Break the Boat Maintenance Cycle – Welcome to the Marine Protection Revolution!

Americans love their boats, spending more than $50 billion on marine products and services annually. And every buyer of a boat knows that maintaining their prized watercraft is a time-consuming and costly endeavor. With average boat ownership costs ranging from $5 - $8K annually, finding ways to keep a boat looking new without breaking the bank is always a high-priority pursuit. What if there were a way to protect this investment from the start and dramatically reduce maintenance costs? 

The annual ritual: boat maintenance. 

For decades, boat owners have accepted an expensive and time-consuming maintenance routine as inevitable. The cycle begins with a pristine vessel that gets banged up throughout the season, requiring extensive restoration before going into winter storage.

"Boat maintenance, boat detailing, boat care has just been the same forever," explains James Melfi, XPEL Product Manager. "In the summer, you start with a new boat. You enjoy it for the season, and then the boat ultimately comes out of the water. It’s dirty, grimy, water-spotted, and you might even have growth underneath the water line. And maybe a few dings from the dock. So you have the “reset” the whole boat with a long process of washing, polishing, sanding and repainting." 

And the process of damage and restoration is a never-ending loop. "This process keeps going on and on because both fresh and salt water are harsh environments," Melfi notes. "There are always going to be things that attach to the boat…algae, barnacles, slime, all kinds of stuff.” 

The marine industry is now evolving its maintenance approach, just like the auto industry has done. “Car care went through this kind of evolution at one point where we stopped washing and waxing and resetting," Melfi observes. "We said, ‘hey, let's install long-term protection and then just do light maintenance from there’. That was a paradigm shift that changed the industry.” This choice between reactive maintenance and proactive protection requires a mentality shift for boat owners and a better understanding of the products that can keep a boat clean and damage-free before it even hits the water. 

Break the Cycle with XPEL Marine Protection Products 

New, advanced marine protection technologies from XPEL offer boat owners a way to escape traditional maintenance patterns. Three revolutionary protection solutions designed specifically for marine environments offer boat owners new weapons in the defense against the elements.  

Marine Protection Film represents the most comprehensive defense against the elements that destroy boat finishes. Like its automotive counterpart, marine protection film protects against scuffs and scratches while also shielding your gel coat from UV radiation. XPEL offers a wide array of film options: traditional 8 and 10-mil film for standard applications, gloss black for aesthetic changes, and even stealth marine film for sophisticated matte finishes. The product can be installed on high-impact areas, including hull sides, engine cowlings, and heavily used surfaces. "With marine protection film, we're talking about eliminating permanent damage that can cost thousands and thousands of dollars to fix," Melfi emphasizes. "In essence, we are creating a sacrificial layer that can take the beating." 

Marine Ceramic Coating is a great option for boat owners are still seeking protection, but at a lower budget level. XPEL coatings’ hydrophobic properties create water-beading effects that facilitate cleaning and reduce salt buildup and protect metal components from corrosion. The durability eliminates traditional waxing schedules that many owners struggle to maintain during peak season. "Who wants to wax your boat on the Fourth of July after you've been in the water for two months?" Melfi quips. Best of all, XPEL’s ceramic coating products can be used in conjunction with marine protection film, creating a two-layer defense when you are on the water. "Marine PPF coupled with ceramic coating is the cherry on top of the cake…you're getting the robust, tangible protection along with ease of maintenance and extra gloss." 

Marine Window Film can address multiple protection and comfort issues for boats with enclosed cabins, helm enclosures, or salon areas. XPEL's marine window films provide heat rejection, blocks 99% of UV rays, all while maintaining optical clarity. "XPEL’s marine window film comes in a variety of different VLTs and shades, so you can choose one that fits your aesthetic," Melfi describes. "The nice thing about this film is it's non-metallized, so it can't corrode from within the film itself." 

Use professional installers to ensure maximum protection 

The complexity of marine applications requires specialized knowledge and certification beyond standard automotive installation techniques. XPEL has developed a dedicated marine installer network with specific training for marine environments and applications.

"These are all professional installations," Melfi emphasizes. "We have a brand new marine division, so all of our guys are certified with our specific marine products – PPF, coatings, window film, and even aftercare." 

The marine installation process differs significantly from automotive applications due to boat geometry and environmental considerations. Professional installers evaluate factors like usage (fresh versus salt water), storage conditions, and maintenance capabilities to recommend an optimal protection program. 

The best time to protect your boat? “Just like with automobiles, it's important that the PPF be applied to a pristine underlying canvas when the boat is brand new," Melfi advises. “It is the best way to see the value over the life of the boat."