What to expect, and what to pay for a boat detail?

[photonfanatic]

Since I'm still a noob to the boating hobby, I've yet to ever have my boat detailed. So I wanted to ask yall what I should expect out of a good detail, and how much I should pay. I don't like being disappointed when I see something they didn't clean, that I feel like they should have. I have a couple of boat places around here that do detailing, so I was thinking of taking my boat in for a detail before this boating season.

[Gonefishing]

Best is do it yourself. They will never detail it like u would. U will always find something not cleaned or not cleaned to your liking. Cost n my area is couple hundred

[Tim in Michigan]

If you do prefer professional detailing, you may want to consider a full service car wash. Our local car wash provides detail services for watercraft.

[BobL]

Most professional "boat" detailers will quote you a cost per foot for a fiberglass boat which can run $20-$25 per foot. If you do ask for someone for a quote, make sure you tell them it is a toon and not fiberglass as the price for fiberglass may include compound/wet sand.

I would think a normal car detailer will charge you $10-$15 per foot for your toon.

[photonfanatic]

If you do prefer professional detailing, you may want to consider a full service car wash. Our local car wash provides detail services for watercraft.

Now that you mention it, I have seen boats at some of the car washes before... I just thought it was the owner's boat or something. But I'll go ahead and ask.

But yeah I was thinking of just doing it myself instead, so I don't get irritated when I run into things that I think its obvious they should have cleaned. Or maybe I'm looking at it wrong, and I should just pay them to do what they will, saving me work and then I just finish up what they didn't do.

However, I would like to go ahead and ask what the best pontoon detailing supplies are. I would assume its a bit different from a car when it comes to that. What are the staples of detailing a pontoon? I have this spray that is made to take those black streaks off the vinyl. Is there anything else I should have or be aware of?

[teecro]

I have to admit that Amazing from Bio-Kleen and 303 are both amazing products... Tried several household cleaners on some mild mildew stains and they were hardly phased but a simple wipe with Amazing and the stains were gone...

[photonfanatic]

I found the bio kleen, but when you say 303, you're referring to this right? Just checking


http://www.amazon.com/303-30202-Multi-S ... B002Z8F2DU

[teecro]

I found the bio kleen, but when you say 303, you're referring to this right? Just checking


http://www.amazon.com/303-30202-Multi-S ... B002Z8F2DU

No... Sorry I should have been mo clear ~ 303 Aerospace Protectant not the cleaner... I've read where some where less than thrilled by their cleaner but just about everyone including the Queen liked the Protectant...

[teecro]

I have to admit that Amazing from Bio-Kleen and 303 Aerospace Protectant are both amazing products... Tried several household cleaners on some mild mildew stains and they were hardly phased but a simple wipe with Amazing and the stains were gone...

[photonfanatic]

Thanks for the update.

Do you guys just pressure wash your carpets? I saw the dealer doing it, but dealers do a lot of "one time deal" type of stuff. Don't really want to tear up the carpet, over time.

[Bugsbunnyboater]

I need my boat cleaned when I hot it used. I put an ad online and something great happened a guy called who detailed cars and offered to do my boat for 75.00. I thought whst do I have to lose. He made the seats look new and the carpet to. It went from a boat stored outside in the sun with pine needle in the carpet to a new looking boat in hours. What's funny people saw hI'm doing my boat and he got four or five jobs on the spot.
I just had a cleaning from him he does it and I pay 75.00 and it's worth every penny.

[photonfanatic]

Sounds like a pretty good deal. Might try that.