Best Ceramic Coating for Yacht Paint and Gelcoat

In laymen's terms, rather than 'sticking' to the surface like a wax, a coating semi-permanently bonds directly to the vessels marine paint or gel coat via a covalent bond. On a nanomolecular level, the bond is so rigid and strong, the coating can last up to years on the surface. Chemically, coatings from one manufacturer to another can be drastically different. Their chemical makeup determines how well it performs, how good it looks, and how long it lasts. It’s imperative that yacht owners and captains understand the marine grade ceramic coatings like Repel Pro are more viscous and have a higher level of solid and active polymeric material which will provide superior durability, protection, and ease of maintenance.

Marine grade coatings like Repel Pro provide fantastic resistance to light marring damage that is often instilled in the paintwork during the hand washing or drying process. Simply put - they aid in minimizing damage to the paintwork that is often put there through physical means (microfiber towels, brushes, etc). The coating once cured is 'harder' (but still flexible) therefore adding superior protection.

While coatings can last years, many will not. We can say with confidence, in South Florida, that almost any coating being offered today should see a minimum of 6-10 months of protection. The level of protection (how chemically resistant, abrasion resistant and hydrophobic it is) is determined by the quality of the coating. Any coating claiming a lifetime warranty, for example, most likely requires paid annual re-application/maintenance. Always read the fine print! Repel Pro offers up to 24 months in the rigid south Florida environment.
One of the best features of a coating is it's lifespan. The bonding these coatings form with your vessels surface means they can remain active for longer than any wax on the market. This is a large selling point for many people, as it lessens the amount of work and money required to maintain the vessel. The better the coating is maintained - the longer it will last!

In our experience, the life span of the coating is really a function of the itinerary for the vessel, in addition to factoring in where it lives, how much it’s fished/used, recommending our maintenance regime, amongst a host of other facts and characteristics about the boat (whether it’s gelcoat or paint and if so, what type, what age) a basic generalization would be a recommendation would to at least reevaluate and possibly reapply after 12 to 24 months depending.
What you’re paying for when you have a coating professionally installed
Coatings are a justifiably more expensive option than most waxes or sealants. They require extensive preparation of the surfaces being applied to, including the paintwork being polished and the coating being properly applied and cured. Any pre-existing damage, such as scratches and swirls, much also be addressed prior to the coating application, as they cannot be removed after the fact without removing the coating - which can involve heavy compounding or even wet sanding.