most UV and foot traffic and typically need a refresh sooner, around two to three years.
Can you coat over existing wax?
No. Wax has to come off completely. Any residual wax or polishing oil prevents bonding and the coating will fail early and unevenly.
Will it stop hard-water spotting?
It stops the spots from etching into the gelcoat, which is the damaging part. Minerals still dry on the surface — they just wipe off instead of needing acid.
Is a coating worth it on an older, oxidised boat?
Often yes, but only after correction. Once we've cut the oxidation back, a coating is the cheapest way to make sure you never have to pay for that correction again.
How long is the boat out of service?
Plan on two to four days for most boats under 35ft: prep and correction, coating day, then a dry cure period. We schedule around your use, not the other way round.
Related services
Oxidation is gelcoat that has been broken down by UV until the surface turns porous and chalky — the powder that comes off on your hand. It cannot be washed off or waxed away. It has to be physically cut back to fresh gelcoat with machine compounding, then refined and protected. Done right, a boat that looks finished comes back to a wet gloss.
Read moreMobile boat detailing across Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas, Harbor Beach, Coral Ridge and the New River — from a maintenance wash between weekends to a multi-stage gelcoat correction on a boat that has spent two summers baking in the sun. We come to your dock, slip or dry storage with our own water, power and product.
Read moreFor owners who want the boat handled rather than scheduled. A recurring program covering exterior and interior care, protection cycles, corrosion control, systems checks and coordination with your mechanic, canvas shop and yard — with one point of contact and a maintenance record you can hand to a buyer.
Read moreYou lookgood on aclean boat.
Send photos, tell us where she's kept, and we'll come back with a real number.
Get a Quote