South Florida is hard on boats: year-round sun, salt air, and summer storms age gelcoat faster here than almost anywhere else in the country. We publish what it actually costs to keep a boat up locally, how often the work really needs doing, and the local know-how that helps owners in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Dania Beach, and Hollywood spend money in the right places — and skip the rest.
Start with the 2026 cost guideLatest guides
Real per-foot prices for wash & wax, full details, and ceramic coating — with worked examples at 25, 35, and 45 feet and the factors that move a quote up or down.
Read the guide →Florida sun and salt compress every maintenance schedule. A realistic cadence for washes, wax, and full details — and the warning signs you've waited too long.
Read the guide →An honest cost-and-lifespan comparison, including the prep work that decides whether a coating actually pays off in Florida conditions.
Read the guide →Bahia Mar, Pier 66, Las Olas, Lauderdale Marine Center, and more — what each marina is known for, and what to know about dockside care wherever you keep your boat.
Read the guide →Most-read guide
Most local detailers price by the foot. Our cost guide lays out the going per-foot rates in the Fort Lauderdale area — about $30/ft for a wash & wax, $45/ft for a full detail, and $50–125/ft for ceramic coating — so you can sanity-check any quote in about ten seconds.
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What detailing, waxing, and ceramic coating actually cost in Broward County, explained per foot and per boat size. Start with the Fort Lauderdale cost guide.
Schedules, techniques, and DIY-vs-pro judgment calls for gelcoat, vinyl, teak, and interiors — starting with how often to detail in South Florida.
Waxes, coatings, cleaners, and protectants that hold up under Florida sun and salt. Our first comparison: ceramic coating vs. wax.
Dockside life in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Dania Beach, and Hollywood — beginning with our Fort Lauderdale marinas guide.
Seasonal features on boating in the Venice of America — the Intracoastal, the sandbars, and the rhythms of the local boating calendar.
Storm-season preparation, post-storm cleanup, and the summer/winter routine changes that keep a South Florida boat ready to run.
Reading about boat care is one thing — finding a Saturday to do it is another. Get a local detailing quote from our quote partner, Lauderdale Boat Detailing, which matches Fort Lauderdale-area owners with a vetted local pro. Priced by the foot, quoted before any work begins.
Get a local detailing quote