30ft cobalt!?

**Buff Guys Auto** · 12-24-2009, 12:10 AM

Hey guys just have a few finishing touches to put on a 3 stage buff, 2 sealant coat, along with a wax topper full interior and extensive metal polish detail. boat had fair amount of oxidation on the lower hull. and the all the stainless actually had a fair amount of rust deposits on it. (wool pad and 2/3 of a day,lots o polish) pulled the button down carpets got every speck of salt spray off, from top the bottom stayed out of the engine bay mostly other than some debris removal from the drain pathways. being that it had so much tree in it id say it was left uncover under one for a bit.. That`s a vague discription considering it took me a while to get were i am now.

I`ve read a bit on what to charge for boats. but its always hard to figure your first official monster boat detail i guess. Maybe $30-$35 but i dont know. would love to gleen some insight.

**imported_weekendwarrior** · 12-24-2009, 06:32 PM

I`d go $10-$20 a foot, depending on your area. In other words, for a 30 ft boat, $10 would be $300, and $20 would be $600.

**Buff Guys Auto** · 12-28-2009, 08:17 PM

hey i ended up charging him around 28 a foot. he was very very happy, he even gave me a 100 for a tip. thanks for being the only one to respond i know the post was poorly written. lol.. have you done many boats before, if so what kind of products were you using. im thinking of getting into collinite.

**imported_weekendwarrior** · 12-29-2009, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by Buff Guys Auto

hey i ended up charging him around 28 a foot. he was very very happy, he even gave me a 100 for a tip. thanks for being the only one to respond i know the post was poorly written. lol.. have you done many boats before, if so what kind of products were you using. im thinking of getting into collinite.

Good for you...$28 is really good. I have done a hand full of boats. Can`t go wrong with Collinite for the LSP. I typically use the Meguiar`s Marine Line Products for correction, and then Collinite for protection on boats.

**Tarpon Marine** · 01-09-2010, 07:21 PM

For that detail I would charge no less than $35 per ft. And thats for a basic three step buff and wax. For what you did probably around $45 per ft. easy.

**Buff Guys Auto** · 01-13-2010, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Tarpon Marine

For that detail I would charge no less than $35 per ft. And thats for a basic three step buff and wax. For what you did probably around $45 per ft. easy.

jeminy crikites thats awsome seems as though your confedent in your pricing. I was going to charge 34 but i sliced some off for referals,how long have you been doing boats? what products are you using on gel coat and bright work. t

**Tarpon Marine** · 01-14-2010, 06:35 PM

I have been professionally detailing boats for 12 years, on my own for 7. On gel-coat we use water based compounds and polishes except for one solvent based polish and a glaze, to seal I use a polymer sealant with resins and cleaner wax for hidden areas. Metals I use a good metal polish and then seal.

**E's Exteriors** · 05-02-2010, 12:18 AM

I never really charge a standard rate per foot charging by the hour is the only way ur going to make money on extensive boats details. There are to many variables on boats: metal work, extensive polishing, refinishing the wood, plastic polishing and so forth. I can tell a customer about what its going to take per foot for just polishing but gel coat can some times be a bear. Sorry for the late reply but hope this helps for future endevors.