Frequently asked questions

It depends on the boat — each boat in our fleet is clearly labelled with whether a recreational marine licence is required. As a general guide, in Queensland you need a licence to operate a boat with an engine over 4.5 kW (about 6 hp); lower-powered boats can be hired without one. Valid photo ID is required for any hire.

Yes. All hirers must be 18 years or older and able to provide valid photo ID.

All hires operate on a full-to-full fuel policy. You receive the boat with a full tank and return it full. If you're unable to refuel before returning, no problem — we can refuel it for you and simply deduct the fuel cost from your bond.

Either option is available. Self-tow from the boat's pickup location, or launch-and-retrieval service for a small additional fee.

Anywhere motorised watercraft are permitted within the boat's local waters. For smaller boats we recommend rivers, estuaries and sheltered waters.

Call us straight away. We'll troubleshoot with you and talk you through next steps. All boats are insured and maintained.

A bond is required before departure and is fully refundable once the boat is returned on time, with no damage, and in the agreed condition.

All hires include life jackets (PFDs), safety gear, anchor and rope, trailer (if self-tow), and a basic handover and operating briefing.

Yes — see our booking policy. Weather cancellations reschedule at no charge; customer cancellations within 48 hours may forfeit deposit.

Carried forward from v5 verbatim — see website-content-v6.md for full list.

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 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 0485 670 603, or email hello@tideclub.com.au. We'll come back within 24 hours.

Because every boat is different. 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.

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.

Salt water should be rinsed off after every single trip. Left to dry, salt accelerates surface degradation. Every job starts with a thorough wash — essential to getting the best result from any compound or wax treatment.

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.

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. If your hull looks dull, chalky or faded, compounding is almost certainly what it needs.

Polish (or compound) removes surface damage. Wax protects and seals. Both serve different purposes; best results come from doing them in the right order.

General guide: wash after every outing, wax every 3–6 months, full compound and polish once a year or when the hull starts looking dull. Custom care packages take the thinking out of it.

Once we've done your Detail Reset and we know your boat, we can put a custom care package together — visits scheduled around how often you're out on the water, your local conditions, and what your boat needs. Never a rigid subscription.

Yes. Vessels 20ft and over are detailed out of the water for full access. Always quoted individually after an in-person inspection.

Yes. Everything we use is marine-grade, Australian-made and safe to use on and around the water.

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.

Wherever suits your boat. Smaller boats are usually detailed on the trailer, in the driveway or in the water; vessels 20ft and over are detailed out of the water so we can reach below the waterline, the keel and the running gear. We'll 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.

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 — 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.