Proper boat care for Cairns' Coral Sea salt and tropical UV. Every boat's a bit different, so we have a look first and quote from there — no guessing, no flat rates that don't make sense.
A day out on the Coral Sea is brilliant. What it does to your boat's gelcoat is less brilliant. Salt bonds to every surface, the UV up here is relentless, and if a boat sits under the Cairns sun between runs the gelcoat starts chalking and going dull before you've really noticed. That's pretty normal — it's just what the conditions do.
What we do is wash it back properly, cut the oxidation and polish the gelcoat so it's bright and protected again. The difference between a fresh gelcoat and a chalky, neglected one is significant — and most of the time it's recoverable if you don't leave it too long.
I'll be honest with you — some boats come in with oxidation that's genuinely pretty far gone. We'll tell you straight what's recoverable and what isn't, rather than polish it and charge you for something that didn't really work.
Cairns is one of the most demanding environments for a boat in the country — not an exaggeration, just the reality of boating here. Here's what your gelcoat is up against every time you go out:
Salt water splashing onto the hull, the rails, the cockpit — and then sitting there as the surface dries. It's corrosive and it stains, and a salt wash-down after every run is the single best thing you can do. If it builds up over weeks, it bonds to the gelcoat and takes a proper clean to shift.
The UV index in Cairns is among the highest in Australia. Gelcoat that sits in direct sun without protection chalks and fades — the surface goes dull and powdery. It's one of the most common things we see on boats up here, and a cut and polish brings most of it back if you catch it early enough.
Vinyl upholstery cracks and fades, metal fittings corrode faster, and any neglected surface deteriorates quickly in the wet season humidity. A detail once or twice a year keeps on top of it before the damage gets serious.
We have a proper look at the boat first — hull, gelcoat, fittings, upholstery — and give you an honest quote based on what's actually there. Boats vary too much in size and condition for a flat rate to mean anything.
A thorough salt wash-down of the hull and topsides, then a pre-clean to lift surface grime, algae and salt deposits before we start on the gelcoat. This is the step most DIY washes skip, and it matters.
We machine polish the gelcoat by hand to cut back the oxidation and surface marks and bring the shine back. On badly oxidised boats this step makes a significant difference — chalky and dull to bright and clean.
Cleats, rails and grab handles cleaned and polished where possible. Cockpit vinyl and upholstery cleaned and protected. Windows and port-lights done streak-free.
We go over the whole boat one more time and make sure everything is right before we hand it back. We'll tell you honestly what to keep an eye on and how often it makes sense to do it again given how much you use it.
Every boat is different — size, hull length, condition, how much sun and salt it's seen — so a flat rate wouldn't give you an accurate figure. We quote on inspection, in person or from a few photos, so you know what you're getting before we start.
A proper salt wash-down of the hull and topsides — the thing to do after every run, or when the salt build-up has had a few weeks to bond on. Quoted on a look because boats come in every size.
The whole boat sorted — gelcoat cut and polished, metals cleaned up, vinyl and upholstery treated, glass done, hull washed down. Quoted to your boat once we've had a look at what it needs.
For gelcoat that's gone chalky and dull — we cut it back and polish to bring the colour and shine back. The bigger job, and the one where we need to see it in person before we can give you an honest number.
Prices are GST-inclusive. We come to your marina or mooring if that's easier, or you can bring the boat to our Trinity Beach shop — just let us know what suits you.
What customers say after a Posh Wash detail.
“Recently had our car detailed by Grace — friendly, professional, and great communication from start to finish. We booked the Signature Detail package and every surface was spotless. The car looks and feels like new again. Highly recommended.”
“Had two vehicles fully detailed inside and out. Both cars came up better than expected. The whole process from booking to completion was seamless. Grace was a pleasure to deal with.”
“Happiest I could be after Grace’s amazing service. Professionalism from booking through to the finished cars was outstanding — attention to detail was exceptional. We look forward to booking again.”
“I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my car. Grace does a beautiful job — no nasty chemicals that make me feel sick. Lovely energy. Posh Wash is 5 stars from me.”
Tell us a bit about the boat — size, roughly how it's looking — and we'll come back to you with an honest figure. No pressure, just a straight answer on what it needs and what it'll cost.
Protect your gelcoat or paint after a full detail — keeps salt and UV from doing the damage in the first place.
Learn moreThe same thorough exterior process for your car — useful when the boat's done and the 4WD that tows it needs attention too.
Learn moreIf the boat gets the treatment, the 4WD that tows it probably deserves one too. Salt, mud and dust sorted.
Learn moreStraight answers about boat detailing in Cairns — no jargon.
It's quoted on inspection rather than a flat rate, because boats vary too much in size and condition for a single number to be accurate or fair. A small runabout in reasonable shape is a different job to a large cruiser with oxidised gelcoat. Send us a few photos or give us a call and we'll come back to you with an honest figure.
Yes — we come to wherever the boat is. Marina berth, mooring, driveway if it's on a trailer. Alternatively you can bring it to our Trinity Beach shop if that's easier. Whatever suits you.
It depends on how much you use it and how it's stored. If it goes out regularly on the Coral Sea, a proper salt wash-down after each run makes a real difference, and a full detail once or twice a year keeps on top of the oxidation and UV damage before it gets serious. We'll tell you honestly when we see it.
In most cases, yes — a cut and polish brings oxidised gelcoat back significantly if you haven't left it too long. If the oxidation has gone very deep we'll tell you straight what's recoverable and what isn't, rather than polish it and charge you for a result that didn't really happen.
A rinse with fresh water after every run in salt water is genuinely the single best thing you can do for a boat up here. Salt sits on the hull, the rails, everything, and the longer it's there the harder it is to shift. A full detail is for when the build-up has had a while — or when the gelcoat needs a proper cut and polish.
The basics are similar — you're cleaning, polishing and protecting a surface — but the products and process are different. Gelcoat is not the same as automotive paint, salt-water environments need marine-safe products, and the geometry of a hull is nothing like a car panel. We treat them differently because they are different.
Drop into our shopfront at 29 Vasey Esplanade, Trinity Beach, or stay put and our mobile vans come to your home or work right across Cairns and the Northern Beaches.
