Ceramic Coating - wonder product, or waste of money?

[Tafflad]

For years I have used Meguairs Flagship Marine Wax .... and just sold a 7 yr old boat and hull looks as good as the day I bought it. No oxidation, no fading, great depth of shine. (Applied it twice a year, washed after every use)

I know things can improve - before I discovered Meguiars ... I used to use Collinte fibreglass cleaner followed by their Fleet wax .... good, but hard work to apply & buff off. Meguiars is a simple wipe on wipe off. (a film about that I'm sure).

Have a new boat arriving in 3 weeks time ... so the question is do I use Megauiars or consider a ceramic coating.

Trying to get an objective view/review is not easy, comparisons of various marine coatings do not seem to exist, search and you just get manufacturers exaltation of their product.
It is not going to be a cheap option .... including pre-treatment material, just the product will cost about x12 the price of Meguiars.
Plus application time would seem to be ~12-16Hrs compared to 2 Hrs for Meguiars

Anybody used Ceramic coating themselves ? ... does it last several seasons as they claim, how was the application process?

Keen to know.

 

[Silvertip]

Stick with what works for you. I'm a Meguiar's product fan.

 

[briangcc]

I wax mine every other year. Looks showroom condition and haven't had any issues on any of the new boats in my signature. Not sure the new coating is worth it in my particular case.

 

[mt2006]

I agree with the comments above--stick with what works. I personally think the Collinite 476 is the best sealant out there but it can be a bit tricky to work with if you apply it too thick. I have thought about the ceramic coating as well but really don't think it is worth the hassle. My last two trucks have been ceramic coated and I still felt the need to use some sort of topper to make the finish feel slick.

I just ordered some of Meguiars new pro ceramic infused sealant I am going to try out. Its not a dedicated marine product but neither is the Collinite.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I've used Meguiar's 'ceramic' sealant wax on my wife's minivan and my daughter's car. It's actually not a ceramic coating (those require pretty specialized application and curing process); it actually is an SiO2 sealant (even though they call it ceramic). It does work quite well as a top-coat sealant. From what I've read, it should have really good water-shedding properties for about twice as long as wax or conventional sealant alone.

It does produce a really nice, water-beading finish, and it still looks pretty good after a Midwestern winter. I have no idea how it would perform on gelcoat, though, and it certainly won't last as long as a true ceramic coating. The Meguiars product doesn't cost anywhere near as much as a true ceramic coating, either.

I'm not sure whether it makes sense to get the high-end ceramic treatment for a boat. I have no idea how a true ceramic coating would last on gelcoat. The cheaper alternatives that aren't true ceramic (Meguiars, etc.) would probably give you a nice shine, but would not last as long.

 

[jbetzelb]

My boat was ceramic coated when it was brand new so I cant speak to how to apply. Honestly it is nice. Been on for two seasons and it is still working. Normal lake water dirt doesnt stick to it. Appears very clean. My boat only sits on the water for one week a year when I am on vacation and again there is no water line on it when it goes back on the trailer. It was part of the package when I bought the boat and I think it was $500 to have it put on. What I dont know is how long will it last. It is kind of weird. It doesnt bead and it also doesnt water spot. If it lasts a while the no water spots might make it worth it. I do wipe it down as soon as it goes back on the trailer. I boat 50 to 60 hours a year so my seasons might not match with lot of people on here.

 

[dingbat]

Every couple of years a new wonder product comes on the market. People jump on the band wagon only to find out later what a pain it is to remove the worn out product.

I'll stick with my Collinite 885 Fleetwax

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Yes I would stick with what works for you. I use Maguires on all my vehicles including tin boat. Once a year. 27 year old StarCraft shines. I have to reiterate. I have never waxed my 2011 Chevy Silverado. I love clear coat. It still shines. It could use a coat of wax of course. It would take me 3 days to do it all.

 

[CandyHerring]

It does produce a really nice, water-beading finish, and it still looks pretty good after a Midwestern winter. I have no idea how it would perform on gelcoat, though, and it certainly won't last as long as a true ceramic coating. The Meguiars product doesn't cost anywhere near as much as a true ceramic coating, either.

 

[EmmaNewman]

I Am A Banned Spammer.