on 3 Sep 2026
Ryan Tounsley of XPEL, the global leader in protective film, discusses how the right protection keeps boats and yachts looking their best across the waters of Asia-Pacific.
Every yacht owner knows the feeling: that just-delivered shine, dulled within a season by sun, salt and daily use. XPEL, the global leader in protective film, ceramic coatings and window film, spent decades solving this for high-end cars — and has now turned its attention to the water. Marine Protection Film brings that same obsession with clarity and durability to boats and superyachts across Asia-Pacific, where relentless heat and humidity accelerate wear faster than almost anywhere else.
Here, Ryan Tounsley, XPEL’s Director of Marine & RV, explains how the protection works, where it goes, and why owners wish they’d fitted it sooner.
Most people know XPEL from the car world. How did the company end up protecting boats and yachts?
It’s a fair question, because that’s where our story starts. XPEL built its name on paint protection film for high-end cars, and after years of refining that technology, we kept hearing the same thing from boat owners: everything the sun, contaminants and daily use do to a car, it does to a boat, only worse. So, we took what we’d learned over decades in the automotive world and built a product made specifically for the water. The same obsession with clarity and durability, engineered for marine life.
Today, XPEL is the global leader in protective film, ceramic coatings and window film, with a presence across Asia-Pacific and around the world. Marine is our newest chapter, and it has quickly become the one drawing the most interest.
For an owner who has never heard of Marine Protection Film (MPF), what is it and what does it actually do?
At its simplest, XPEL Marine Protection Film is a clear, durable layer that goes over the surfaces you want to keep looking new. Once it’s on, you can barely see it. It’s a transparent polyurethane film made for the marine environment, and it stands up to scratches, oxidation and UV.
One of the features owners love most is that it’s self-healing, so light scratches and swirl marks fade away with a little heat from the sun or warm water. It comes in clear, in a matte or stealth finish, and in a full range of colours, so an owner can keep the original look or change it completely.
The gelcoat or paint underneath stays protected, and the boat holds that just-delivered finish far longer than it would on its own.
Why does this matter, especially for owners here in Asia-Pacific?
The conditions, really. Owners in this part of the world run their boats in strong sun, high heat and humidity for much of the year, and that is exactly what fades finishes and wears out interiors. Our marine films are made to take relentless UV and the everyday knocks of docking and use.
On the glass side, XPEL Marine Window Film blocks UV and rejects heat, so the cabin stays cooler and more comfortable, and there’s less strain on the air conditioning systems. It contains no metal and is designed for a clean installation around saltwater, which makes it a natural fit for tropical cruising. Cooler cabins, colours that hold, and less time spent on upkeep. In this climate, that adds up quickly.
Where on a boat does the protection actually go?
Wherever life happens on board. The most common areas are the hull sides above the waterline, the engine cowlings, galley and salon, tables and countertops, and the high-touch spots that take a beating every day, like cleats and the kick areas along the deck. Navigation and touchscreen displays can be finished with their own screen protection so they stay clear and scratch-free. The windows and windshield can also be treated with our marine window film for sun and heat control. The nice thing is that it’s tailored to each boat, so an owner can protect the whole vessel or just the areas they care about most.
XPEL is known for a premium finish. How does an owner get that result?
It comes down to the film and the hands that fit it. We manufacture the products, but the finish depends on a proper installation, so we work through a global network of trained, certified installers rather than selling them as something owners install themselves. Every application is cut and shaped to the specific boat.
To back it up, XPEL Marine Protection Film carries a three-year warranty above the waterline, and owners can add XPEL FUSION PLUS Ceramic Coating on top for an extra hydrophobic layer that helps water and grime bead and rinse away. It’s a premium result because every step is done properly.
What would you say to an owner who is on the fence?
Picture how a boat looks the day you take delivery, and think about how much you want to keep it that way. A good finish is worth protecting from the start, because it’s far easier to keep a boat looking new than it is to bring one back. The protection is nearly invisible, it takes weight off your maintenance routine, and it helps hold the vessel’s value for the day you decide to sell or move up.
Most owners tell us they only wish they’d done it sooner. Our advice is simple: talk to a local XPEL installer, tell them how and where you use your boat, and let them tailor the right protection for it.
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Content produced in partnership with XPEL