Top 3 Questions About Ceramic Coatings For Boats
1. How long will the ceramic coating last?
In tougher marine environments, life expectancy for a coating will be less than a vessel that it kept in dry storage and is washed by the same person after each use. In dry storage, owners could see up to 36 months. A motor yacht that is in the water, on a wash schedule and used often can expect to see up to 12 to 18 months.
The life expectancy is really a function of the itinerary for the vessel, factoring in where it lives, how much it’s fished/used and if its using our maintenance products and plan. Other factors and characteristics include whether it’s gel coat or paint and if so, what type, what age? A basic generalization would to reevaluate and possibly reapply after 12 to 24 months.
2. Can I apply it the coating myself?
Yes you can! Preparing the paint or gel coat is essential. You will want to prep the surface first before you layer on the ceramic coating. If your boat has been subject to a lot of wear and tear, or has oxidation with fading and water marks, it is important that you correct these conditions or pull any defects in the finish out before you apply the coating to receive the maximum benefit. Depending upon the condition of your boat and how much time and effort that you want to spend, you can choose to do it yourself or hire someone to clean up your boat’s finish and/or apply the ceramic coating yourself. If you would like to get a quote or have a certified professional install the coating, we have a list of certified Marine Nano Shop detailers who can ensure that your coating is properly applied.
3. How long does it take to apply the coating?
After the compounding and polishing phase followed by a prep wash and prep wipe decontamination, it can take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours for a 25’ bay boat like a the Tidewater shown above. The time is really a function of how many people you have to help or whether you’re by yourself. The assumption we are making above is for 1 person applying 2 coats of Liquid Crystal Armour.