Boat Detailing Services for Lake Travis and Lake Austin
Seven services, all performed at your dock, marina slip or storage location. Each one addresses a specific problem, and most boats need two or three of them together. Every service is quoted per boat after we understand size and condition.
Which service does my boat need?
Most owners arrive with a symptom rather than a service name, so start here. If the surface is chalky, faded and leaves powder on your hand, that is oxidation and the answer is oxidation removal. If the finish is dull and lifeless but not chalky, gelcoat restoration is what brings the gloss and depth back. If there is a dark band sitting right at the waterline on a boat kept in the water, that is hull cleaning. If the boat has just been corrected and you want the result to last, ceramic coating is the protection step.
Inside the boat the split is just as simple: cockpit, helm, decking and storage are interior detailing; seating, bolsters and sun pads are upholstery cleaning; rails, cleats, towers and stainless fittings are metal polishing. Most visits combine several of these, and if you are unsure, describe what you are seeing in a quote request and we will tell you which ones actually apply.
Hull Cleaning
Removes the waterline scum, hard water spotting and grime that builds up on a hull sitting in Central Texas lake water.
What it addresses
Boats kept in the water collect a stubborn band of buildup right at the waterline, along with mineral spotting and dulling film across the topsides. Left alone it hardens, holds stain and becomes progressively harder to lift without abrading the gelcoat.
What the work involves
Rinse and wash the topsides and hull sides with marine-safe cleaning products
Targeted treatment of the waterline band and mineral staining
Attention to hard water spotting from lake water and sprinklers at dock level
Hand drying to keep new spotting from setting as the hull dries
An assessment of whether staining is surface level or has reached oxidized gelcoat
Brings chalky, faded gelcoat back toward a deep, reflective finish through staged compounding and polishing.
What it addresses
Gelcoat is a thin outer layer, and Central Texas sun works on it constantly. Once it goes flat and chalky, washing alone will not bring the color back. Restoration works the surface itself rather than covering it up.
What the work involves
Wash and decontaminate the surface before any machine work
Test spot to judge how much correction the gelcoat needs and can take
Staged compounding to level oxidation and light surface defects
Refining polish steps to build gloss and depth back into the color
A protective step so the freshly opened surface is not left bare
Cuts back the dull, powdery layer that forms when UV breaks down the surface of gelcoat.
What it addresses
Oxidation shows up as a hazy, whitish film that leaves chalk on your hand and makes dark hull colors look washed out. It is surface degradation, not dirt, so it has to be removed mechanically.
What the work involves
Inspection to gauge how deep the oxidation runs across different panels
Compounding with the least aggressive combination that still removes the layer
Extra care on high-exposure areas such as the transom, rails and sun-facing side
Polishing to remove compound haze and restore clarity
Guidance on how to slow the return of oxidation on a boat kept outdoors
A full cleanup of the cockpit, helm, storage and non-skid surfaces so the boat is ready to use.
What it addresses
Interiors collect lake water, sunscreen, food, sand and dust in every seam. Non-skid decking traps grime that a quick hose-off never reaches, and enclosed lockers hold moisture and odor.
What the work involves
Removing loose debris and cleaning storage compartments and lockers
Detail cleaning of the helm, gauges, switch panels and cup holders
Scrubbing non-skid decking where dirt sits below the surface texture
Cleaning and wiping down hard interior surfaces and trim
Wiping down hatches, seams and tracks where grit collects
Deep cleaning and conditioning for marine vinyl seating, bolsters and sun pads.
What it addresses
Marine vinyl takes sun, sweat, sunscreen and standing water all season. Surface dirt works into the grain, and dark spotting can develop in seams and low spots where moisture lingers.
What the work involves
Cleaning marine vinyl with products intended for boat upholstery
Agitating the vinyl grain and seams where soil is held
Attention to stitching, piping and the underside of cushions
Treating spotting where the vinyl still responds to cleaning
Conditioning to leave the vinyl supple rather than dried out
Polishing stainless and aluminum hardware, rails, cleats and towers back to a clean shine.
What it addresses
Stainless and aluminum on a lake boat pick up water spotting, dullness and surface rust freckling. Once hardware goes dull, it makes an otherwise clean boat look neglected.
What the work involves
Cleaning hardware before polishing so grit is not dragged across the metal
Polishing rails, cleats, ladders, towers and trim by hand or machine as appropriate
Addressing surface rust freckling on stainless fittings
Removing water spotting and haze from aluminum
Wiping down surrounding gelcoat and vinyl so no residue is left behind
A durable coating applied over corrected gelcoat so the finish is easier to wash and better shielded from UV.
What it addresses
Bare gelcoat gives water spotting and UV a direct target. A ceramic coating adds a slick, hydrophobic layer on top, so mineral spotting and grime release more easily during routine washes.
What the work involves
Correcting the surface first, because coating over dull gelcoat locks the dullness in
Decontaminating and wiping the surface so the coating can bond
Panel-by-panel application with controlled leveling
Cure time before the boat goes back in service
Simple maintenance washing guidance to keep the coating performing
Services we do not offer: fiberglass or gelcoat repair, mold remediation, vinyl repair, shrink wrap, bottom paint, canvas work, engine or mechanical service, boat storage and towing. If your boat needs one of those, detailing is not the right fix and we will tell you plainly.
Not sure which services your boat needs? Describe the condition and we will tell you.