Boat detailing quotes confuse people for one simple reason: boats price by the foot, and most owners are used to flat car-style prices. Here's how per-foot pricing actually works, our real 2026 rates, and what makes a 40-footer a fundamentally different job than a 24-foot center console.
Why Boat Work Prices Per Foot
Length is the honest proxy for how much boat there is: gelcoat, glass, stainless, vinyl, non-skid. Per-foot pricing scales the price to the actual surface being worked instead of forcing every owner into the same flat number. Multiply the rate by your boat's length and you have a realistic figure before you ever call.
Boat Wash Rates by Size
Our boat cleaning service starts at $5/ft, with the rate set by size tier:
- Under 25 ft: $5–7 per foot
- 25–40 ft: $7–10 per foot
- Over 40 ft: $15–20 per foot
The rate climbs with the tier because big boats carry more surface per foot (more freeboard, more glass, more metal) and take more time to reach all of it. A 22-foot bay boat's wash lands around $110–155; a 30-footer roughly $210–300. We work dockside at your slip or lift with marine-safe products that protect gelcoat, metals, and vinyl.
Gelcoat and Paint Restoration
Gelcoat and paint restoration starts at $100/ft. This is the multi-stage correction work that takes chalky, oxidized, sun-faded gelcoat back to gloss: compounds and polishes worked in stages, waterline stains and swirls removed. It's priced well above washing because it's machine work measured in hours per foot, and heavy oxidation can take several passes. Most of it can be done with the boat in the water.
Marine Ceramic Coating
Boat ceramic coating starts at $150/ft. As with cars, the coating is only as good as the surface under it, so the price includes correction-grade prep before anything is applied. What you get for it in Florida: real UV and salt protection, oxidation held off far longer, and washes that take half the effort. On a boat that lives outdoors in salt air, that's the whole game.
Work We Quote Individually
Some marine work varies too much by boat to carry a per-foot rate: interior detailing, teak restoration, and Yacht Armor film installation are quoted after we see the boat (or good photos of it). Cabin layouts, teak condition, and film coverage differ too much for an honest flat rate.
What Moves the Price
- Size tier: the biggest factor, and why the rate itself steps up.
- Condition: light film versus a season of neglect is hours apart; heavy oxidation moves a job from washing into restoration territory.
- Access: dockside with power and water is straightforward; dry racks and lifts can add handling time.
- Upkeep: boats on a regular wash schedule stay out of the restoration column entirely.
For a real number on your boat, request a quote with the length, where she's kept, and a photo or two. We offer dockside detailing across South Florida and, in season, the Hamptons.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to have a boat detailed? Washes run $5–7/ft under 25 feet, $7–10/ft for 25–40 feet, $15–20/ft above 40; restoration from $100/ft; ceramic coating from $150/ft.
Why do larger boats cost more per foot, not just more overall? Surface area outgrows length: bigger boats carry more gelcoat, glass, and metal per foot, and reaching it takes longer. The work per foot genuinely increases.
Do you detail boats in the water? Yes, we work dockside at your slip, marina, or lift, including most gelcoat correction.
How often should a saltwater boat be washed? Rinse after every outing, proper wash at least monthly. Regular washing is what keeps gelcoat out of restoration territory.
