Hydrophobic Ceramic Coatings: Water beading vs sheeting. What's better?
We've all seen boat detailers demonstrate the benefits of hydrophobic ceramic and graphene coatings by filming water beading on the surface of the gelcoat after a fresh application to the hull. However, hydrophobic sprays and coatings provide a wide range of efficacy and water beading only represents a one way to protect your boat from the contaminants found in rain, lake, river and ocean water. Water sheeting offers additional benefits which are outlined below.
The importance of hydrophobic coatings:
Because most boats are exposed to the elements year-round, hydrophobic ceramic coatings offer enhanced protection for your boat's surfaces against various liquids that contain a number of minerals which leave spotting behind. This contributes to keeping your boat cleaner for a more extended period, reducing the likelihood of spots, streaking and dirt accumulation. The significance of hydrophobicity is particularly evident on glass, where water quickly rolls off vertical and slanted surfaces, potentially eliminating the need for windshield wipers.
Sheeting vs beading:
Instead of water lingering on the indefinitely, hydrophobic protected surfaces exhibit increased surface tension, causing water to roll off - and there are two main types of results. Water beading refers to a treated surface that forms small beads if water that sit on top. Water sheeting refers to water that "sheets" together and rolls off, leaving behind a dry surface.
Water sheeting operates similarly to water beading, as both processes involve repelling water due to the surface tension created by specific products. While water beading may have a more visually appealing effect, achieving water sheeting is the desired outcome. Water sheeting efficiently directs water off the surface in continuous sheets, proving particularly advantageous on flat surfaces, where water beading may cause spotting the longer a boat sits in the sun.
In many cases it would seem that personal preference plays a role in which detailers and boat owners prefer, and despite its effectiveness, water sheeting is sometimes underestimated by onlookers and detailers because its effect is less visually pronounced compared to water beading. However, comparing apples to apples in terms of longevity, there's a clear winner when it comes to achieving a "low-maintenance" boat, and that's water sheeting.
Formula Follows Function™
We design our formulas to be the highest performing and longest lasting, regardless of market popularity and trends. Our hydrophobic ceramic coatings for boats sheet water from the surface, to give boat owners the least amount of work in the long run. Less water spots means less need for water spot removers, means you save more more money and spend less time cleaning. That's why SKWOL Deck & Hull and Vinyl & Trim coatings offer industry best-in-class hydrophobic protection for every surface on your boat.
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