Detailing Time - Ceramic?

[JTinMO]

It's almost time to get the boat out. Getting excited. Got the SeaDek for the swim platform all ready to install as well.

Just got a new F150 for tow vehicle, and spent last weekend doing a 18-hour decontamination, claying, polishing, IPAing, then two layers of ceramic coating, and a final top coat of ceramic booster 24 hrs later. The truck beads water like crazy now. I'm very impressed. My first go around with a ceramic coating. I did it myself, and use CarPro cQuartz UK 3.0, and Carpro Reload as the topper. Dealership tried to sell me on $2K for this, so I did it myself for about $200 in supplies and my own free labor. I have way too much money sunk into detailing supplies not to do my own work. So now my mind goes to the boat.

Question for the group. i did search and didn't see a lot on this. What's the consensus on ceramic coating Cobalts? Last year after getting our boat used I did a full correction and polish, then topped with sealant. Kept her clean and worked great. I could ceramic coat the entire boat for probably $300 in supplies, maybe less. it's really not that hard. Just have to be vigilant and extremely detail oriented to make sure the base is perfect.

I also ceramic coated the leather in the new truck. Has anyone ceramic coated the vinyl in the Cobalts? That was $70 in ceramic for the Supercrew setup. I would guess the boat vinyl would take 3X as much product.

So maybe could do the entire boat in $500 of product. For cars I know this is good for 2-3 years, but maybe extended if taken care of and topped with SiO2 products periodically.

Or do you say simply keep her clean, waxed/sealed, and kept hitting it with Adams Guard and Gloss H2O or P&S Bead Maker? (roughly 1/5 the cost to do)

[jhnmdahl]

My initial impression is that the gelcoat is a little soft and flexible for a ceramic coating to really be effective, but I can’t imagine it’ll do any harm either.

[Big Block Power]

I thought someone did a sample side to side comparison and it really didn't show the advantage. Matt you remember that? We are just getting into that at the dealership. The cost is all about the warranty. I say keep it clean and go from there. A few new guys are doing it on their new boat so the judgments still out. Do it yourself and see? I don't know I wouldn't spend the cash. Just me.

[akorcovelos]

Yeah, seems like ceramic is the new fad, it’s on everything now. It’s rated for what, 3-5 years? What happens when it’s past that? I read it’s a bear to get off, so what does the removal and assumed reapplication cost? I’ll stick with tried and true until I see the long term return on this stuff.

[AsLan7]

Yeah, seems like ceramic is the new fad, it’s on everything now. It’s rated for what, 3-5 years? What happens when it’s past that? I read it’s a bear to get off, so what does the removal and assumed reapplication cost? I’ll stick with tried and true until I see the long term return on this stuff.

Agreed. Have not tried it on my boat but I'm steering clear for my cars. It's a magnet for road salt and actually looks worse than non-ceramic coatings during the North East winter months.

[tgrace98]

I had looked into doing this to my 262 last year. Since my boat was on a lift I was going to pay someone to load it on a trailer and do it. When I got the quote back my jaw hit the ground and I said no thanks. Traditional waxed it in the spring. Then hot sauce every weekend before I put the mooring cover on and I had one of the cleanest boats on the lake. That is my suggestion.

[JTinMO]

Yeah, seems like ceramic is the new fad, it’s on everything now. It’s rated for what, 3-5 years? What happens when it’s past that? I read it’s a bear to get off, so what does the removal and assumed reapplication cost? I’ll stick with tried and true until I see the long term return on this stuff.

I haven't taken it off, but it wears off over time. If you do want to remove it, you can with a polisher (and time). That's assuming you applied it correctly. If applied correctly, it's only 1um thick. You can't tell it's there until you get it wet, and then it beads like crazy.

The folks having a hard time getting it off are the ones that put it on incorrectly, and it flash cured with tons of high spots everywhere.

I'm trying it on my truck, but not doing it on the wife's car. She likes automatic car washes way too much. Ceramic coating will scratch and be in bad shape it you run it through the auto washes with the flapping things. I will only hand wash my truck with the wheel foam cannon, two bucket deal. I go a little bit overboard with it.

[JTinMO]

I had looked into doing this to my 262 last year. Since my boat was on a lift I was going to pay someone to load it on a trailer and do it. When I got the quote back my jaw hit the ground and I said no thanks. Traditional waxed it in the spring. Then hot sauce every weekend before I put the mooring cover on and I had one of the cleanest boats on the lake. That is my suggestion.

I'm probably going to stick to that route this year, since it's already corrected and polished up. Just need to throw a coat of wax on it now and she's good to go. I really don't want to have to redo all the polisher work again this spring. I may do the interior though. It's quick and easy to do. Maybe take 2 hours all in. Will see.

[mdadgar]

Yeah, seems like ceramic is the new fad, it’s on everything now. It’s rated for what, 3-5 years?

A friend here with a ton of mega-dollar hypercars just did a 6 mo test of ceramic vs various waxes in sections on the hood of his Mercedes daily driver. His car stays outside all the time and he lives in San Francisco.

Bottom line: no more effective or long-lasting than a good wax and WAY more expensive.

YMMV, but kinda confirmed what I suspected anyway.

- Mark

[Driller]

I had looked into doing this to my 262 last year. Since my boat was on a lift I was going to pay someone to load it on a trailer and do it. When I got the quote back my jaw hit the ground and I said no thanks. Traditional waxed it in the spring. Then hot sauce every weekend before I put the mooring cover on and I had one of the cleanest boats on the lake. That is my suggestion.

I'm probably going to stick to that route this year, since it's already corrected and polished up. Just need to throw a coat of wax on it now and she's good to go. I really don't want to have to redo all the polisher work again this spring. I may do the interior though. It's quick and easy to do. Maybe take 2 hours all in. Will see.

+1

[JTinMO]

Yeah, seems like ceramic is the new fad, it’s on everything now. It’s rated for what, 3-5 years?

A friend here with a ton of mega-dollar hypercars just did a 6 mo test of ceramic vs various waxes in sections on the hood of his Mercedes daily driver. His car stays outside all the time and he lives in San Francisco.

Bottom line: no more effective or long-lasting than a good wax and WAY more expensive.

YMMV, but kinda confirmed what I suspected anyway.

- Mark

I would not take that as gospel by any means. There is a large differential in ceramic coatings these days, some even advertising spray on wipe off as ceramic coating. And all need treated to last. Even with the best ceramic coating you need to keep it clean and topped with an SiO2 based agent. It is not an apply once and forget about it deal like most want to advertise. The ceramic coating will protect the paint and prevent it from micro-marring and halo-ing. A normal wax is not going to do that. Synthetic polymer based sealants and waxes, and ceramics are taking over, and not going away.

[akorcovelos]

Maybe, I'm just an old guy that's had hot rods, race cars, show cars/bikes pretty much my whole life and never though 'man this wash & wax just doesn't look good enough for me', and I'm not sold on spraying something like ceramics all over everything. Advertising a product you can apply to exterior and interior historically has been reserved for snake oils being sold on late night infomercials. Like I said, in 5 years I'll decide, lol. I remember 10 years ago when when everyone was 'budget painting' their cars with Rustolium and a roller, then it was Plastidipping everything, then it was vinyl wrapping everything, now its ceramic coating everything. Through it all, a good wash/claybar/buff/wax looks as good or better than pretty much anything out there.

[JTinMO]

akor, the ceramic just replaces the wax step. You still need to wash/clay/buff or in my case:
- foam wash
- strip wash (remove all prior wax or sealants)
- Iron remover spray down
- wash once more with shampoo without wax in it
- compound entire vehicle
- polish entire vehicle
- IPA wipe down entire vehicle (X2)
- ceramic coat (X2) - not a spray but spread on suede applicator pad and wipe off after curing
- 24 hrs later - top with SiO2 based sealant

the old carnauba wax looks great, just doesn't last. ceramic coating gives you much longer protection, and for regular washes, the dirt comes off MUCH easier. Bugs don't stick nearly as bad, etc. You have to use special pH neutral car wash soap, but it works.

I'm on my first experience with a ceramic coated car, but so far it's sweet. If I want to remove it in the future I can polish it off. No big deal. If it lasts 2-3 years it saved me 3-4 days of polishing/waxing in that time frame.

[akorcovelos]

Please keep us posted on your longer term experiences with it. Honestly, I've gotten to a point where I just pay someone to do a full detail in the spring, lol.

[JTinMO]

Please keep us posted on your longer term experiences with it. Honestly, I've gotten to a point where I just pay someone to do a full detail in the spring, lol.

yeah, it's a labor of love. I find keeping after the boat and our vehicles is a stress relief for me. It's totally worth paying someone to do it if you do not have the time or equipment to maintain your own. Regular maintenance on the outside saves major bills down the line.

I have family members with multiple very expensive boats that do not touch them other than use them, and they get trashed. Not even routine maintenance. It pains me greatly to see that. Maybe that pushes me to go overboard the other way.....