Dirty Pontoons

[pugbro]

I recently purchased a used pontoon boat from my brother-in-law. The only problem I have with the boat is the pontoons. My brother-in-law lives on a hugh lake and the boat has been in the water for 2 or 3 years. The boat itself looks great but the pontoons really tear down on the apperance of the boat. Does any one have any suggestions as to a product or chemical to clean these aluminum pontoons? I am open to any and all suggestions.
Thanks

 

[PondTunes]

Re: Dirty Pontoons

if its out of the water you can pick up a plastic garden sprayer and muratic acid at lowes or home depot. Muratic acid is also available at swimming pool supply stores. It will probably take a minimum of 4-6 gallons depending on how large your toons are..

Muratic acid is one of the strongest cleaning chemicals you can buy so please handle it with care, it is diluted hydrocloric acid found in it's strongest for at about 30% acid. It has the ability to burn your lungs and nose if inhaled but the vapors are so horrible you won't be able to hang around long enough to do any damage. When in doubt use a respirator and gloves.

Fill the pump up sprayer with acid, pump it up and begin working from top to bottom of the toons.. You can move quickly and cover a large area with a garden sprayer. It takes a moment or two before the reaction begins but when it does you'll visually see the acid working on the aluminum. It will remove whatever muck is attached to the toons and leave them with a nice satin finish. Let the acid work for a 2-3 minutes then hose off with water.

Never under any circumstance mix muratic/hydrocloric acid with any product containing bleach, the acid and the bleach will react releasing chlorine gas which is toxic can kill you.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Dirty Pontoons

don't leave it on too long. rinse completely. then repeat if necessary. the same stuff is used to clean mortar off newly laid brick, that tell you how strong it is.

 

[arboldt]

Re: Dirty Pontoons

Before I tried the muriatic acid, I'd try a couple other things.

1) If it's still in the water, and if the lake has a sand bottom, wade under the boat, pick up handsful of sand, and 'scour' the toons. This is what we do with an aluminum-pontoon raft. However, if it's out of the water and already dried, this is too much work and not very effective.

2) Use a power washer.

3) If (1) and (2) haven't worked, then use either Starbrite Hull Cleaner or muriatic acid as already suggested. They're about the same thing, but buying it as muriatic acid is cheaper.

 

[PondTunes]

Re: Dirty Pontoons

Starbrite's active ingredients are Oxalic Acid (5-10%) & Ethylene Glycol (1-5%) the rest (85%) is water. Whereas muratic acid of 30% (70% water) will be roughly twice as strong. Arbolt is correct that muratic acid will probably be cheaper and IMO much more effective.

If you were to dilute Muratic acid with an equal part of water it would be quite weak and won't clean very well (speaking from experience). If you try the above scrubbing/pressure washing and decide an acid treatment is required then I would suggest going ahead with the muratic acid to not waste any more time and money on a much weaker solution of Organic Acids and Alcohol.

 

[pugbro]

Re: Dirty Pontoons

Thanks for the help! As always you guys come through...Hoping someday I will have the knowledge and expertise to help another novice, in the same way you guys have helped me.
Thanks again

 

[JCF350]

Re: Dirty Pontoons

Trisodium-phosphate
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/inftsp.html