How much do you guys charge to wash boats?
- Thread starter MaxWax
- Start date
Cosmin
New member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 742
- 0
i never did one , i saw one today , the client wants only interior : metal bar light polish , seats , inside the seats , dash and the carpets. no wash or polish or wax.
i was thinking in a range of $200-$400 , should take me 5-6 hours ....
Gurge
New member
- Aug 26, 2010
- 521
- 1
I don't have any set in stone prices but I think you gotta be a little more specific. we talking washing the hull only (like on blocks in a boatyard) or washing the interior only, or both
is this more of a maintenance wash? or a 'spring cleanup' where the boat has been covered for a couple months in the winter and got mildew & gross stuff?
Ton of variables I haven't even addressed. Cosmin kinda hit the nail on the head though. Assess the job and customers expectations. Get an idea in your head how long you think it will take you (go generous with the estimate to be safe) then multiply that by the hourly rate you typically make for auto work (I'd go a little generous again just because boat owners I think are used to paying a bit of a premium - sorry to all the captains in the room)
also consider some craigslist searching. see what other guys in the area charge (probably will be a wide range). shoot for something in the middle to upper range of what you see. don't be the cheap guy, you're better than that. good luck
is this more of a maintenance wash? or a 'spring cleanup' where the boat has been covered for a couple months in the winter and got mildew & gross stuff?
Ton of variables I haven't even addressed. Cosmin kinda hit the nail on the head though. Assess the job and customers expectations. Get an idea in your head how long you think it will take you (go generous with the estimate to be safe) then multiply that by the hourly rate you typically make for auto work (I'd go a little generous again just because boat owners I think are used to paying a bit of a premium - sorry to all the captains in the room)
also consider some craigslist searching. see what other guys in the area charge (probably will be a wide range). shoot for something in the middle to upper range of what you see. don't be the cheap guy, you're better than that. good luck
Meghan
Super Moderator
- Mar 3, 2006
- 15,033
- 0
At the marina where I keep my boat they charge $250 for a pretty close to complete detail. I have an 18.5 foot boat, and they will wash, wax, clean floors, all seats, all metal and put UV protectant on all vinyl. I think that is pretty good price as it takes me all day to fully detail it and it's just a pain in the butt to do. Now I have a pontoon boat so there is no real hull to clean and they do not polish or put anything on the pontoons but they do wash them.
Flash Gordon
Well-known member
- Feb 6, 2010
- 11,412
- 434
Your going to get yourself in trouble charging a flat fee. Try using an hourly rate instead
Meghan
Super Moderator
- Mar 3, 2006
- 15,033
- 0
Yes that or take a look at the boat then offer a flat fee.... I would not let my marina do it if they said it will be $40 an hour and I have no idea how long it will take but I can guess for you.... because I have seen them move and it might take 24 hours!!! It's always nice to see what you are up against anyway, I have heard people say... oh my car, no it's not really bad, just needs a good vacuum, then you get the mini van and realize she has five kids and their is enough food on the seats and floors to feed them for a month! People never give you the full story when telling you what you are in for...
Always nice on bigger jobs to take a look first or give a quote but tell them you will give final price when you see it.
MaxWax
New member
- Sep 26, 2011
- 157
- 0
- Thread starter
- #7
Sorry, started the thread and then I didn't really clarify. I was curious what you guys would charge per foot to do just a regular wash and dry for the entire boat, hull and deck but no interior. Assuming the boat isn't so dirty that it requires getting really down and dirty, just a maintenance wash.
MNDSMtuner96
New member
- Sep 20, 2012
- 148
- 0
I wanted to revive this. I have a guy wanting just an exterior on a 29 foot Sea Ray. I went to look at it a couple days ago and it's pretty oxidized. I did a couple test spots with some m101 and he was really liking the results. The thing is ive never done paint correction on a boat and dont know what to charge him. Also wondering if its necessary to clay the whole thing first? He also wants the metal rails polished and obviously the paint sealed also. Any suggestions on how I should go about pricing this? I know a lot of shops price by the foot. Wondering if I should go that route or an hourly rate instead. Thank you in advance for the help!
