Let’s be direct: You love your boat and the freedom it offers. Riding on the waves, spending lazy summer days around Elk Neck, or cruising up to Baltimore — and you want your boat to look great while doing that. So let’s talk ceramic coatings for your boat.
What’s the Point of Ceramic Coatings?
You properly already know this, but a coating protects your hull from corrosion. It’s an alternative to traditional wax coatings, and it’s seriously effective, being highly resistant to scratching, damage, and careless boaters out there. A ceramic coating also prevents paint fading, and it won’t react to bird droppings. This type of coating also looks pretty good – there’s a serious shine that comes with a ceramic coating, providing a ready-wet look. Of course, it also serves to protect your boat wrap, keeping it in mint condition.
Types of Ceramic Coating
The first step is to choose the type of ceramic coating you need. There are several types:
- Silicon dioxide infused
- Polymer-based
- Hybrid solutions
Silicon dioxide-infused
Silicon. Oxygen. It’s basically sand/glass remastered. You put it on, and the more silicon dioxide there is in it, the better it performs. Like most rocks, it’s pretty scratch-resistant, and your boat will be all the better for it.
Depending on the quality of the material and the amount of silicon dioxide in it, it can last for at least two years.
Polymer-Based
Polymers are plastics. You slap it on, and it forms massively long chains of carbon atoms to deliver flexibility like a pool noodle. But like a pool noodle, it’s not quite as hard as silicon dioxide options. It does tend to be cheaper, however, and many of them are easier to apply.
These typically last around a year to 18 months.
Hybrid
This is the broadest category because it covers a huge range of solutions. Most of these come in the form of an aerosol, and they sometimes include synthetic wax as well. In most cases, a hybrid solution will perform at about the same level as wax but won’t have the performance of a polymer-based or silicon dioxide-infused option.
Expect an application to last for around six months of moderate use. In many cases, while the application is very simple, by the time you’ve hauled your boat out and put the spray on, you might as well have used one of the better options.
Ultimately, if you are looking for an alternative to a ceramic coating or just want to ask a few questions, our boat wrap design team in Oxford, PA, can give you a seriously cool look and can get you onto the water with the design of your dreams. Give us a call today.