Starke Yacht Care certification is professional training for marine detailers that covers gel coat correction, ceramic coating application, and product-specific techniques. Certified detailers have completed hands-on training with the Starke product system and can offer manufacturer-backed warranties on their work.
For boat owners, working with a certified detailer means you're getting someone trained specifically for marine surfaces rather than someone who learned on cars and is guessing on boats.
What is Starke Yacht Care?
Starke Yacht Care is a Florida-based manufacturer of professional marine detailing products and a training system for detailers. Unlike companies that adapt automotive formulas for boats, Starke develops compounds, polishes, ceramic coatings, and maintenance products specifically formulated for marine gel coat from the ground up.
Starke Yacht Care is a marine-specific detailing product manufacturer based in Florida. Unlike companies that adapt automotive formulas for boats, Starke develops products specifically for gel coat from the ground up.
The company was founded by John Phelps, who started developing marine detailing products in his garage and grew it into a full manufacturing operation. The product line covers every step of the detailing process: compounds for cutting oxidation, polishes for refining, ceramic coatings for protection, and maintenance products for ongoing care.
What sets Starke apart is the focus on the complete system. Each product is designed to work with the others. The compounds leave a surface that takes the polish properly. The polish preps the surface for ceramic. The ceramic works with the maintenance spray. This systematic approach produces more consistent results than mixing products from different manufacturers.
What does Starke Yacht Care certification involve?
Starke certification requires hands-on training covering product chemistry, machine polisher settings, correction sequences, ceramic coating application, and troubleshooting. Detailers must pass both practical and written assessments. It is not an online course -- certification requires demonstrating skills on actual boats under evaluation.
Starke certification isn't something you get by watching videos. It requires hands-on training and assessment:
- Product training: Learning each product's chemistry, proper dilution ratios, and application techniques
- Machine work: Correct polisher settings (RPM, speed) for each product and situation
- Correction sequences: When to use single-step vs two-step vs multi-step correction
- Ceramic coating application: Surface prep, application technique, leveling, cure times
- Troubleshooting: Identifying and fixing common problems
- Practical assessment: Demonstrating skills on actual boats
- Written assessment: Testing knowledge of chemistry and procedures
Certification stays current through ongoing education. Starke releases new products and updates techniques. Certified detailers stay in the loop.
What products does the Starke Yacht Care system include?
The Starke system includes compounds (Level-R for heavy oxidation, Blaze, Elevate for medium cut), polishes (Finish-R for finishing, Triple P for ceramic prep), ceramic coatings (Liquid Thor at 12-18 months protection, Liquid Kraken at 12-24 months), and maintenance products (Pure Clean soap, Replenish spray, Hyper Hold Pro sealant). Each product is designed to work together as a system.
Understanding the products helps you understand what certified detailers do:
Compounds (cutting products)
- Level-R: Extra heavy cut for severe oxidation. Used on rotary polisher at 800-1200 RPM.
- Blaze: Heavy cut compound for moderate oxidation
- Elevate: Medium cut that can finish to a high gloss. 1800-2200 RPM on rotary.
Polishes (refining products)
- Finish-R: Hybrid finishing polish that cuts light oxidation while producing gloss. Works on rotary or DA.
- Triple P: Prep-primer-polish. The final step before ceramic coating.
Ceramic coatings
- Liquid Thor: SiO2 ceramic with longer working time, easier application. 12-18 months protection.
- Liquid Kraken: Graphene-enhanced ceramic for maximum durability. 12-24 months protection.
- Repel Pro: Base layer ceramic, often used under Thor for a two-coat system.
Maintenance products
- Pure Clean: pH-neutral wash soap safe for ceramic coatings
- Replenish: SiO2 maintenance spray to boost protection between applications
- Hyper Hold Pro: Polymer sealant for quick protection
Why product knowledge matters: Each product has specific RPM settings, working times, and techniques. Using Level-R at 1800 RPM (wrong) instead of 1200 RPM (correct) can burn through gel coat. These details are what certification teaches.
Why does marine-specific detailing training matter for boat owners?
Marine gel coat differs from automotive paint in porosity, heat sensitivity, and thickness variation. A detailer trained only on cars often uses too aggressive a compound, works at too high RPM, or applies automotive ceramic that fails within months in saltwater. Marine-specific training prevents burned gel coat, premature coating failure, and costly mistakes.
Gel coat is not automotive clear coat. The differences require different approaches:
- Porosity: Gel coat has larger pores than automotive paint. Products need to penetrate differently.
- Heat sensitivity: Gel coat can burn at lower temperatures. Machine settings must account for this.
- Thickness variation: Gel coat thickness varies more than automotive paint. Knowing where it's thin prevents burn-through.
- Environmental exposure: Boats face constant UV, salt, and water that cars don't. Protection needs to account for this.
A detailer who learned on cars will often use too aggressive a compound, work at too high RPM, or apply automotive ceramic coating that fails in months. Marine-specific training prevents these mistakes.
Does Starke certification come with a ceramic coating warranty?
Yes. Starke offers a 12-month warranty on ceramic coatings applied by certified installers to boats five years or newer. The warranty covers oxidation, UV degradation, and gloss loss when proper maintenance is followed. Registration through the Starke website and proof of maintenance with approved products are required.
Starke offers a 12-month warranty on ceramic coatings applied by certified installers to boats five years or newer. This warranty covers oxidation, UV degradation, and gloss loss when proper maintenance is followed.
The warranty requires registration through the Starke website and proof of maintenance with approved products. It doesn't cover damage from impact, neglect, or use of non-approved chemicals.
What is the value of working with a Starke-certified detailer?
A Starke-certified detailer understands the chemistry behind each step, uses a complete product system designed to work together, and can troubleshoot problems that arise during correction or coating. Certification also means access to manufacturer-backed warranties that non-certified detailers cannot offer on their work.
I pursued Starke certification because I wanted to be confident in what I'm doing on every boat. My background building boats gave me understanding of gel coat from the manufacturing side. Starke training added the correction and protection techniques.
The most valuable part was learning the "why" behind each step. Why does Level-R run at lower RPM than Finish-R? Because it's cutting deeper and generates more heat. Why does ceramic coating need to "flash" before leveling? Because premature leveling doesn't allow proper bonding. Understanding the chemistry makes troubleshooting easier.
I use the Starke system exclusively because consistency matters. When I know exactly how each product behaves, I can predict results and fix problems. Mixing random products from different companies introduces variables I can't control.
Frequently asked questions
What is Starke Yacht Care?
Starke Yacht Care is a professional marine detailing product line and training system based in Florida. They manufacture compounds, polishes, ceramic coatings, and cleaning products specifically formulated for marine applications. Starke also provides certification training for detailers, teaching proper techniques for gel coat correction, ceramic coating application, and surface restoration.
What does Starke certification mean?
Starke Yacht Care certification means a detailer has completed hands-on training in the Starke product system and correction techniques. Certified detailers learn proper compounding sequences, ceramic coating application, and can offer Starke's 12-month coating warranty on boats five years or newer. Certification requires passing both practical and written assessments.
Why does marine-specific detailing training matter?
Marine detailing differs significantly from automotive detailing. Gel coat is more porous than automotive clear coat, requires different compounds and techniques, and faces harsher environmental conditions (UV, salt, constant water exposure). Training specific to marine surfaces produces proper product selection, correct machine settings, and techniques that won't damage gel coat. Automotive techniques applied to boats often fail or cause damage.
What products does Starke Yacht Care make?
Starke's main products include: Level-R (heavy cut compound), Elevate (medium cut polish), Finish-R (finishing polish), Liquid Thor and Liquid Kraken (ceramic coatings), Triple P (prep polish), Pure Clean (pH-neutral soap), and Replenish (maintenance spray). All products are formulated specifically for marine gel coat rather than adapted from automotive formulas.
Work with a Starke-certified detailer
Professional training, marine-specific products, and manufacturer-backed warranty for your boat.