Boat Detailing Guide: Get It Done
How to Get an Accurate Boat Detailing Quote
Boat detailing is priced boat by boat, because length, condition and scope change the work far more than they do on a car. A quote is only as accurate as the information behind it: a request that says "21 foot boat, needs a detail" can mean a two-hour wash or a heavily oxidized hull and mildewed seats.
This page shows what to send us, how to take photos that show the real condition of your boat, and what moves the price. Do it once, properly, and the first reply you get can be a real recommendation.
The short answer
For an accurate boat detailing quote, send the make, model and length; what you want done (exterior, interior or both); the condition, including oxidation, water spots, mildew and stains; and where the boat is kept and whether it is on a trailer. Follow up with daylight photos of each hull side, the waterline, the seats and any problem areas. At The Auto Show, use the boat form or call, then email photos after we reply.
Key points
- Every boat is quoted individually; the more specific your request, the more accurate the first reply.
- Include make, model and length, scope, condition and where the boat is kept, including whether it is on a trailer.
- Our form cannot take attachments, so email photos after we reply.
- Photograph the hull in open shade or overcast light, and show the chalk test on a dark cloth.
- Length and type, gelcoat condition, interior condition, scope and storage are what change the price.
The request
What to put in your quote request
Our boat form asks for the boat and what you would like done. Use the message box to cover the rest. If you would rather talk it through, call (864) 202-6934.
- Make, model and lengthThe starting point
- For example, a 2019 bowrider, 21 feet. Length and type set how much surface there is: a 24-foot pontoon has far more seating and floor than a 17-foot runabout.
- What you want done
- Exterior, interior or both. If you only care about the hull before a sale, or only about the seats before a family trip, say so; it narrows the scope and the price.
- Condition
- Oxidation, water spots, mildew and stains. Be specific about where: chalky on the port side, brown waterline, pink stains on the bow seats, black spots in a locker.
- Where it is kept
- Covered slip, open slip, lift, dry storage, garage or driveway. Storage affects both the condition and how the work is scheduled.
- Trailer or not
- Tell us whether the boat is on a trailer and whether it can be brought to the shop. We confirm in our reply whether it needs to come to 112 Metro Drive, Suite B, and how the work will be scheduled.
- Coating interest
- If you are curious about a coating, mention it. We tell you whether we recommend one for your boat. Coatings on boats
Photos
How to photograph your boat for a quote
Photos are the single biggest improvement you can make to a quote request. The form cannot take attachments, so wait for our reply and email them then. A phone camera is fine; light and angles matter more than the camera.
Pick the right light
Open shade or an overcast day shows oxidation and stains honestly. Harsh midday sun hides chalkiness in glare, and wet gelcoat looks glossier than it is, so shoot the boat dry.
One wide shot per side
Stand far enough back to get the whole hull side, bow to stern, in frame. Do the same for the transom and, if you can, the bow from the front.
Show the chalk test
Wipe a dark cloth or a clean finger across the hull side and photograph the residue next to the spot you wiped. It shows the level of oxidation better than any description.
Get close to the problems
Waterline, scuffs, rust streaks under fittings, faded colored gelcoat. Take one close-up and one from about an arm's length so we can see the size of the area.
Shoot the seats and floor
A wide shot of the cockpit and bow seating, then close-ups of mildew, pink stains, sunscreen marks and seams. Include carpet or non-skid and the inside of any locker that smells.
Add the windshield and brightwork
Clear vinyl haze, water spots on glass and tea staining on rails or cleats each need different work.
Oxidation
Describing gelcoat condition so the quote is right
Gelcoat condition is often the biggest single variable in a boat quote. A hull that only needs a polish and protection takes far less time than one that is heavily chalked and needs compounding first. Grady-White's own advice is to start with the least abrasive method that gets the job done, and the quote has to reflect how far up that ladder your hull is.
These rough descriptions help, alongside the chalk test photo:
- Light: the hull looks a little flat, but reflections are still visible and almost nothing comes off on a cloth.
- Moderate: the finish is dull, color looks faded and a cloth picks up a clear white or colored residue.
- Heavy: the surface is rough or powdery, color is washed out and residue comes off easily on your hand.
- Not cosmetic: cracks, crazing, chips or blisters. Note them; a detail cleans and polishes but does not repair gelcoat.
The price
What changes the price
We do not publish a boat price list. These are the factors that move a quote, in roughly the order they matter for most boats around Lake Hartwell.
- Length and type
- More hull, more seats, more floor. A pontoon's furniture and a wake boat's large seating areas add interior time; a center console may have less upholstery but more hardware.
- Gelcoat condition
- Polish only, or compound and then polish, and then protect. Heavy oxidation on a large hull is where most of the time goes.
- Interior condition
- Mildew, stains and the amount of upholstery and carpet. Pink stains and long-standing mildew take more work, and some may not fully come out. About pink stains
- Scope
- Exterior only, interior only, or both.
- Where it is kept
- On a trailer, on a lift or in a slip affects how the work is scheduled.
For a fuller explanation of why these factors matter, see what drives the cost of boat detailing.
After you send
What happens after you send the request
We reply with a recommendation and a price for your boat. The reply also confirms whether the boat needs to come to the shop and how the work will be scheduled. That is the point to email your photos if you have not already, and to ask anything the request did not cover, such as which products we use or whether a specific stain is likely to come out.
Boat work is fitted around our vehicle appointments. If you are aiming for a date, such as the first weekend at the lake or a buyer coming to look at the boat, say so in your request and ask early, particularly in spring.
If you compare quotes from more than one detailer, compare like with like. Consumer guidance from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, written for hiring any contractor, says to compare quotes only when they cover the same work and to get every task in writing. For a boat, that means the same areas, the same level of polishing and the same protection.
Avoid
Common reasons a quote changes
- Photos taken wet or in bright sun, which hide oxidation until the boat is dry.
- A request that says interior only, when the hull is what really bothers you.
- Stains attacked with bleach or strong cleaners between the quote and the appointment, which can make them worse.
- Gear, coolers and life jackets left aboard, which hide carpet and locker condition in photos.
- Damage that is not cosmetic, such as cracks or a soft floor, which a detail cannot fix and a quote cannot cover.
Ready to ask for a quote?
Send the make, model and length, what you want done, its condition and where it is kept. We reply, then you email the photos.
Common questions
Can I get a boat detailing price over the phone?
You can call (864) 202-6934 and talk it through. Because every boat is quoted individually, we need the make, model and length, the scope you want and a description of the condition before we can give a price, and photos make it more accurate. Many people find it easiest to send the form, then email photos after we reply.
How many photos should I send for a boat quote?
Usually eight to fifteen is plenty: one wide shot of each hull side and the transom, a chalk-test photo, close-ups of the waterline and any stains or scuffs, a wide shot of the seating, close-ups of problem seats, and the floor and windshield. More photos of the same thing do not help as much as good light and clear angles.
Why won't detailers give a per-foot price?
Length is only one factor. Two boats of the same length can differ hugely in oxidation, upholstery, carpet and hardware, so a per-foot figure either overcharges the clean boat or undercharges the neglected one. We quote each boat individually based on its size, gelcoat condition, interior condition, scope and where it is kept.
Should I clean my boat before taking photos for a quote?
A quick rinse to remove loose dirt and leaves is fine, but let it dry fully before taking photos, and do not wax, polish or treat stains first. The point of the photos is to show the real condition. A freshly waxed or wet hull hides oxidation, and harsh stain removers can set stains or damage vinyl.
Sources
- Keeping Your Boat Shipshape, Grady-White Customer Tips (https://www.gradywhite.com/explore/grady-owners/customer-tips/keep-shipshape), accessed October 2026
- Boat Cleaning Tips, BoatUS Magazine (https://www.boatus.com/app/views/201810/boat-cleaning-tips.asp), accessed October 2026
- How to Keep Your Sea Ray Looking Sharp: Vinyl Maintenance Tips, Sea Ray (https://searay.com/us/en/blog/vinyl-maintenance-tips), accessed October 2026
- How Can I Avoid Getting Scammed by a Contractor?, National Association of Insurance Commissioners (https://content.naic.org/article/how-can-i-avoid-getting-scammed-contractor), accessed October 2026
Boat detailing is quoted per boat, so this guide does not list boat prices. Product directions and warranty terms come from the manufacturer: follow your boat builder’s care instructions where they differ from general advice here.