Boat and marine ceramic coating for Savannah and the coast
System X marine ceramic coating for boats from $75 per foot, for owners from Savannah down the Georgia coast. No waxing, easier washdowns, and a shine that stands up to sun and salt.
From $75 per foot. Rated 5.0 from 56 Google reviews.
What a boat ceramic coating is
A boat ceramic coating, also called a marine ceramic coating, is a liquid that bonds to gelcoat and cures into a hard, clear layer. Salt, the scum line and bird droppings rinse off easier, water sheets off, and the shine holds without waxing every few months.
The idea is the same as a coating on a car, but a boat is harder on it. Gelcoat is more porous than a car’s clear coat, and a boat lives in sun and salt water. That is why prep matters even more on a boat than on a car.
A coating goes on clean, polished gelcoat. Every package includes a polish. Gelcoat that is dull or chalky gets sanded and buffed first, priced in addition, because a coating over oxidation looks bad and fails early. For the spots that take physical abuse, like the fender line and the bow, boat paint protection film does more than any coating.
We are System X Certified Installers, and we teach other shops to coat boats with it (System X training). Our packages use System X Max G+, rated 3 to 5 years on a boat, or Phantom Marine, rated 5 years. See warranty.
We coat the boat where it is kept or at the shop on US 80. Pick-up and drop-off is available for a fee, and we are insured to tow it.
Coating packages
Starting prices per foot of boat length. Every package includes a polish. Sanding and buffing are in addition.
| Package | What gets coated | Max G+ (3 to 5 years) | Phantom Marine (5 years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull only | The hull | $75 per foot | $105 per foot |
| Topside | Gunwales, inner walls, center console and leaning post | $100 per foot | $135 per foot |
| Full vessel | Hull, motors, gunwales, inner walls, center console and leaning post | $175 per foot | $200 per foot |
Add-ons
Coat the parts the packages leave out.
Top of the T-top
From $450.
Seats
From $300.
Brightwork
From $250.
Inside the boxes
From $500.
Non-skid floor and gunwales
From $500.
What a coating does on a boat, and what it does not
What it does
- Gloss that holds without waxing every few months
- Salt, the scum line and bird droppings rinse off easier
- Water sheets off, so the boat dries with fewer spots
- A hard layer between the gelcoat and sun, salt and droppings
- Shorter washdowns after every trip
What it does not do
- Fix oxidation or fading. That takes sanding and buffing first
- Stop scuffs, fender rash or dock rub. That is what film is for
- Replace a fresh water rinse after salt runs
- Last forever without care in sun and salt
How a boat coating job goes
Send the boat
Tell us the make, model and length, and send a few daylight photos of the hull and topsides.
Look at the gelcoat
We check for oxidation, fading and old wax, and tell you if it needs sanding or buffing first.
Pick a date and place
Where the boat is kept, at our shop, or we pick it up. You get reminders before the appointment.
Clean and polish
The boat is washed and stripped of old wax, scum and grime, then polished so the coating bonds to clean gelcoat.
Coat and cure
The coating is applied section by section, leveled and left to cure. It needs 48 hours before the boat goes back in the water. Most boat jobs take 3 to 7 days.
Hand back
Care instructions in person and by email, sample care products, and your System X warranty card.
From $75 per foot
A hull-only Max G+ package starts at $75 per foot. Sanding and buffing are in addition, and you get the final number before any work starts.
What sets the final price
- Boat length, and the package: hull only, topside or full vessel
- Max G+ or Phantom Marine
- Gelcoat condition, and any sanding or buffing it needs first
- Add-ons like the T-top, seats or brightwork
Care in salt water
Rinse with fresh water after salt runs, and wash with a mild, pH neutral boat soap. Skip harsh cleaners and abrasive pads, which wear a coating down faster.
You do not need to wax a coated boat. Wax on top hides the coating’s own slickness and water sheeting. You get care instructions in person and by email, plus sample products to start with: a ceramic spray, water spot remover and soap.
How long it lasts on the water
System X rates Max G+ at 3 to 5 years on a boat and Phantom Marine at 5 years. Where in that range a boat lands depends on how much sun it sees, how it is stored and how it is washed. A boat on a lift or under a cover gets more out of a coating than one that sits in the water in full sun.
The System X warranty calls for a yearly service to stay in force. See warranty.
Questions people ask
Does ceramic coating work on boats?
Yes, on clean, polished gelcoat. It makes washdowns easier and holds the shine far longer than wax.
How long does ceramic coating last on a boat?
System X rates Max G+ at 3 to 5 years on a boat and Phantom Marine at 5 years. Sun, storage and care decide where in that range it lands.
How much does it cost to ceramic coat a boat?
From $75 per foot for the hull in Max G+, up to $200 per foot for a full vessel in Phantom Marine. Sanding and buffing are in addition.
How soon can a coated boat go back in the water?
48 hours after the coating goes on.
Can you ceramic coat oxidized gelcoat?
Not until it is sanded and buffed, which is priced in addition. A coating over oxidation looks bad and fails early.
Do I still need to wax a coated boat?
No. Wax on top hides the coating’s own slickness. Rinse after salt runs and wash with a mild boat soap.
Is boat ceramic coating the same as marine ceramic coating?
Yes. They are two names for the same thing: a ceramic coating made for gelcoat and life on the water.
Can a coating go over boat paint protection film?
Yes. Film on the high-wear spots with a coating over the boat is a common combination.
More answers on our FAQ page, or still stuck? Contact us.
What owners say
Rated 5.0 from 56 Google reviews. One of them, word for word.
★★★★★They did a great job on my boat I would definitely recommend. Sent a text message alert of the scheduled date, communicated through the process, and kept all their timelines and promises.
Justin on Google
Where we work
Bring it to our shop at 23060 US 80 E, Statesboro, GA, open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, or we come to you, up to 100 miles out and further on request. Can't get it to us? We pick up and drop off for a fee, and we are insured to transport cars and boats.
StatesboroSavannahRichmond HillPoolerTybee IslandSt. Simons IslandHilton Head IslandBlufftonAugustaCharleston SC
Get a boat coating quote
Tell us the boat and length. Daylight photos of the hull help us quote faster.
23060 US 80 E, Statesboro, GA 30461
info@elitecoatingsandfilms.com
Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Saturdays on request, for a fee.
Serving Statesboro, Savannah and the coast, up to 100 miles. See service areas or read about the shop.