What is a fair price to polish and wax a 40 foot trawler on the hard?

[HeadedToTexas]

Thanks guys, I approved the work order and it is nearly done. Haven’t been there, but I’m told it looks fabulous.

They did ask if I wanted the nonskid cleaned, polished, and waxed, or just cleaned? What do you guys do for nonskid?

 

[Mac2]

Thanks guys, I approved the work order and it is nearly done. Haven’t been there, but I’m told it looks fabulous.

They did ask if I wanted the nonskid cleaned, polished, and waxed, or just cleaned? What do you guys do for nonskid?

That seems counterintuitive to polish and wax. What type of non skid?

 

[Bacchus]

I clean and apply WoodyWax. Careful when it isvstill wet but a good product when applied per instructions.

 

[Slider70]

Depending on the original condition of the vessel seems reasonable charge to me. I paid much more than that amount on my vessel. It was the thrid yearly waxing. First two resulted in a great job. Last not so great. I will be going to a different waxer in 2026.

As for difference in what is paid to workers and what is charged by company, in my last job in another industry I paid over a 50% markup in what I paid my workers prehour and what the actual cost to me to employ those workers. And that was with tight management of their hours, i.e. little down time between jobs for each worker. The emploer can quickly lose money on a job unless he is very careful with billable hours.

 

[Comodave]

I clean and apply WoodyWax. Careful when it isvstill wet but a good product when applied per instructions.

Yup, this is what I do. The Woody Wax is only slippery when it is initially wet. After it dries it is a good nonslip wax. Used on surf boards. It is quick and simple to apply.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

That seems counterintuitive to polish and wax. What type of non skid?

Mariner has what I would call non-aggressive nonskid. I am told that Tiara has such sharp nonskid that it can’t be polished or buffed after waxing, but our Mariner is “blunted” enough it can be polished and buffed.

Is WoodyWax something that gets sprayed onto the whole boat periodically, or just the nonskid?

 

[Nepidae]

I would check with your vendor to see if he knows Ceramics and IF so, what he'd charge to do the boat with that.

Ceramics, in my experience, last longer and has a deeper shine.

But even a good wax job in the Chesapeake, bow to stern and top to bottom would cost more.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

The finish they use is ceramic. Seems like that is the current best practice.

 

[Bacchus]

Mariner has what I would call non-aggressive nonskid. I am told that Tiara has such sharp nonskid that it can’t be polished or buffed after waxing, but our Mariner is “blunted” enough it can be polished and buffed.

Is WoodyWax something that gets sprayed onto the whole boat periodically, or just the nonskid?

Correct re Tiara. A friend / fellow boater has a Tiara and you hesitate to kneel on the non- skid. I bought a brush to go on my DA polisher to clean / "buff" non-skid using a cleaner / mild polish but haven't used it yet so no report.

WoodyWax directions call for a light spray followed by light water spray to spread it. Then let dry. As Dave confirmed it is very slippery until dry. I only use it / recommend it for non- skid / walking surfaces. I've used on exterior faux teak and it helps keep it clean by shedding anything that would leave a stain.

There are other coatings ( Rejex is one) for general use that are supposed to provide a sealed surface but I have no first hand knowledge as I've never used them.

 

[Comodave]

I have used Rejex but I would not use it on nonshid. It will make the surface slippery. Woody Wax doesn’t end up slippery after it dries. I use a Shurhold brush to brush it around the nonskid after washing but while the boat is still wet. Then let it sit for about half an hour. Then rinse and you are done. It doesn’t last as long but it takes like 10 minutes to do so it is easy. It makes it much easier to get bird droppings off.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

It makes it much easier to get bird droppings off.

That is really what we're after. Our home marina has a real problem with barn swallows.

 

[Comodave]

I use Shurhold regular wax on smooth gel coat. I use the Woody Wax on the nonskid.

 

[Carriem1102]

After attempting to buff my hull with lackluster results, I paid a pro. After a few minutes he realized I had awlgrip paint. No amount of buffing would bring back the shine. I got a 60k quote to bring back the shine, aka paint the hull. $2850 looks really good to me!

We use the Awlcare polymer product on our Awlgrip Navy. The stuff was spectacular!

 

[HeadedToTexas]

I use Shurhold regular wax on smooth gel coat. I use the Woody Wax on the nonskid.

I get using different products for different finishes, but isn't the application process spraying it on, letting it stand, and then rinsing it off? Doesn't the WoodyWax run down off the nonskid onto other surfaces on its way into the lake?

 

[Bacchus]

The way I use it is wet the surface spray the WoodyWax on sparingly and spread with a brush or scrubby pad and let dry. Same for when I use it on faux teak decks. I think that is how WW instructions read.
I believe Rejex is different and relies on water spray to spread it out? Never used it myself.

 

[WillieC2]

especially if said worker is googling how to do the repair on his smart phone . . . .

and shows up wearing house slippers, with one rag, and not enough automotive wax so he has to run to town... I'll stop now.

 

[Comodave]

I get using different products for different finishes, but isn't the application process spraying it on, letting it stand, and then rinsing it off? Doesn't the WoodyWax run down off the nonskid onto other surfaces on its way into the lake?

I used to spray the WW on but the spray bottle broke so now I just wash the deck. I pour some WW into a pan. While it is still wet I use a Shurhold brush and brush the WW around covering all the nonskid. Let it sit for half an hour. Then hose off all the nonskid thoroughly. Done. Sure some gets slopped around but it doesn’t hurt anything since it is just wax.