Question 1

Who is Yacht Surface Restoration (YSR)?

Accepted Answer

Yacht Surface Restoration — YSR — is a premium marine surface restoration and detailing company serving South Florida's Tri-County area: Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. We've been restoring and protecting the world's finest yachts since 2012, working from 38' Sport Fish to 180'+ superyachts. The company is run day-to-day by Matthew, who leads our service operations, while the founder went on to launch our sister product line, Lat 26°.

Question 2

What areas do you service?

Accepted Answer

We cover the entire Tri-County yachting corridor — Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — including Miami Beach Marina, Sunset Harbour, Dinner Key, Bahia Mar, Pier Sixty-Six, Las Olas, Lauderdale Marine Center, Rybovich, Sailfish, Old Port Cove, Jupiter Inlet and every major refit yard in between. For larger projects we travel along the Florida coast, to the Keys and Gulf, and internationally.

Question 3

What sets YSR apart from a typical detailer?

Accepted Answer

Three things: people, products and process. Our crews are long-tenured marine-only technicians (not generalists), we apply Lat 26° marine-grade coatings engineered specifically for the South Florida sun and salt, and every job follows a strict multi-step protocol — assessment, deep clean, surface correction, refined polish, then a tuned protective coating. We treat each vessel as if she were our own.

Question 4

Are you insured and OSHA-conscious?

Accepted Answer

Yes. YSR carries full general liability and workers' compensation coverage, and our crews are trained to OSHA standards for working aloft, on the water and around volatile chemicals. Certificates of insurance are available on request for marinas and yards that require them.

Question 5

Do you really operate 24 hours a day?

Accepted Answer

Yes. YSR can operate around the clock for time-sensitive jobs. If you're up against a charter departure, a delivery deadline, a survey, a show or an owner arrival, our crews can mobilize after hours, overnight and on weekends. Premium scheduling carries a premium rate, but if you need it done by sunrise, we're set up to do it.

Question 6

How is the Detailing Concierge different from email or a contact form?

Accepted Answer

The Detailing Concierge is our always-on chat line, right here on the site. It's the fastest way to get a question answered — about a service, a finish, a coating, scheduling, a marina, or whether a particular job is feasible. For formal estimates or to lock in a date, the concierge will hand you to a human at 754-206-2653 or our contact form.

Question 7

How quickly can you get to my vessel?

Accepted Answer

For standard work in the Tri-County area, we routinely schedule within the same week. For deadline-driven jobs, we can often mobilize within 24–48 hours. The concierge can confirm current availability in real time.

Question 8

Do you work around the crew's schedule?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Our crews routinely work early mornings, late evenings, weekends and overnight shifts to fit around charters, ownership use, survey windows and yard schedules. Coordination with your captain, engineer or yard PM is part of the job.

Question 9

Do you work dockside or only in the yard?

Accepted Answer

Both. The majority of our work — wash-downs, polishing, coating, teak, metal, glass — is done dockside while the vessel is in the water. Certain hull-side jobs (deep gelcoat correction below the waterline, full bottom work) are better suited to a haul-out, and we'll flag that during the estimate.

Question 10

Can you save heavily oxidized gelcoat?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, yes. Our multi-step gelcoat process — deep marine wash, professional wet sanding, machine compounding with marine-grade compounds, then a refined polish — restores oxidized gelcoat to a deep, swirl-free shine. We finish by sealing the surface with a Lat 26° coating so the finish lasts in the South Florida sun.

Question 11

How long does a full gelcoat restoration take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the size of the vessel and the level of oxidation, but a typical mid-size yacht runs several days to a week with a small crew. We'll give you a firm timeline as part of the written estimate.

Question 12

Will polishing remove too much gelcoat?

Accepted Answer

No — when it's done right. Our techs gauge thickness, choose the least aggressive pad-and-product combination that achieves the result, and stop the moment the finish is correct. That discipline is why we get hired to rescue jobs other detailers over-cut.

Question 13

How much paint clarity can you recover?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the paint system (Awlgrip, Alexseal, Imron, etc.) and its condition, our paint restoration process recovers up to 95% of original clarity, with a swirl-free, like-new finish.

Question 14

Will polishing damage my paint?

Accepted Answer

Marine paints vary widely — some can be compounded, others cannot, and cure windows range from 5 to 30+ days. We always identify the paint system first, confirm the manufacturer's cure status, then choose pads, products and techniques accordingly. We never remove more material than necessary.

Question 15

Can you fix isolated scratches or chalking without doing the whole vessel?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes. Spot-correction is part of our toolkit. If the surrounding finish is in good shape, we can blend a localized correction. If chalking is widespread, a full-vessel correction is usually a better value.

Question 16

What's the difference between wax and a ceramic coating?

Accepted Answer

Wax sits on top of the surface and washes off in a matter of weeks. A real ceramic coating — like Lat 26° Nano Ceramic — chemically bonds to the surface and forms a long-life hydrophobic layer that defends against UV, salt, exhaust soot, bird and bug etching and the black streaks that plague South Florida yachts.

Question 17

How long does a ceramic coating last?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the coating chosen, the vessel's use pattern and wash-down regimen, our marine ceramic systems typically last from one to several years before a refresh is recommended. We'll recommend the right system based on your goals.

Question 18

Can a ceramic coating be applied over fresh paint?

Accepted Answer

Yes — once the paint has fully cured. Cure windows vary by paint system (often 30 days for two-part marine paints), and we always confirm the manufacturer's window before applying coatings.

Question 19

What is Lat 26° and how does it relate to YSR?

Accepted Answer

Lat 26° is a marine-grade product line founded by the same person who started YSR. After years of restoring yachts in South Florida, the founder built Lat 26° to formulate products specifically for our latitude — relentless sun, salt and humidity. Today the two companies operate independently from separate addresses: Matthew runs YSR (service & detailing), Jonathan runs Lat 26° (the product line). YSR uses Lat 26° on every job because, in our hands-on experience, nothing on the market protects a vessel better.

Question 20

Can I buy Lat 26° products myself?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Lat 26° line — including Nano Ceramic, Carbon Guard and a full range of marine wash, polish and protectant products — is available direct at lat26degrees.com. The Shop link in our header takes you straight there.

Question 21

Will Lat 26° products work if I'm not a professional?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Lat 26° formulates for both pros and owner-operators. The product pages on lat26degrees.com walk you through application. If you'd rather we apply it for you, that's exactly what YSR does.

Question 22

Do you do teak refinishing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer two-part cleaning and brightening, removal of old finishes, sealants, oils and personalized finish builds (matte, satin or high-gloss). We can also train your crew or owner to maintain teak safely without damaging the surrounding gelcoat or paint.

Question 23

Can you remove etched water spots from glass?

Accepted Answer

In most cases yes. We polish marine glass to remove water spots, micro-scratches, salt etching, discoloration and contaminants, then apply a hydrophobic coating so future water beads and runs off cleanly — which dramatically reduces visible spotting.

Question 24

What metals do you restore?

Accepted Answer

Stainless steel, chrome, aluminum, bronze and brass. We pair hand and machine polishing with sacrificial or permanent protective coatings to slow saltwater corrosion and keep hardware bright between visits.

Question 25

Do you work on acrylic and plexiglass enclosures?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Hazed enclosures, hardtops, isinglass and acrylic windows can usually be restored to clear with the proper multi-step polish. We then apply a coating that helps the surface stay clear longer in the sun.

Question 26

What does your multi-step process actually look like?

Accepted Answer

Every project follows the same backbone — assess the surface, deep wash and decontaminate, correct (wet sand and/or machine compound as appropriate), refine to a high-gloss finish, then protect with a tuned Lat 26° coating. The specific products, pads and step counts vary by surface and condition, but the discipline doesn't.

Question 27

How do you ensure consistent quality across a large crew?

Accepted Answer

Our techs are trained on the same protocols and the same product line. Leads inspect each section before sign-off, and we keep job notes on every vessel we touch so the next visit picks up where the last one left off. Consistency is a process, not a coincidence.

Question 28

What tools and products do you use?

Accepted Answer

Professional-grade dual-action and rotary polishers, marine-specific pads and compounds, Lat 26° ceramic and carbon guard coatings, marine wash systems, and surface-specific tooling for teak, glass and metal. We invest in the gear because it shows up in the finish.

Question 29

Do you offer maintenance plans?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Monthly, quarterly and pre-event maintenance plans keep ceramic coatings performing and prevent the kind of build-up that forces a future full restoration. The concierge can walk you through what makes sense for your vessel.

Question 30

How do I get an estimate?

Accepted Answer

Fill out the form on our Contact page, call 754-206-2653, or chat the Detailing Concierge. We'll schedule a walk-through of your vessel, document every surface, and send a written estimate within one to two business days.

Question 31

Why don't you publish prices?

Accepted Answer

Surface restoration pricing is driven by vessel size, surface condition, access, coatings selected and timeline. Two 60' yachts at the same marina can have very different scopes. A short walk-through gets you a firm number — and almost always a more accurate one than an online calculator could.

Question 32

Do you charge extra for after-hours and overnight work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Standard hours are billed at standard rates; nights, weekends and overnight mobilizations carry a premium that reflects crew time and logistics. We'll lay this out clearly in the estimate before any work starts.

Frequently Asked Questions

About YSR

24-Hour Detailing Concierge & Scheduling

Gelcoat Restoration

Paint Restoration

Ceramic Coatings & Lat 26°

Teak, Glass, Metal & Acrylic

Quality, Craftsmanship & Process

Pricing & Estimates

Still have questions?