What/How to Charge?

**tmacsad** · 06-02-2009, 11:37 PM

Hey Guy`s, I got a call from a client today asking if I could detail his boat. It is a 06 21 foot Monterrey boat. All he wants done is the seats cleaned and conditioned, and the outside waxed.

My question is, how do you go about charging for a boat detail?

A. Shop rate of $45.00 hr

B. So much per square foot

How would you go about pricing this job?

**black bart** · 06-03-2009, 04:02 AM

I have done this on my own boat and the bottom is hard to do even if it is on the trailer
Much more work than you think.

Will it require removing algae and scum from the bottom. Don`t underestimate how much work it can be to do it right.

**dr_detail** · 06-03-2009, 07:03 PM

Depending upon the condition, for a wash and wax plus the interior I would think anywhere from $15/ft - $25/ft.

or

How many total manhours do you think it will take?

So

If it`s 21` that`s 21*$15~$20=$315~$525

If it takes 2 guys 4 hours that`s 8*$45=$360

**GearHead_1** · 06-03-2009, 08:25 PM

My experience with boats is that they almost always need to be polished before they are waxed. Gel Coat oxidizes badly.

**tmacsad** · 06-03-2009, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by black bart

Will it require removing algae and scum from the bottom.

I`m not shore Bart. He said he wants the whole boat done. Seat, floor, wash & wax

Originally Posted by dr_detail

Depending upon the condition, for a wash and wax plus the interior I would think anywhere from $15/ft - $25/ft.

or

How many total manhours do you think it will take?

So

If it`s 21` that`s 21*$15~$20=$315~$525

If it takes 2 guys 4 hours that`s 8*$45=$360

This sounds like a good way to bid the job Dr.D

Originally Posted by GearHead_1

My experience with boats is that they almost always need to be polished before they are waxed. Gel Coat oxidizes badly.

Is this an all day project G.H.?

**GearHead_1** · 06-03-2009, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by tmacsad

Is this an all day project G.H.?

It certainly can be depending upon how badly the boat has oxidized. I know that I have never found a PC to be particularly effective on Gel Coats. I like using a PC but it`s kind of like bringing a knife to a gun fight with Gel Coat. It almost always requires a rotary with a fairly aggressive polish. If it is a colored Gel Coat it will really stain your pads, to the point where they aren`t of value on anything else.

That brings up a question I`ve never asked. Do others have a method of cleaning pads with this problem? In the past I`ve tried a lot of different techniques and haven`t found anything that worked very well. There are a couple of boats that I`ve done several times and I`ve just given the pads to the owner and told him to save them for the next time I work on his boat.

I`m not saying that the boat you are doing will need this but I`ve had several owners tell me that they just want their boat waxed. In reality if I were to have only waxed their boat you probably would not have been able to tell I had even worked on the finish. Many owners thoroughly clean their boats only once or twice a season and these toys live in very harsh environments.

**tmacsad** · 06-03-2009, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by GearHead_1

It certainly can be depending upon how badly the boat has oxidized. I know that I have never found a PC to be particularly effective on Gel Coats. I like using a PC but it`s kind of like bringing a knife to a gun fight with Gel Coat. It almost always requires a rotary with a fairly aggressive polish. If it is a colored Gel Coat it will really stain your pads, to the point where they aren`t of value on anything else.

That brings up a question I`ve never asked. Do others have a method of cleaning pads with this problem? In the past I`ve tried a lot of different techniques and haven`t found anything that worked very well. There are a couple of boats that I`ve done several times and I`ve just given the pads to the owner and told him to save them for the next time I work on his boat.

I`m not saying that the boat you are doing will need this but I`ve had several owners tell me that they just want their boat waxed. In reality if I were to have only waxed their boat you probably would not have been able to tell I had even worked on the finish. Many owners thoroughly clean their boats only once or twice a season and these toys live in very harsh environments.

What polish & wax would you recommend for a boat detail? Also, do you inform the owner that the boat needs more than a wax job?

**GearHead_1** · 06-03-2009, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by tmacsad

What polish & wax would you recommend for a boat detail? Also, do you inform the owner that the boat needs more than a wax job?

I`ve been the route of trying dedicated marine polishes (Meguiar`s). Initially I figured they must be specially designed for Gel Coat instead of paint, right? Or so I thought. I haven`t found them to be any better than standard automotive polishes on Gel Coat. I would suggest having PoorBoys line of polishes and would bet if you come across an oxidized boat you will end up using 2.5 or 3 to start.

You`ll go broke if you only charge for a wax and it needs more intensive work. Oxidation on a boat is easy to see (seriously, sometimes it`s almost chalky). It isn`t hard to get an owner to understand that his boat needs more than wax if you can get them to hang around long enough to show them the difference between wax and polish on oxidation. If you`re charging by the foot (makes the most sense for boats or motor homes) just make sure that the price is sufficient for a round or two with a polish.

**tmacsad** · 06-03-2009, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by GearHead_1

I`ve been the route of trying dedicated marine polishes (Meguiar`s). Initially I figured they must be specially designed for Gel Coat instead of paint, right? Or so I thought. I haven`t found them to be any better than standard automotive polishes on Gel Coat. I would suggest having PoorBoys line of polishes and would bet if you come across an oxidized boat you will end up using 2.5 or 3 to start.

You`ll go broke if you only charge for a wax and it needs more intensive work. Oxidation on a boat is easy to see. It isn`t hard to get an owner to understand that his boat needs more than wax if you can get them to hang around long enough to show them what wax will do and the difference a thorough polish makes. If you`re charging by the foot (makes the most sense for boats or motor homes) just make sure that the price is sufficient for a round or two with a polish.

Thanks GearHead! I think I`m going to go with $15 a foot.

**Tom N** · 06-04-2009, 10:33 PM

PB`s polish w/ carnuba used with a rotary works great on boats.

**tmacsad** · 06-05-2009, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by Tom N

PB`s polish w/ carnuba used with a rotary works great on boats.

Thanks Tom!

I was going ask what the guy`s use/prefer when it comes to detailing boats.

So how bout it guy`s, what do you use/prefer when you detail boats?

**Tom N** · 06-06-2009, 08:59 PM

4 star has some really good marine line products. Their extra cut compound and aggressor wool pads work great on a heavily oxidized boat. Just make sure you have something to spur the pad with lke a paint brush handle.
Then some PB PwC.
On and Off works real good at removing rust on fiberglass.
303 for the vinyl. I use a lot of different things depending on the boat and the shape its in. Some not so normal like magic eraser or comet.

**Redwings97** · 06-13-2009, 12:21 PM

On a 2006 boat - the oxidation probably isn`t too bad yet, but you never know. The last boat I did was a 2006 21` boat - I used PB`s PWC with polishing pads and a PC and topped with Meguiars Premium boat wax. I felt and the customer felt that the boat looked like new again. However, the boat was in real good shape starting out. I also spruced up the interior with a quick cleaning. I charged $300 and it took less than 8 hours - worked out to be about $40 an hour.