Weight Reduction for Maritime
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
The Weight Problem in Marine Equipment
Where coating mass affects vessel balance
The challenge
Harsh environments demand coatings that hold.
The solution
ColoradoKote ceramic coating stops corrosion cold.
Why Cerakote for Maritime Weight Reduction
Thin-film saltwater protection at reduced mass
200-400g savings per marine component
Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils replaces powder coating at 3-5 mils, reducing coating mass on deck hardware, fittings, and fasteners. Across hundreds of components per vessel, the cumulative savings improve topside weight distribution and reduce installation handling effort.
Dimensional precision on fittings
A 1 mil application adds only 0.001 inches per side, maintaining thread tolerances and mating surface specifications on marine hardware. Parts coat to dimension without post-coating modification, preserving the fit that saltwater-grade connections require.
ISO 9001 quality documentation
Certificate of Conformance includes DFT measurements, material batch numbers, and inspection results. Documented quality supports marine equipment manufacturer compliance requirements and provides traceability for warranty programs.
Galvanic isolation on mixed metals
Cerakote bonds to stainless steel, aluminum, and bronze, the dissimilar metals commonly combined in marine assemblies. The ceramic barrier isolates contact surfaces to reduce galvanic corrosion risk while adding minimal coating weight compared to thicker isolation methods.
Weight Reduction Specs for Maritime
How We Deliver Weight Reduction for Marine
Substrate-specific preparation for saltwater-grade thin-film coating
Surface Preparation for Marine Substrates
Ultrasonic cleaning removes salt deposits, marine oils, and surface contaminants. Degreasing and tailored media blasting create the surface profile for maximum adhesion on stainless steel, aluminum, and bronze substrates. Masking protects threads, mating surfaces, and functional areas.
Thin-Film Coating Application
Cerakote is applied via calibrated HVLP equipment at 0.5-2 mil thickness. In-process DFT measurements confirm uniform coverage without excess buildup on precision fittings. Multi-substrate compatibility means all components in a mixed-metal assembly coat under a single work order.
Inspection and Documentation
Final inspection verifies coating thickness, adhesion, and visual appearance. Certificate of Conformance documents all measurements and material batch records. ISO 9001 quality controls ensure consistent coating weight across production lots.
Verified Weight Savings for Marine Parts
Weight savings are verified through DFT measurement and gravimetric analysis. ISO 9001 documentation captures coating thickness and weight data for your engineering and quality records.
200-400g savings per part vs powder coating
At 0.5-2 mils versus 3-5 mils, each marine component carries less coating mass while retaining 4,000+ hours salt spray resistance for continuous saltwater exposure. Chip resistance 2-3x superior to powder coating maintains the protective barrier under deck handling and rigging contact.
Weight savings vs powder coating
Other services to consider
Explore what else we offer.
Weight Reduction for Oil and Gas Equipment
Thick coatings add mass to equipment transported to remote wellsites and offshore platforms. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Medical Device Components
Surgical instruments must be light enough for hours of precise use. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating without compromising protection. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Maritime Equipment
Heavy coatings add mass to marine hardware that affects vessel performance and handling. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Industrial OEM Components
Thick coatings add unnecessary mass to engineered equipment. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils delivers 200-400g savings per part versus powder coating while preserving tolerances. ISO 9001 certified.
Certified and compliant for your industry
Lighten Your Marine Hardware
Submit an RFP for marine equipment coating. We respond within 24 hours with pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
Hydraulic cylinder rods and housings on farm equipment face soil abrasion, moisture, and chemical exposure that cause conventional coatings to fail within a season. Cerakote's 9H hardness protects cylinder rod surfaces from scoring, while the 3,000-hour salt spray barrier prevents corrosion on housings exposed to moisture and fertilizer chemicals. The 0.5 to 2 mil film build preserves seal clearances and rod tolerances that thicker coatings would compromise.
Standard turnaround is 14 days from receipt of parts, with 3-day and 7-day expedited options available for maintenance-critical components. We understand that equipment downtime costs money, and our scheduling system prioritizes expedited orders accordingly. Contact us at the time of quoting to discuss your maintenance window and we will confirm availability for your timeline.
Cerakote's 3,000-hour salt spray performance and 4,000 cycles per mil abrasion resistance significantly extend the interval between refurbishment cycles on cabin interiors and high-touch components. Thinner film builds of 0.5 to 2 mils versus 4 to 6 mils for powder coat preserve critical tolerances on seat mechanisms and galley hardware. Longer part life means fewer removals, less downtime, and lower lifecycle cost for fleet operators.
Ultrasonic cleaning and sandblasting serve different purposes and typically complement each other in the coating preparation sequence. Ultrasonic cleaning removes chemical and organic contaminants (oils, fluids, films) from the substrate. Sandblasting creates the mechanical anchor profile for coating adhesion. For the highest coating performance, we use ultrasonic cleaning first to remove contaminants, followed by sandblasting for surface profile, then proceed to coating application. The sequence matters.
Additive manufactured parts, particularly metal AM in stainless steel and titanium, benefit from Cerakote's 3,000-hour salt spray protection to address the surface porosity and roughness inherent in as-printed parts. Our passivation and chemical conversion pre-treatments seal the substrate before Cerakote application, creating a comprehensive corrosion barrier. This makes AM parts viable for end-use applications in corrosive environments rather than just prototyping.