A new owner of a 16-foot center console laid out the dilemma in a boating forum in August (community discussion): no time for a different product on every surface, no budget for a detailer, and a mooring in salt water. Replies pointed to an all-surface cleaner, a marine wax made for salt and sun, and a quick freshwater rinse after each trip.
The DIY kit
From one marine brand’s own store, a simple kit:
- Boat soap, 32 oz: $17.98. The maker says it removes salt and grime without stripping wax.
- Soft brush with handle: $29.98. The maker rates its soft bristles safe on gelcoat, fiberglass and paint.
- Bucket: $24.98.
- Polymer polish-wax, 16 oz: $19.98.
- Spray detailer for vinyl, glass and hard surfaces: $19.98.
That’s $112.90. If the gelcoat is dull or chalky, the same brand’s compound is $34.98 for 22 oz.
What detailers charge
| Task | DIY product | Pro price per foot | 16-ft boat | 18-ft boat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wash | Boat soap, $17.98 | $4 to $9 (Perrone Boat Detail; Lake of the Ozarks Detail) | $64 to $144 | $72 to $162 |
| Wash and wax | Polish-wax, $19.98 | $10 to $16 (Lake County Detailers; Norwest Marine) | $160 to $256 | $180 to $288 |
| Compound and wax | Compound, $34.98 | $25 to $45 (Greenwood Marina; Florida Boat Detailing) | $400 to $720 | $450 to $810 |
DIY products from one marine brand’s own store; pro prices from each detailer’s or marina’s own page, checked October 2026. Boat totals are our arithmetic. How we research: methodology.
A few details from those lists: one detailer charges $4 a foot for the hull only and $6 for the whole boat including the cabin, plus $2 a foot if the boat is in the water or on a lift. A Connecticut marina’s $16 wash-and-wax rate applies to boats up to 20 feet. A Lake Minnetonka marina’s buff and wax runs $25 to $40 a foot on narrow-beam boats.
A season plan
One marine retailer’s care guide sets a simple rhythm: rinse after every outing, especially in salt water; wash monthly or as needed; wax at least twice a year; and keep the boat covered when you can.
For an 18-foot boat, that could look like:
- Every trip: a freshwater rinse. No cost beyond water.
- Monthly: a wash with the boat soap, yourself.
- In salt water: if the boat stays moored in salt water, as the forum owner’s will, the guide’s “especially in salt water” applies, so don’t skip the rinse after any outing.
- Spring and fall: a wax. Doing it yourself uses the $19.98 polish. Paying a pro for both runs about $360 to $576 at $10 to $16 a foot.
When a pro is worth it
Chalky or stained gelcoat. This is where per-foot prices climb, so it’s the job most worth getting quotes for. Our guide to compound and wax quotes covers what a fair quote spells out.
Light scratches. The compound above is sold to remove oxidation, gelcoat staining and fine scratches. Try it on a small area first, and ask a pro about anything deeper.
Specific stains. Mildew specks and waterline stains each have their own fix; see mildew and waterline stains. Pontoon owners should read chalky pontoon panels and stained vinyl.
End of season. If the boat will be wrapped for winter, clean it first; see the end-of-season clean before shrink wrap.
Sources
Based on 14 sources · How we price
- Community discussion, r/boating, a first 16-ft boat and a simple DIY routine (Aug 2026): reddit.com/r/boating/comments/1w0nn8s
- Shurhold, Brite Wash: shurhold.com/products/brite-wash
- Shurhold, Soft Brush with Handle: shurhold.com/products/soft-brush-with-handle
- Shurhold, World’s Best Rope Handle Bucket: shurhold.com/products/worlds-best-rope-handle-bucket
- Shurhold, Pro Polish Wax: shurhold.com/products/pro-polish-wax
- Shurhold, Serious Shine Quick Detailer: shurhold.com/products/serious-shine-quick-detailer
- Shurhold, Buff Magic Compound: shurhold.com/products/buff-magic-compound
- Perrone Boat Detail, services and rates: perroneboatdetail.com/services--rates.html
- Lake of the Ozarks Detail, pricing: lotodetail.com
- Lake County Detailers, boat detail: lcdetailers.com/boat-detail
- Norwest Marine, rates (Pawcatuck, CT): norwestmarine.com/rates
- Greenwood Marina, cleaning and detailing services (Excelsior, MN): greenwoodmarina.com/services/cleaning-detailing-services
- Florida Boat Detailing, pricing: floridaboatdetailing.com/services/pricing
- Boat Owners Warehouse, how to clean and protect your boat’s gelcoat: bow.com/clean-protect-boat-gelcoat
