Best product to use to clean aluminum boat hull??

[DirtMcGirt]

I recently purchased a 17' aluminum bass tracker boat. It appears the boat has not been cleaned in years. The boat finish appears dull and dirty.

What is the best proper way to clean the hull of my boat and make it shine again? I say proper way to clean it... Because I have read some chemicals/cleaners are bad for the aluminum.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,

Tom

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Best product to use to clean aluminum boat hull??

Clean?

or

Shine?

They are different. Aluminum oxidizes and that's it's natural protection against corrosion. It's typically dull, and is often how it came originally.

Shine will likely take a lot of work, effort, time & some various products & sandpaper. Depends on the aluminum's current condition. Pix of your boat will help.

If you are looking for this kind of shine:

Check thru DozerII's Naked Lady resto thread:
1987 16 ss

Or a few of the other SC threads, there are a few different boats w/ polished hulls:
Starcraft Rebuilds and Restorations, they're all here!

InMotion
Jasoutside

also have polished hulls in their resto's

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Best product to use to clean aluminum boat hull??

Start off with an aluminum cleaner that's acid based. Boat dealerships carry them. NAPA has an aluminum cleaner. HVAC coil cleaner also does a great job. This will get all the moss, grunge and other items off the finish, but it will leave you with a clean but dull finish.

Then, you get a Dual Action Polisher (D/A) and a wool bonnet. Work Black Diamond aluminum/metal polish for about 60-90 seconds with the polisher in a 2' x 2' area and the ozidation will mostly come off as a powder. Remove the powder and oxidation with a towel, and finish by cleaning with lacquer cleaner to get off all the black. After you clean it a couple of times, you apply a coat of Sharkhide, a clear finishing sealer for metal.

I was very disappointed with Mothers' Aluminum Polish, and found Black Diamond at Advance Auto Parts. There may be some other aluminum polishes as good, but it's not Mothers. Black Diamond will produce a near mirror image, but the finish can be maintained. A real mirror finish would be impossible to maintain thru the years.

The other option is to use rouge and the side of a buffing wheel on a polisher, but this method is not as forgiving as a D/A polisher. UTube.com has videos of aluminum polishing.