Mid-Season Boat Detailing

[mirrorfinishman]

Here's a sample checklist of what's involved in a mid-season boat detailing.

1- Canvas and vinyl upholstery cleaned and washed.
2- Teak wood cleaned and protected.
3- Stainless steel, aluminum and chrome cleaned, polished and waxed.
4- Fiberglass floors and skid-pad walk areas cleaned. Do not wax walking surfaces.
5- Interior and exterior fiberglass surfaces above the rub rail, cleaned polished and waxed.
6- Outboard motors cleaned, polished and waxed.
7- Cloth and vinyl upholstery cleaned and protected.
8- Carpets cleaned and vacuumed.
9- Dash, gages and accessories cleaned and protected.
10- Windows thoroughly cleaned.

Here's a photo of a 30 ft Pro-Line that gets cleaned, polished and waxed in the spring before it goes in the water and again during the mid-season.

[Lynn Matthews]

Looks great! Sounds like you take proper care of your boat.

I will have to show this to my Dad (Big Tuna) for a guideline.

Lynn

[mirrorfinishman]

Thanks Lynn,

Actually, that 30 ft Pro-Line is owned by one of my good customers. It's relatively new, however I detailed this Pro-Line before it went into the water this past spring and again during the mid-season. Most of my boat detailing customers who get their boat completely, cleaned, polished and waxed in the spring, also have their boat detailed again in the summer too.

Here's a photo of a 23 ft Pro-Line that this same customer owned and which I also detailed twice a year from when it was brand new in 1989. Of course, this boat also got the full treatment of Meguiar's boat detailing products, including a top coat of #55 Polymer Sealant.

[boatsiscool]

Both boats look great! Do you also do end of season detail, seems a good run down before being put away for the winter would make it a little easier come spring. What about inbetween are you providing a maintenence, quick wash and wax combo once amonth or more? What are you charging your cust., could use an idea on where to start with my business!

[jrodriq]

how to wax an old boat

i washed a customers boat this pass weekend, and i couldnt put a wax on it cause it was so dry, as soon as i put wax on it , it soaked it up so fast, i couldnt get it out. it the place i put wax i had to put more on and immediatly take it off and it still toke about 3 applications just to get it off. what could i do? the boat is from 1985 and the owner has had it for 4 years, it has never been waxed since he had it.

[boatsiscool]

Sounds to me as if the boat has oxidation, in which case no amount of wax alone will help. Meg's has a fiberglass restoration kit which includes #49 oxidation remover, #45 polish, and #56 pure wax. I would try this on a 20 year old boat that had never been waxed. Shame on your customer for not caring for his investment!

[jrodriq]

THANKS!
i will give that a shot...now are these products( #49, #45, #56) sold on here?

[boatsiscool]

YES! Its the fiberglass restoration kit.

[mirrorfinishman]

Originally posted by boatsiscool
Both boats look great! Do you also do end of season detail, seems a good run down before being put away for the winter would make it a little easier come spring. What about inbetween are you providing a maintenence, quick wash and wax combo once amonth or more? What are you charging your cust., could use an idea on where to start with my business!

Yes, I have a select number of clients who want their boats cleaned up before the winter. And yes, it does make it a lot easier in the spring.

Usually, I will go over all of the fiberglass with a coat of Meguiar's #50 Cleaner Wax before the boat is put away for the winter. Then, in the spring I will apply a coat of Meguiar's Flagship Polymer.

As far as inbetween maintenance during the season, I usually do a dock-side detailing, which is everything above the rub rail at least once during the summer. However some clients like to have my services about every 6 weeks or so.

Here is a link to an interesting article from Professional Carwashing & Detailing Magazine about boat detailing which includes some information about how much to charge.

http://www.carwash.com/article.asp?IndexID=6630457

[boatsiscool]

Thanks!

Thanks Frank, Great Article!!!