Polishing Tubes Worth It?

[mayorjones]

I have a beautiful 2008 Party Barge, and though it's only been in the water a few times, the tubes are very dull. I've seen some posts on here about polishing with some stuff (Shark something?), and have visited their website and the stuff looks awesome, but is this nice look only for a short time? I don't want to get into a situation where every two or three times out I'm having to spend hours re-polishing.

Also, do you really have to clean with an acid before hand? I don't leave it in the water and the tubes are VERY clean, just very dull looking. A power washer works great but leaves them very dull. Maybe a little black streaking, but nothing horrible.

Thoughts?

Thanks guys/gals.

Dwight

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

I am under the impression that Sharkskin is a flat finish. Am I wrong?

 

[bruuuuce]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

I am under the impression that Sharkskin is a flat finish. Am I wrong?

shark hide will protect what ever you cover, if you cover a dull finish that is what it will look like, if you put it over a polished finish that is what it will look like.

I took my toons brand new, cleaned them and put the shark hide on them, year and 4 months later still loook like they did they day they were made. Not dull, not polished. This year I only touched up a few spots bumpers had rubbed a spot in. This stuff seems to last 2 to 3 years before you have to redo anything.

Shark hide is all they claim it to be, good stuff!!

New

Year and 4 months later

 

[cribber]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

Are you referring to Sharkhide metal protectant?

Just remember that aluminium will oxidize and every time you use this acid based product you are removing that layer of protective oxidation making the tubes microscopically thinner with each application. If you want to keep them shiny then frequent polishing or shine them up with this stuff and then use their seal coat for the tubes to stop them from oxidizing.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

The Shark Hide will last for years, the only problem is if you moor your boat the fenders will rub through and the aluminum will will turn dark again but if you trailer that won't be a problem.

 

[mayorjones]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

So, sort of getting back to my original question, since I didn't do it when it was brand new, what is the best way to get them to look good (not necessarily chrome looking but better than they are now)? If we are talking about Sharkhide as a protect ant, what is the process for getting them to look "new" before performing that step? I see they also make an aluminum polish - might that be a good idea?

Thanks all.

Dwight

 

[wingless]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

Aluminum is a great metal and may be polished to look like chrome.

The trick to the large surfaces on these cylindrical parts, like the pontoons is to avoid waves and attain a uniform finish.

It would be very easy to use a small polisher and end up with lots of small shiny spots. That would look horrible.

The best way to polish aluminum is with a powered abrasive tool.

The Festool RO150FEQ with long sweeping motions and progressively finer grit sand paper will provide outstanding results.

Start out on the interior surface of the pontoon, so learning errors are as visible.

In small areas a right-angle air die grinder with woven abrasive is a great way to go.

 

[bruuuuce]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

I don't know about the sandpaper deal.

On an older unit, used a scotchbright pad to knock some of the crust off, then I took a buffer and used the polishing compound. I didn't polish it to a chrome like shine, but I worked at it until I achived the look I wanted.

During the polishing process you will see the metal transform from dull to progessively shiney.... stop when you get to a point you like and then work the rest of the toon to make them uniform (that's the tuff part). If you have a strong back and a little time it is doable though.

 

[NCLakeboater]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

If you have centering guides on a boat lift I would expect this would also rub off the sharkhide. But I suppose if you re-apply sharkhide to those areas that would protect the total finish.

 

[ShellBack101]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

I use Mothers Aluminum Polish from Walmart. IT comes in a tiny 6oz round whit container with a red label, one little can with an orbital buffer does both of my 'toons and they come out like mirrors. + the mothers is 5 bucks a container, and it protects well

 

[wingless]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

Metal polish alone does fine if the oxidation is mild.

But, if the oxidation is more severe, then removing the pits requires some metal removal. Otherwise, the surface will be shiny with pits.

On small parts, with lots of curves, I use the woven abrasive pads.

On large parts, where uniformity is required, like the hull tubes, I used fine-grit sand paper and long overlapping motions. Don't start or stop while in contact.

Once the surface is restored smooth and shiny, without defects, then polish to a mirror finish.

Aluminum is one of my favorite metals for polishing. I also like making rough-cast bronze look like polished brass and rough-cast cast iron look like chrome.

 

[chrisg]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

Has anyone answered the question? It is worth it??????

 

[bruuuuce]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

Has anyone answered the question? It is worth it??????

That is subjective, just like what brand to buy.

 

[wingless]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

This is a cosmetic improvement.

The Harley expression, "Chrome won't get you home" is applicable here.

My preference is polished metal.

But that is after everthing is finished Bristol fashion.

 

[mayorjones]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

"Bristol fashion"? Me no comprendo.

 

[joecooool]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

My toon lives in salt water. If I were worried about how the pontoons looked, it would require more time cleaning that using the boat.

There is zero performance benefit to treating the pontoons, its purely an aesthetic issue. If you believe shiny pontoons are worth the enormous effort it will take for you to get them that way, then go for it.

On a side note the Coast Guard uses aluminum boats here in the Keys and they are specifically forbidden to use any aluminum polish / treatment on their boats.

 

[wingless]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

"Bristol fashion"? Me no comprendo.

Bristol fashion.

On a side note the Coast Guard uses aluminum boats here in the Keys and they are specifically forbidden to use any aluminum polish / treatment on their boats.

That makes sense.

Aluminum oxide is the best way to protect the base metal.

Also, nothing good can result from a solar flare created by gleaming aluminum.

It probably takes several document volumes for them to spell-out what you clearly expressed in one sentence.

 

[Snowfish]

Re: Polishing Tubes Worth It?

Making it look nice is always worth it, imo. This may not be the route for you, but my toons were victim of sitting in the water, not on a lift, for many years. Took a ton of scrubbing but I got 99% of the crud off. Clean but looked like crap. It was way beyond the polishing stage. Now I give it a coat of "Kentucky Chrome" (silver paint) every other year, mainly due to dock and lift rash. If it was just moderately stained I'd have gone the polish route. But the ol' Kentucky Chrome looks pretty nice too!