Today's Detail v. Jet Boat!! (Lots of pics...56k no)

01bluecls · 08-09-06, 05:23

Hello all again. Today a customer of mine who had the Lotus Elise I detailed a month ago wanted me to detail his new jet boat. He said he got a great deal on it but unfortunately the boat place he bought it from did not take care of this BRAND NEW boat. It seems it had sat for months outside without a cover and being properly washed and waxed. The owner has taken out to water once and washed a few week ago I believe.

The boat wasnt filthy or grimey since the owner had washed it last time and put in the garage, BUT from the boat store neglect, the boat had oxidation and tons of SWIRLS! Owner dropped the boat off at my house at 8:45am, I started on it at 9:00 am and finished around 6:00pm!!!

Process..

EVERYTHING was wiped down with APC and MF towels to clean it. (My driveway slopes and I didnt feel like taking the risk of pulling it in the driveway by myself and having it roll into the street to wash it with the hose)

The Paint (Gelcoat) on the outside (basically sides, including most of the bottom of the boat) was polished with EC/OP via rotary and cutting pad @ 1500rpms with added pressure. Also used his Meguiars "Oxidation Removal" via Rotary for the bottom half of the boat since it wasnt as bad as the top via rotary at 1500rpms with cutting pad. Then followed up with FPII via rotary with polish pad at 1000rpms on all.

Inside paint/gelcoat (basically any area where the rotary would not fit) Polished with PC with cutting pad and OHC at 6. Any area where the PC would not fit (pretty much the whole interior) polished by hand with OC. Then polished with FPII by hand as well.

Trim on the outsite going all the way around the boat...I tried a few things to my dismay and found out that LEATHERIQUE, yes a leather conditioner, gave the trim enough oils to look new again. I did try 303, FX tire shine, Zaino Tire shine, CK RMG and some others but they all seemed way too greasy or didnt "soak" into the trim like I wanted it to.

White vinyl seats were pretty discolore from staining, so I used Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and very light dilution of APC. Cleaned them back to the pearly white that they once were!!

I also removed some stickers here and there (Warning stickers that were about latches) 4 in total.

LSP: 1 Layer Meg's Boat wax (cant remember the name) 2 Layer of collinite IW845, AND YES 1 layer of souveran!

Very pleased with the outcome since this was my first time ever detailing a boat!!

Nuff talk....picture time!

BEFORES..
Dullness and oxidation

Swirls...

01bluecls · 08-09-06, 05:27

Afters...

01bluecls · 08-09-06, 05:30

MORE AFTERS (At this point the owner had hooked it up on the hitch of his truck and pulled it out in the driveway, same with those previous interior shots)

01bluecls · 08-09-06, 05:32

Anyways, the owner was very happy. Im hurting bad right now! My back especially.

Comments, questions as always welcomed....

01bluecls · 08-09-06, 05:37

Oh by the way, most of the interior gelcoat when i polished by hand of course did not come out swirl free as the rotary applied areas. But oxidation was removed for the most part and still looked better. I could have busted out the drill and 4 inch pads for most of the interior but that would have tacked on another 3 hours to the detail

dmxsoulja3 · 08-09-06, 05:45

I hope they payed you serious cash that looks great and prob took alot of work.

Bigpoppa3346 · 08-09-06, 05:55

Wow, thats a ton of work! So much polishing, and all the fine details in a boat! I never thought I would see the day where a boat was wearing Souveran. Looks superb!

awahl63 · 08-09-06, 06:04

Amazing...nice job

01bluecls · 08-09-06, 06:10

Thanks folks, I knew someone would say something about the Souveran. I figured I had the durable coats underneath, plus I wanted the color to pop. Another thing I learned is the Gelcoat is very "thirsty" it seemed to soak up and love oils. That's pretty much why I threw so many coats of wax on it.

tustah · 08-09-06, 07:56

Mind if I ask how much you got paid for this boat detail?

I can imagine the pain you're going through.

01bluecls · 08-09-06, 11:16

I charged $260.

01bluecls · 08-09-06, 11:17

Keep in mind he is a repeat customer whom has also gotten me a referal...so price is more friendly for him