Gelcoat oxidation, waterline staining, vinyl and canvas — South Shore marinas and driveway-stored boats.
Boats live in the harshest environment any of our work happens in. Constant UV with reflection off the water doubling the exposure, salt water, and a hull sitting in it. Gelcoat that looks glossy in May is chalky by September if it was not protected, and the waterline picks up staining that never comes off with soap.
The South Shore location works in our favor here — we cover the marinas and yards around the Five Towns, Long Beach, Island Park and Freeport, plus boats stored on trailers in driveways.
Gelcoat is a thick pigmented resin surface, and UV degrades the top layer into a chalky, faded film. The fix is compounding to cut through the dead layer, followed by polishing to bring the gloss back, then sealing with a marine wax or ceramic coating.
The result on a badly oxidized hull is dramatic. The caution is that gelcoat, like paint, is finite — a hull that has been aggressively compounded every year for a decade eventually runs thin, and at that point it needs painting rather than more cutting. We work with the least aggressive combination that clears the oxidation.
The waterline stain is mineral and organic staining from sitting in the water and needs a dedicated hull cleaner rather than scrubbing. Bottom paint condition gets noted while we work — we are not doing bottom jobs, but we will tell you what we see.
Stainless rails, cleats and hardware develop rust staining from salt exposure and get polished and protected. Aluminum trim and anodized surfaces take different products. Isinglass and clear vinyl windows in the enclosure need a dedicated plastic cleaner and polish — standard glass cleaner clouds them permanently, which is the most common damage we see on boats.
Marine vinyl seating faces UV and salt and develops mildew in the stitching and under cushions. It gets cleaned with a marine-appropriate product and protected with UV treatment, which is what prevents the cracking that eventually means reupholstery.
Canvas covers and biminis get cleaned and re-treated for water repellency. Cabin interiors on larger boats get the same upholstery, carpet and mattress extraction we do in homes — and the enclosed, humid environment means mildew and odor treatment is usually part of the job.
Spring commissioning and fall decommissioning are the two natural appointments, and the fall one protects the boat through the months it sits.
We are based on Erick Ave in Hewlett, just off Broadway and a few minutes from the Hewlett LIRR station. Rug drop-offs and pickups are by appointment — call before you come by.
Book today and get same-day service in Hewlett and the Five Towns.