Frequently asked questions

A Detail Reset is the first job for every new detailing customer. We come to your boat, assess what it needs, and bring it up to the Tide Standard: wash, cut and polish, wax and buff, glass, basic interior. Once we know your boat, we can build a cost-effective custom care package around how you actually use it.

Send us a few photos and a quick description via the enquiry form on the detailing page, call us on 0485 670 603, or email hello@tideclub.com.au. We'll come back with a quote within 24 hours. For larger boats, we may need an in-person inspection before quoting.

Because every boat is different, and every owner uses their boat differently. A Detail Reset on a well-maintained 5-metre runabout is a very different job to one on a neglected 30-foot cabin cruiser. We quote on what your boat actually needs, never a flat per-foot rate. That's how we keep the standard honest.

Before we touch a single surface, we carry out a full gelcoat assessment. We inspect the hull for areas of oxidisation, UV damage, thinning or burnt-through gelcoat. Any areas of concern are taped, logged and photographed, and you're made aware of them before work begins. This protects you from unexpected repair costs, and ensures we never overwork a surface that needs specialist attention rather than compounding.

Salt water should be rinsed off after every single trip. Left to dry, salt accelerates surface degradation, stains the gelcoat and works its way into seams and fittings. Every job starts with a thorough wash. It's not just a courtesy step, it's essential to getting the best result from any compound or wax treatment that follows.

Yes. Before any machine work, we soak the boat in a marine pre-wash to lift and soften the salt and grit. Salt is abrasive, and washing it off dry can scratch the gelcoat. We also run the water through an inline filter, because Brisbane's hard water leaves mineral spotting that's stubborn to remove. Getting the wash right is the foundation of a good detail, so we never rush it.

In most cases, yes. Alongside the wash and polish, we treat the marks a normal clean leaves behind: rust and tannin staining from fittings, mould and mildew, hard-water spotting, and hazing or fine scratching in vinyl clears. We'll assess what your boat needs and tell you what we can bring back.

Compounding uses a cutting compound applied by an electric buffer to remove the top layer of oxidised, UV-damaged or scratched gelcoat, revealing fresh, glossy surface underneath. If your hull looks dull, chalky or faded, compounding is almost certainly what it needs. For heavily affected surfaces, we may recommend a wet sand process before buffing to achieve an even result. We'll advise during your gelcoat assessment.

Polish (or compound) removes surface damage. It's an abrasive process that strips back the damaged layer. Wax protects and seals, applied after polishing to lock in the finish and create a barrier against UV, salt and the elements. Both serve different purposes, and the best results come from doing them in the right order.

We tape it, photograph it and show you before any work begins. If an area is too thin to compound safely, we'll tell you clearly and recommend the appropriate next step: whether that's a lighter treatment or a specialist repair before detailing. We will never proceed in a way that risks further damage to your hull.

As a general guide: wash after every outing, wax every 3–6 months, and a full compound and polish once a year or when the hull starts looking dull. We can build a custom care package around how you actually use your boat so you never have to think about it, and it's more cost-effective long-term.

Once we've done your Detail Reset and we know your boat, we can put a custom care package together, with visits scheduled around how often you're out on the water, your local conditions, and what your boat needs to stay at the Tide Standard. It's never a rigid subscription. We build it around you.

Yes. Typically, vessels 20ft and over are detailed out of the water for full access. Allied with your other service providers, we like to schedule these details for the same time your boat is being antifouled or undergoing other necessary maintenance. Alternatively, the detail will be performed whilst in the water. Quotes are always provided individually after an in-person inspection.

Yes. Everything we use is marine-grade, Australian-made and safe to use on and around the water. We're working on the waterways, and we take that responsibility seriously.

Yes, we're fully mobile and come to your boat. We detail across Brisbane and Moreton Bay and on the Sunshine Coast, with the Gold Coast coming soon. Wherever your boat lives (marina, jetty, hardstand or the driveway), we'll come to it. Alternatively, we have a shed at Mount Cotton available to house the boat.

Wherever suits your boat. Smaller boats are usually detailed on the trailer, in the driveway or in the water; vessels 20ft can also be detailed in the water. Where possible, we line up details for when the boat is out of the water so we can reach below the waterline, the keel and the running gear. We'll coordinate and confirm what's best when we quote.

Where it's available, access to power and water makes the job easier, but it's not always essential. Let us know your setup when you enquire and we'll come prepared to work around it.

Not necessarily. As long as we can safely access the boat, you're welcome to leave us to it, and we'll walk you through the finished result. Many customers like to be there at the start so we can talk through what the boat needs.

It depends on the size and condition of the boat. A maintenance wash is a couple of hours; a full Detail Reset with cut, polish and interior can take most of a day; larger or heavily oxidised boats can take longer. You'll get a realistic timeframe with your quote.

A boat will rarely look brand-new, but can we bring it back? In most cases, yes. Heavy oxidation is exactly what machine cutting and polishing is for. We remove the dull, chalky top layer to bring back the gloss underneath. If a section is too thin to safely compound, we'll tell you honestly and recommend the right next step rather than risk further damage.

Yes, alongside our wax and sealant finishes, we offer ceramic coating as a longer-lasting layer of protection against UV, salt and the elements. It's quoted as an add-on to suit your boat and how you use it.

Cabin surfaces, seats, dash and panels, all cleaned, dressed and conditioned with marine-safe products, including mould, mildew and odour treatment. A full upholstery restoration is a separate job; we'll flag it if your boat needs one.

Yes, the Tide Standard applies to whatever's on the water: runabouts, cruisers, yachts, pontoons and jet skis. Larger vessels are quoted individually after a quick look, since they need more time and product.