autogeekonline car wax, car care and auto detailing forum Autogeek on TV
car wax, car care and auto detailing forumAutogeekonline autogeekonline car wax, car care and auto detailing forum HomeForumBlogAutogeek.net StoreDetailing Classes with Mike PhillipsGalleryDetailing How To's
 
Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Dislikes Dislikes:  0
Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    Super Member EWtheDETAILER's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Princeton, Indiana
    Posts
    341
    Post Thanks / Like

    Detailing and Polising Boats in the water.... Is anyone doing it?!?

    I'm looking for some insight.... is anyone detailing and polishing boats in the water? Yes, in the water! I take care of a lot of boats in my area, but never in the water. I have been requested by one of my top clients to come detail his biggest boat at his lake house. The one thing keeping me from booking this boat, is the fact it's too big to come out of the water without crane assistance. Crane assistance on this lake runs about $500 to get it out and $500 to get it back in. Let me know if anyone has any information or pictures of setups for in water detailing!
    Keep Calm... and Detail On!

    Eric

  2. #2
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    82
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Detailing and Polising Boats in the water.... Is anyone doing it?!?

    Never done one in the water, always thought it would be cool to do though.

    Does he want the boat buffed or just waxed?

    I'm curious to see what other guys have to say about this.

  3. #3
    Super Member EWtheDETAILER's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Princeton, Indiana
    Posts
    341
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Detailing and Polising Boats in the water.... Is anyone doing it?!?

    He wants it buffed down to the water line and heavily scrubbed on the waterline edge


    Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline
    Keep Calm... and Detail On!

    Eric

  4. #4
    Junior Member Salmonbum's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Dyden\Ludington, MI - Steamboat, CO
    Posts
    69
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Detailing and Polising Boats in the water.... Is anyone doing it?!?

    We use a inflatable dingjy

  5. #5
    Mike Phillips
    Guest

    Re: Detailing and Polising Boats in the water.... Is anyone doing it?!?

    I Eric,

    The few guys I've talked to that have detailed boats in the water don't have anything good to say about the experience.


    First - You're likely going to be in a small, rocky dinghy. Not stable at all.

    Second - Anytime you push against the boat you're detailing, by hand or with some type of buffer, you will in essence PUSH yourself (in the small boat) away from the boat you're trying to detail.

    Third - Unless you're working by hand or with air buffers, the idea of working with an electric tool while you're "in" the water is in my opinion, incredibly risky to you, anyone around you and of coruse the tool.




    The above is just off the top of my head. Beside that, buffing out boats on dry land is hard work. It doesn't get easier trying to do it in the water. I commend you for entertaining the idea and commend you even more for starting this thread and seeking out more information.

    My friend Jeff Bell aka GSKR took on a client that wanted their boat detailed "in the water" and had a HORRIBLE experience.


    Beside all of the above, most boat owners don't understand the work required to do the job right and don't appreciate ($ pay $ ) a fair price to a qualified detailer.


    Unless they are willing to pay big bucks, I'd click the link below, read the article an put the advice in it into practice.


    The learned skill of turning detailing work down by Mike Phillips




  6. #6
    Super Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    15,094
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Detailing and Polising Boats in the water.... Is anyone doing it?!?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Phillips View Post
    working with an electric tool while you're "in" the water is in my opinion, incredibly risky to you, anyone around you and of course the tool.
    I'm pretty sure I remember a member of some forum (here, Autopia, MOL) talking about buffing a boat in the water and dropping the polisher...went to the bottom with no way to get it back.

  7. #7
    Mike Phillips
    Guest

    Re: Detailing and Polising Boats in the water.... Is anyone doing it?!?

    Quote Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy View Post

    I'm pretty sure I remember a member of some forum (here, Autopia, MOL) talking about buffing a boat in the water and dropping the polisher...went to the bottom with no way to get it back.

    I've sent Jeff a message to chime in on this thread. Jeff dropped his FLEX PE14 in the water, I think it ruined it but don't remember. Jeff will share his story...


    The guy he worked for is a friend of mine. I've worked for him too. I was surprised and shocked out the negative experience Jeff had with this person and quite frankly it left me with a negative impression.



  8. #8
    Super Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Ft. Lauderdale,Fl
    Posts
    615
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Detailing and Polising Boats in the water.... Is anyone doing it?!?

    If he's really wants the boat taken care of,he should be willing to set up the crane & pay for it. That's the price of owning a larger boat and maintaining it properly. Boat owners down here haul their boats for bottom jobs annually or thereabouts. That is when the hull gets polished. But if he won't agree to haul the boat,They make inflatable work floats that are pretty stable. I wrap the polisher plug to extension cord with several layers of electrical tape in case it falls in the water. If the polisher falls in,it is most likely toast,or at least it is in salt water. They make suction cleats you can use on the hull and tie the work float tight against it so you won't push away as you work. And pray some dumb ass doesn't come by and wake you & dump your stuff off the float into the water. Hope this helps. Good luck!

  9. #9
    Super Member EWtheDETAILER's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Princeton, Indiana
    Posts
    341
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Detailing and Polising Boats in the water.... Is anyone doing it?!?

    I appreciate the feed back guys! I'm thinking this is business I'm best to turn down, or at least pass on for this year. I don't like the idea of my Flex polishers in the water, and feel like there's not nearly as much profit left by the time I purchase items needed to polish in the water.

    However if anyone is doing some boat detailing/polishing in the water, I'd love to see some pictures or videos of the setups!
    Keep Calm... and Detail On!

    Eric

  10. #10
    Super Member Brandon Wetch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Palm Springs, CA
    Posts
    224
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Detailing and Polising Boats in the water.... Is anyone doing it?!?

    A guy I follow on Instagram, Big Robs marine detailing, polishes boats in or out of the water. Looks like a huge pain though


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    -Mr. Slick, Palm Springs' Mobile Detailer

Similar Threads

  1. TRAINING BOATS for the 2021 MARCH Boat Detailing Class
    By Mike Phillips in forum 2-Day BOAT Detailing Classes - Info & Dates
    Replies: 27
    Last Post: 03-06-2021, 05:45 PM
  2. Water spots on Boats???
    By Billy Baldone in forum Ask your detailing questions!
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 10-02-2020, 10:22 AM
  3. 1 of 2 Training Boats for the 2020 Boat Detailing Class
    By Mike Phillips in forum 2-Day BOAT Detailing Classes - Info & Dates
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12-30-2019, 10:55 AM
  4. Video: Boats arriving for the boat detailing class!
    By Mike Phillips in forum Ask your detailing questions!
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 02-07-2019, 10:32 AM
  5. Boats for boat detailing class
    By Mike Phillips in forum 2-Day BOAT Detailing Classes - Info & Dates
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 01-16-2018, 06:02 PM

Members who have read this thread: 0

There are no members to list at the moment.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

» March 2024

S M T W T F S
2526272829 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 123456