Boat Ceramic Coating in Cornelius, NC

Boat ceramic coating is a permanent protective layer applied to your boat's gelcoat that shields it from Lake Norman's UV damage, oxidation, and water spotting for years. We use Glidecoat Pro ceramic coating with a laser gloss meter to measure your boat's surface (aiming for 90-100+ gloss readings, higher than the 70 gloss your boat came with from the factory).

Scratch Removal Certified

Paint Correction Certified

Fully Licensed & Insured

All Lake Norman Marina's Certified

What to Expect With Boat Ceramic Coating
  • Timeline depends on your boat's current condition. A newer boat in good shape takes 1-2 days at your dock in Cornelius, Mooresville, or Huntersville. An oxidized boat that hasn't been maintained needs 2-3 days because we're wet sanding, compounding, and polishing to get your gelcoat from 30-40 gloss readings up to 90-100+ before we even apply ceramic.
  • You'll see us measuring gloss readings at each stage with our laser meter. We start by checking what your boat measures right now (most neglected boats sit at 20-50 gloss), then we correct in stages (wet sanding if you're below 30, heavy compound if you're below 50, then medium compound, light compound, polish) until we hit our minimum 85 gloss before ceramic application.
  • Lake Norman's UV exposure destroys unprotected gelcoat faster than you think. We see boats stored at Peninsula Yacht Club, Morningstar Marina, and LNYC that look fine from 20 feet away but measure 35-45 gloss up close (that's oxidized and hazy). Spring and summer dock season accelerates the damage if your boat sits uncovered.
Boat Ceramic Coating
Why Boat Ceramic Coating Matters
  • Oxidation on Lake Norman happens fast and becomes permanent if you wait too long. Once your gelcoat drops below 20-30 gloss from UV damage, you're looking at wet sanding to remove the damaged layer, and if you've ignored it for years, you might be burning through the gelcoat thickness (boats only have 20-24 mils of gelcoat from the factory).
  • Resale value drops when buyers see hazy, chalky gelcoat. A boat with 40 gloss readings looks tired and neglected even if the engine and upholstery are perfect. Buyers at Lake Norman marinas know what oxidation means (deferred maintenance, potential deeper damage), and they'll knock $5,000-$15,000 off their offer or just walk away.
  • Most detailers guess at correction stages instead of measuring. Without a gloss meter, they're buffing blind and either under-correct (your ceramic fails within months because the surface wasn't prepped right) or over-correct (they burn through your gelcoat trying to make it shine). We measure at every stage so you know exactly what you're getting.
Why Boat Ceramic Coating Matters
How AJW Detailing Handles Boat Ceramic Coating
  • We're the only Lake Norman detailer with a laser gloss meter that measures exact surface readings. Most detailers eyeball it or use the "water test" (spray water and see if it beads), but we're taking baseline readings, correction readings at each compound stage, and final readings before ceramic application. The nearest detailers with gloss meters are on the coast or in Florida.
  • We're the only Lake Norman detailer with a laser gloss meter that measures exact surface readings. Most detailers eyeball it or use the "water test" (spray water and see if it beads), but we're taking baseline readings, correction readings at each compound stage, and final readings before ceramic application. The nearest detailers with gloss meters are on the coast or in Florida.
  • We're fully mobile to your dock so you don't trailer your boat anywhere. We work at Peninsula Yacht Club, Morningstar Marina, LNYC, Charlotte Ski Boats, Holiday Marina, and private docks throughout Cornelius, Mooresville, and Huntersville. No drop-off, no waiting in line at a shop, no trailering a 30-foot boat down I-77.
How AJW Detailing Handles Boat Ceramic Coating
Common Questions About Boat Ceramic Coating
How long does boat ceramic coating take on Lake Norman?
Depends on your boat's condition. A well-maintained boat that's been waxed regularly takes 1-2 days (we're doing light correction and ceramic application). An oxidized boat that's been sitting uncovered at the dock for 3-4 years takes 2-3 days because we're wet sanding and doing heavy multi-stage correction before ceramic.
Do I need to be at my dock while you work?
Nope. Most customers at Peninsula Yacht Club, Morningstar Marina, and LNYC drop off their keys and let us work. We send progress photos showing gloss meter readings at each stage (baseline, post-compound, post-polish, final). You're welcome to stop by and watch, but it's not required.
How often should I re-ceramic my boat?
Depends on your warranty and maintenance. Our 3-year warranty requires annual maintenance washes (we come out 2-4 times per year and reapply a ceramic boost). The 1-year warranty doesn't require maintenance but you'll likely want to re-ceramic after 12-18 months. If you skip maintenance entirely, expect 1-2 years before you're back to waxing.
Can you ceramic coat a boat that's already oxidized and chalky?
Yes, but we have to correct the oxidation first. If your boat measures 20-40 gloss (hazy, chalky, dull), we're wet sanding or heavy compounding to remove the damaged gelcoat layer before we can apply ceramic. That adds time and cost, but it's the only way to get durable results (ceramic won't bond to oxidized gelcoat).
What if my boat is stored at a Lake Norman marina on a lift?
Perfect. We work at Peninsula Yacht Club, Morningstar Marina, LNYC, Charlotte Ski Boats, and most private docks with lifts. We need the boat accessible on the lift (not in a covered slip where we can't reach both sides), and we need 1-3 days depending on correction needs.

Our Simple Step by Step Process

  1. Basic Information 👤

  1. Detail Information 🧽

Country

3. Vehicle Details 🚗

3. Boat Details: 🚤

3. Other (Motorcycle / RV / Trailer) Details 🛻

4. Car Detail Goals 🎯

4. Boat Detail Goals 🎯

5. Car Condition 🚨

  1. Boat Condition 🚨

  1. Water & Power Access ⚡

To perform our services on-site, we require access to a standard garden hose (water) and a grounded electrical outlet.

  1. Timing & Contact 🕒

Reliable Mobile Detailing handled start to finish.

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Where We Provide

Boat Ceramic Coating

  • Cornelius, NC

  • Huntersville, NC

  • Mayhew, NC

  • Bells Cross Roads, NC

  • Denver, NC

  • Davidson, NC

  • Mooresville, NC

  • Terrell, NC

  • Sherrills Ford, NC

  • Westport, NC

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Other Services We Provide

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other services we offer for Mobile Detailing.

What We Can Help You With.

Our Services

Boat Detailing

Boat detailing is a deep clean of your boat's interior and exterior (not just a quick wash). We're scrubbing mold out of upholstery and carpets, cleaning vinyl and gelcoat, treating all the plastic and rubber, and finishing with wax or sealant on the hull. Think of it as a full reset before the season or after a summer of Lake Norman use.

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Car Detailing

Car detailing is a deep clean of your vehicle's interior and exterior (not just a quick car wash). We're extracting carpet and upholstery stains, cleaning leather or vinyl, scrubbing door jambs and vents, washing and claying the exterior paint, and finishing with wax or sealant. Think of it as a full reset that removes months or years of buildup that regular washing doesn't touch.

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Boat Ceramic Coating

Boat ceramic coating is a permanent protective layer applied to your boat's gelcoat that shields it from Lake Norman's UV damage, oxidation, and water spotting for years. We use Glidecoat Pro ceramic coating with a laser gloss meter to measure your boat's surface (aiming for 90-100+ gloss readings, higher than the 70 gloss your boat came with from the factory).

Learn More →
Car Ceramic Coating

Car ceramic coating is a permanent protective layer applied to your car's paint that shields it from UV damage, swirl marks, water spotting, and road contaminants for years. We use Glidecoat Pro ceramic coating with a laser gloss meter to measure your paint's surface (aiming for 90-100+ gloss readings, higher than most factory paint which sits around 75-85 gloss when new).

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RV/Camper Detailing

RV and camper detailing is a deep clean of your motorhome or travel trailer's exterior and interior (not just a quick rinse at the RV wash station). We're removing black streaks, oxidation, and road grime from fiberglass or aluminum sidewalls, treating the rubber roof, cleaning awning fabric, scrubbing the interior, and sealing surfaces to protect against North Carolina UV damage and humidity.

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Fleet Washing

Fleet washing is scheduled maintenance cleaning for businesses with multiple vehicles (work trucks, vans, trailers, boats, service vehicles). We come to your location in the Lake Norman area on a recurring schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) and wash your entire fleet so your vehicles stay presentable without your team spending time on it.

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Oxidation Removal

Oxidation removal is the process of eliminating the chalky, hazy layer that forms on your boat's gelcoat or car's paint when UV exposure breaks down the surface over time. We use a laser gloss meter to measure how severe the oxidation is (most oxidized boats on Lake Norman measure 20-40 gloss when they should be 70+ from the factory), then we wet sand or compound in stages to remove the damaged layer and restore the high-gloss finish underneath.

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Paint Correction

Paint correction is the multi-stage process of removing defects from your car's clear coat (swirl marks, scratches, oxidation, water spots, holograms) using progressively finer compounds and polishes until the paint is mirror-finish. We use a laser gloss meter to measure your paint at each correction stage (targeting 90-100+ gloss readings, compared to most factory paint which sits around 75-85 gloss when new).

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Scratch Removal

Scratch removal is the process of eliminating surface scratches from your boat's gelcoat or car's paint by leveling the surrounding material down to the depth of the scratch using wet sanding, compound, and polish. We use a laser gloss meter to measure the area before and after correction (targeting 85+ gloss minimum after we're done), and we can only remove scratches that haven't penetrated completely through the gelcoat or clear coat layer.

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Interior Stain Removal

Interior stain removal is the process of extracting deep-set stains from carpet, upholstery, vinyl, and fabric in your boat or car using commercial-grade equipment and specialty cleaners. We're treating everything from mold and mildew stains (common in Lake Norman boats that sit closed up) to food and drink spills, sunscreen residue, fuel stains, and mystery marks that have been sitting for months or years.

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Wheel & Rim Restoration

Wheel and rim restoration is the process of removing brake dust buildup, curb rash, oxidation, and clear coat failure from your wheels to restore them to like-new condition. We're polishing out scratches, repairing minor damage, cleaning embedded contaminants, and sealing the surface so brake dust doesn't bond as aggressively (which is a constant problem in North Carolina humidity and road salt).

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Water Spot Removal

Water spot removal is the process of eliminating mineral deposits etched into your boat's gelcoat or car's paint from hard water evaporation. Lake Norman's hard water leaves calcium and magnesium deposits that bond to surfaces when water dries (those white circles and spots you see everywhere), and we use acid-based cleaners, compounds, and polish to remove them before they etch permanently into the clear coat or gelcoat.

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