STEK USA introduced its marine protection range in a January 30, 2026 article, following a November 2025 preview that scheduled the line for early 2026. The later article directed boat owners to the company’s marine installer network across North America.
AQUA SHIELD is the clear polyurethane protection film for gelcoat. AQUA COAT is a separate coating, and AQUA SHADE is window tint. Keeping those names separate matters: the tint’s optical claims and the coating’s performance claims do not describe the protection film.
The current AQUA SHIELD page lists an 8 mil TPU film for fresh- and salt-water environments, with heat-assisted recovery of light surface scratches. STEK advertises three years of coverage against delamination, yellowing, bubbling and cracking.
The warranty excludes film installed below the waterline. Although the product page mentions owners choosing that use, it does not remove the exclusion. A boat owner comparing an installation proposal should have the installer mark the covered areas and confirm the surface condition and applicable written warranty.
The film is a sacrificial surface layer, not a structural repair. The product information supplies no slip-resistance rating for deck or boarding areas, so a smooth protective finish should not be treated as a non-slip surface.
Sources & reporting notes
- Protecting Your Boat – Welcome STEK Marine STEK USA · Source dated January 30, 2026
- Dry Apply PPF + More from SEMA STEK USA · Source dated November 21, 2025
- AQUA SHIELD product page STEK USA
This article is an original, AI-assisted summary of the sources above. It does not claim firsthand reporting or independent product testing. Our editorial standards · Corrections policy