Maintain it
28-day wash plan
pH-neutral washes on a monthly cycle keep the coating's hydrophobic layer intact. We recommend pairing it with our recurring plan so it happens without thinking.
Recurring wash plansLong-Term Protection · Applied Dockside
Marine Ceramic Coating for Florida Keys Yachts
A properly prepared ceramic coating sheds salt, resists UV and makes every wash faster — for years, not months. We apply Starke and Dura Coat systems at your dock or on your lift, after the full correction your hull actually needs, with a maintenance plan included.
Starke Yacht Care & Dura Coat applicator 2–5 year realistic Keys lifespan Correction prep always included
Honest Expectations
What ceramic coating will do — and what it won't.
Ceramic coating is the best long-term protection we can apply to a marine finish. It is not magic, and anyone who sells it as magic is selling you a failure in three years. Here's the straight version.
What it will do
- Shed salt and water — washes take half the time and half the effort
- Slow oxidation and UV fading dramatically between washes
- Resist waterline staining, bird droppings and fuel spills
- Hold a deep, glass-like gloss for 2–5+ years in Keys conditions
- Protect resale value — a coated hull surveys and photographs better
What it won't do
- Fix oxidation, scratches or stains — it locks in whatever is underneath
- Stop fender marks, dock rash or impact damage
- Replace maintenance — a neglected coating still fails early
- Last 10 years in Florida sun, no matter what a bottle claims
- Work over old wax or sealant — surfaces must be fully stripped first
Every Coating Job
What's included, every time.
- Finish assessment: oxidation level, existing coating or wax, hull color, access
- Full wash and decontamination; old wax and sealant stripped completely
- Machine correction — compounding and polishing — matched to the hull's condition
- IPA wipe-down of every panel to remove polishing oils before application
- Coated-panel application with checked flash times, humidity and temperature monitored
- Initial cure before the boat sees water, then full inspection under light
- Completion photos plus your 28-day maintenance wash schedule
What Sets the Scope
Why no two coating jobs are identical.
Prep condition
A maintained hull needs light correction; a chalky one needs full compounding. Prep is the majority of the job — and of the time.
Existing coating
A suitable existing coating may be a reactivation candidate instead of a full re-application — we assess bond and coverage first and tell you honestly which applies.
Hull color & vertical scope
Dark hulls show swirl and need finer polishing stages; sides-to-rub-rail scope adds panels and time.
Setting & cure window
Dock, lift or yard slot; shade or cover preferred for cure. We schedule around weather so the coating sets properly.
Firm before we start: photos or a dockside look produce a written quote with the full prep and application scope spelled out. If the hull isn't a good coating candidate, we say so before you spend anything.
The Application Process
Preparation is 80% of a coating job.
Assess the finish
Oxidation level, existing coating or wax, hull color and access all get documented. If the hull isn't a good coating candidate, we say so before you spend money.
Decontaminate and strip
Full wash plus removal of old wax, sealant and bonded contamination. Ceramic cannot bond over anything but bare, clean gelcoat or paint.
Correct the surface
Compounding and polishing with gelcoat restoration techniques to remove oxidation and defects. The coating will lock in exactly this finish — so this step gets the most time.
IPA wipe-down
Every panel wiped with isopropyl solution to remove polishing oils. Miss this and the coating flashes unevenly or fails to bond.
Apply in controlled panels
Starke Repel Pro or Dura Coat ceramic applied panel by panel with checked flash times, humidity and temperature monitored. No shortcuts, no spraying-and-wiping.
Cure, inspect, and hand over a plan
Initial cure before the boat sees water, full inspection under light, completion photos, and your 28-day maintenance wash schedule — most clients roll it into a recurring plan.
Wax vs. Sealant vs. Ceramic
Which protection actually fits your boat?
All three have a place. Here's how we decide with owners.
| Marine Wax | Polymer Sealant | Ceramic Coating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifespan in Keys sun | 2–4 months | 4–6 months | 2–5+ years |
| Hydrophobic behavior | Good, fades fast | Good | Excellent, long-lived |
| UV / oxidation resistance | Moderate | Good | Best available |
| Stain & waterline resistance | Low | Moderate | High |
| Wash effort afterward | Normal | Easier | Dramatically easier |
| Best for | Covered slips, seasonal boats | Owners who wax quarterly | Outdoor boats kept 3+ years |
Rule of thumb: if you'll keep the boat more than three seasons and it lives outdoors, ceramic wins on longevity and wash effort. If it's in a covered slip and you already wax quarterly, sealant is honestly the better fit — and we'll say so.
The Result
Glass you can read the dock in.
This hull went through full correction and ceramic application at a private lift in the Keys. The reflection you're seeing is the coating doing its job: a level, sealed, high-gloss surface that sheds salt instead of holding it.
Every coated vessel leaves with completion photos like this — your baseline for every future inspection.
See more finished work
Refresh it
Ceramic reactivation
Already coated by someone else? We assess bond and coverage, then reactivate suitable coatings — restoring water behavior without a full re-application.
Request a reactivation assessmentFix it first
Oxidized hull? Correct first.
Coating over chalky gelcoat traps the oxidation forever. If your hull is dull, it needs gelcoat restoration before any coating — we bundle both at one visit.
Gelcoat restorationCoverage
Ceramic coating across the Upper Keys.
Consultation, prep and application at marinas, residences and yacht facilities from Key Largo to Tavernier — dockside, on the lift, or in your yard slot.
Key Largo
Marinas, waterfront homes and private slips — including Bluefin Rock Harbor and Marina del Mar areas.
View Key Largo coverageIslamorada
Local application from our MM 80-area home base — Islamorada Yacht Village, Whale Harbor and Church Key.
View Islamorada coverageTavernier
Tavernier, Plantation Key and nearby facilities — including Mangrove Marina yard slots during engine work.
View Tavernier coverageFAQ
Ceramic coating questions, answered.
How do I get a ceramic coating quote?
Send a daylight photo of the hull plus your length and where the boat is kept. Prep level — oxidation, existing coating, hull color and access — sets the scope, and you receive a firm written quote before anything is scheduled.
How long does ceramic coating last on a boat?
In the Keys' high-UV, high-salt environment, realistically 2 to 5+ years — a direct function of maintenance. Boats washed with pH-neutral soap about every 28 days keep their hydrophobic properties; neglected coatings degrade faster. Claims of 7+ years come from minimal-UV climates.
Can ceramic coating be applied over oxidation?
No. Ceramic locks in whatever is underneath it. Oxidized, chalky or scratched gelcoat must be compounded and polished first — coating over oxidation traps the defects and wastes the coating. Preparation is the majority of the work.
Is ceramic coating worth it on a boat?
For boats kept outdoors in the Keys, usually yes: it cuts wash time dramatically, slows oxidation between washes and protects gloss for years instead of months. For a covered-slip boat that's already waxed quarterly, wax or sealant may be the more sensible choice — and we'll tell you which fits.
What maintenance does a coated boat need?
A pH-neutral wash about every 28 days, no abrasive pads or harsh chemicals, and an annual inspection. We recommend pairing it with a recurring wash plan to keep it effortless.
How long does the application take?
Plan on two days for a typical 30–45 foot vessel: day one for correction and IPA decontamination, day two for coated-panel application and initial cure. Larger yachts take longer. The boat stays at your dock or on your lift the entire time.
Can you refresh an existing ceramic coating?
Yes. Ceramic reactivation is available when the existing coating is still suitable for maintenance — we assess bond and coverage first. Reactivation restores hydrophobic behavior without a full re-application.
Get started
Request your ceramic coating quote.
Ceramic Coating is already selected below. Add your length and a hull photo and we'll confirm prep level and scope in writing.
Phone: 305-396-1787
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM · Sat–Sun 8 AM–1 PM
Location: Islamorada, the Keys, MM 80 area