Marine laser cleaning technology and Five Things We Don’t Do in April/May (But Did Anyway)
- May 20
- 4 min read
An Illustrated Story of Wood, Grit, and Marine laser cleaning technology
By Shane Desloges
If you’ve been detailing boats in Ontario for a few years, you learn a few things fast. One of them? There are five things you should never, ever do in May.
But this May? We did all five—and we survived to tell the tale.
1. Wood Refinishing
Wiarton, Ontario – 182 Hours on One Lobster Boat -
We kicked off the season with a 26-foot lobster boat that looked like it had spent the last decade absorbing sun, water, and neglect. The varnish? Gone. The wood? Split, dry, and screaming for attention.
We tackled:
Interior Level Four
Deck Wash Level Four
Bottom Prep + Paint
Hull Polish Level Three
Deck Polish Level Five
Wet sanding (600 grit dry up to 2000 wet before compounding and polishing)
The wood refinishing nearly broke us. We stripped and sanded every trim, handle, and custom accent, including vinyl-backed 4-inch boards across the headliner. We even tested a Needle 100 laser cleaner—a needle-thin beam that melted old varnish like butter.
May Rule Broken: Wood work needs heat, sun, and time. May gives you none of that. We did it anyway.
2. Full Bottom Jobs
Same Town, Same Month – Two More Boats
While still in Wiarton (2.5-hour drive each way), we got slammed with two more jobs:
Boat Two: Top-to-bottom foam floor restoration, epoxy repairs, and an interior steam detail (Level Three). The cabin was full of flies—many smushed.
Boat Three: An aluminum beast with standing water, clogged scuppers, foam rot, and mold. Oh, and a heavily fouled bottom that needed a full scrub.
May Rule Broken: Bottom work is for early April or November. Not mid-May madness.
3. Deck Polishing
Toronto Waterfront – 68-Foot Yacht with History
This job hit different. The last person who detailed this 68-footer lost his life aboard. The crew knew it. The owner knew it. And I knew it was about more than just polishing a deck.
We handled:
Deck Wash Level Four
Deck Polish Level Four (In Progress between rain days)
Mirrored glass restoration
On-site safety training for new crew
The detailing mattered—but so did rebuilding trust and training new hands to respect large vessels. That means life vests on deck, always.
May Rule Broken: Deck polish is a June thing. Too cold. Too wet. But we had to do it.
4. Full Bottom Paint Removal with LaserVERSE Marine laser cleaning technology
The Family Boat – 20 Years of Care
This boat isn’t owned by my family—but it’s our family includes boats I’ve cared for since delivery.
This year, we faced the big one: removing the VC 17 bottom paint.
It’s banned in Canada now. But what’s left on boats? Still toxic, flaky, and miserable to remove.
Enter: The Jango 1000.
A Belgian laser system imported by Laserverse and run by licensed operator Dakota. We tested on a 2x2’ patch at 400W… then cycled up to 1000W.
Total removal time: 37.5 hours.
Perfectly clean. Zero fallout. Game changer.
Our mission? 1,000 boats stripped clean in two years. For the planet. For the Water. For boaters. For sanity.
🚤
Laser Your Bottom. Save Big. Look Brilliant.
Skip the dust, chemicals, and chaos.
The Jango 1000 is here—and it’s changing the game.
💥 30% OFF with code JANGO30
👥 Book a Bottom Prep Level 4 with a friend (same marina or yacht club)
💸 Get rewarded: $1,000 gift certificate EACH from We Beautify Boats
May Rule Broken: Full bottom removal is a fall or winter job. But with the Jango? We made it possible in spring, summer and fall!
5. Saying “Yes” Too Often
One More Job. One More Lesson.
Before our off season schedule even began, we were already stacked with a massive project. A 62-footer that needed a deck polish and its teak sanded and oiled— A repeat adventure after being sealed with clear finish 2 years prior. Brutal job, but keeping her beautiful is always a pleasure!
But here’s the thing: We don’t get here without the grind.
We’re rebuilding post-COVID. Cash flow matters. Training matters. Pushing boundaries matters.
And yet… saying yes to everything in May is dangerous. The weather, the delays, the crew fatigue—it’s real.
So, What Did We Learn?
Here are the five keys we’re taking forward:
Book Early
Get what you want, when you want it, without gambling on May’s madness.
Invest Wisely
Reinvest 10% of your boat’s value each season. That’s what keeps her beautiful and reliable.
Don’t Skip a Season
One year off? You’re doubling the bill next time. No joke.
Respect the Weather
Just because you can do it in May, doesn’t mean you should.
Take Care of the Crew
The team’s safety, sanity, and skill growth matter more than the next job.
May’s not made for miracles—but this year, we made some happen.
Wood. Water. Wax. And lasers.
Let’s get to work.
Comments