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Boats
Boat Detailing Cost on Lake Travis and Lake Austin
What boat detailing costs around Lake Travis and Lake Austin, what changes the price, how often a boat needs it, and what a good marine detail should include.
Around Lake Travis and Lake Austin, a maintenance wash at the dock runs about $250 to $400, a full inside-and-out boat detail about $500 to $1,100, and a detail with gel coat polishing about $900 to $1,500 or more. Length is the biggest factor, followed by how much oxidation and mildew the boat has picked up.
Typical boat detailing prices around Austin
These ranges are for ski boats, wake boats and runabouts in the 18 to 25 foot range, the most common boats on both lakes.
| Service | Typical price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance wash | $250 to $400 | Hand wash, spot-free rinse and dry, vinyl wipe-down, light vacuum |
| Full detail | $500 to $1,100 | Deep vinyl clean and UV protection, interior and compartments, metal polish, hull spot cleaning, marine sealant |
| Full detail with gel coat polish | $900 to $1,500+ | Everything above plus machine polishing to remove light oxidation |
| Heavy oxidation removal | Quoted | Compounding chalky gel coat before polishing |
| Marine ceramic coating | $1,200+ | Long-term protection on top of a polished gel coat |
Our boat detailing prices
We price by length class and come to the dock, lift, slip or driveway. The price you book is the price you pay unless the length or condition differs from the booking, and nothing changes without your OK.
| Package | Up to 21 ft | 22 ft and up |
|---|---|---|
| Deckhand (maintenance wash) | $275 | $325 |
| Captain (full detail) | $625 | $725 |
| Admiral (full detail + gel coat polish) | $1,050 | $1,200 |
Prices as of October 2026. Add-ons like carpet and seat shampoo, mildew treatment, the trailer and the engine compartment are on our price list. More on how we work on each lake: Lake Travis and Lake Austin.
What changes the price
Length and layout
A 25 foot wake boat with a tower, a big swim platform and wall-to-wall vinyl is a very different job from a 19 foot ski boat. More surface means more time washing, protecting vinyl and working the hull.
Oxidation
Gel coat oxidizes in the sun. You'll see it as a dull, chalky surface, and if you rub your hand on the hull it comes away white. Light oxidation polishes out in a one-step polish. Heavy oxidation needs a compound first, which takes much longer and is priced after seeing it.
Mildew and neglect
A boat that's been covered and wet for months, or sat a season without a wash, needs extra time on the vinyl seams, carpet and compartments. That's where mildew treatment and a carpet and seat shampoo come in.
Where the boat is
We don't charge more for a lift versus a slip versus a trailer, but access matters for scheduling. A boat on a raised lift is the easiest to work on. A boat in the water at a slip gets done from the dock and swim platform.
Lake Travis vs Lake Austin
Lake Travis boats deal with full sun on open water, mineral-heavy water that leaves spots, and a water level that moves a lot from year to year. Waterline staining and gel coat oxidation show up fastest here.
Lake Austin stays at a steady level, and most boats live on lifts or in boathouses behind the house. They pick up less lake scum but get used heavily all season, so the wear shows on the vinyl, the carpet and the windshield.
How often should a boat be detailed?
- In season, used most weekends: a maintenance wash every month, and a full detail at the start and end of the season.
- Lightly used or covered: a full detail at the start and end of the season, with a wash in between after heavy use.
- Chalky or dull gel coat: one detail with polish to bring it back, then a sealant or marine ceramic so the shine lasts longer.
A boat on a schedule rarely gets to the point of needing heavy oxidation removal, which is the most expensive job on the list.
What a good boat detail should include
- Marine-grade soaps and soft brushes on the gel coat, never household cleaners or harsh scrubbing pads.
- A spot-free final rinse, so lake and tap water minerals don't dry on the hull and glass.
- Vinyl cleaned and then protected with a UV protectant, to help keep the seats from fading and cracking.
- Metal and chrome polished, compartments and storage cleaned out.
- A marine sealant or wax on the gel coat at the end, since that's what actually protects it from the sun.
Questions
Do I need to be at the dock?
No. We need to know where the boat is, how to get to the dock or lift, and any gate code. You get a text and photos when it's done.
Can you detail a boat on the lift?
Yes, and it's the easiest way to do it. Leave the boat raised if you can.
Do you detail pontoons and tritoons?
Text us a photo and the length first. Pontoon decks and furniture vary a lot, so we confirm a set price before we come.
Is boat detailing worth it before selling?
Usually. A clean, polished boat with a degreased engine compartment photographs better and sells faster. It's one of the cheapest ways to add value to a listing.
When do I pay?
After the detail, once you've looked the boat over. When you book online your card is saved, not charged, and the charge goes through when the job is done.
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