How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

[jkust]

Hi all, so as I mentioned in my earlier thread, we finally bought a lake home. It came with a great all aluminum dock. It is 48 feet long and varies between 4 and 8 feet wide. Problem is large portions of the aluminum decking sections are stained a very dark brown color. The pressure washer barely makes a dent in it. I'm wondering if anybody has an idea of how to get it back to it's original aluminum look? Thanks for your thoughts

 

[oldjeep]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

Toilet bowel cleaner, just try not to get too much of it in the lake.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

Toilet bowel cleaner, just try not to get too much of it in the lake.

Problem is he will get it all in the lake

 

[angus63]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

Simple Green soak and a stiff brush or mild Scotch Brite works on a canoe with similar issue.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

Problem is he will get it all in the lake

You do it on shore when you pull them out for the season. We don't bother cleaning our aluminum dock during boating season

 

[jkust]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

So I did some calling around and the recommended method is to use Pontoon Cleaner. Of course then when you read the reviews of the cleaners, they are mostly negative from the handful I saw. Basically stating that it turned the aluminum white or made black splotches. It seems then you need to go back over it with an aluminum polish to get the metal shine back. I'm not looking forward to this project.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

Patina is usually thought of as an enhancement. The article looses value if removed.:joyous:

 

[oldjeep]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

Forget about the dock, just imagine what your boat is going to look like

What does the water look like there, or is it crap falling out of the trees?

 

[jkust]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

Forget about the dock, just imagine what your boat is going to look like

What does the water look like there, or is it crap falling out of the trees?

Brown, bog stained water... Big Sandy Lake. Yep the days of the sparkling clean hull are over.

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

Use iron out mixed in a hand sprayer. The marina my brother keeps his boat at on Mille Lacs has the same issue. They recommended using iron out. He tried it and was absolutely amazed. A pressure washer wouldn't touch the stuff on his hull, but the iron out took it off without even scrubbing.

They said to mix it pretty strong. Use a small container of powder (28 oz) to 1.5 to 2 gallons of water. Mix welll and spray away.

 

[jkust]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

Use iron out mixed in a hand sprayer. The marina my brother keeps his boat at on Mille Lacs has the same issue. They recommended using iron out. He tried it and was absolutely amazed. A pressure washer wouldn't touch the stuff on his hull, but the iron out took it off without even scrubbing.

They said to mix it pretty strong. Use a small container of powder (28 oz) to 1.5 to 2 gallons of water. Mix welll and spray away.

Interesting...I've never used the stuff. Will have to pick some up locally as the pontoon cleaner would need to be ordered off the internet. My pressure washer barely did anything at all when I tried.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

Use iron out mixed in a hand sprayer. The marina my brother keeps his boat at on Mille Lacs has the same issue. They recommended using iron out. He tried it and was absolutely amazed. A pressure washer wouldn't touch the stuff on his hull, but the iron out took it off without even scrubbing.

They said to mix it pretty strong. Use a small container of powder (28 oz) to 1.5 to 2 gallons of water. Mix welll and spray away.

Iron out is basically toilet bowl cleaner It is Oxalic acid

They sell a version of that at Home Depot in the plumbing section (bottle of liquid). I use it to clean my siding since the well water has so much iron in it.

This is the stuff I buy at Home Depot
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Goof-Off-128-oz-Rust-and-Stain-Remover-GSX00101/100127368#specifications

You spray it on and the rust just runs off, no scrubbing involved. Same disclaimer applies though to not getting too much of it in the lake.

 

[jkust]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

Iron out is basically toilet bowl cleaner It is Oxalic acid

They sell a version of that at Home Depot in the plumbing section (bottle of liquid). I use it to clean my siding since the well water has so much iron in it.

This is the stuff I buy at Home Depot
Goof Off 128 oz. Rust and Stain Remover-GSX00101 at The Home Depot

You spray it on and the rust just runs off, no scrubbing involved. Same disclaimer applies though to not getting too much of it in the lake.

Alright sounds good...and can't beat that as it's easy to buy at HD and cheap. The lake situation will be a bit challenging.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

Alright sounds good...and can't beat that as it's easy to buy at HD and cheap. The lake situation will be a bit challenging.

I'd just wait to mess with it until you pull the dock out for the year. Should only be another month or 2 anyways

 

[jkust]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

I'd just wait to mess with it until you pull the dock out for the year. Should only be another month or 2 anyways

Think that'll be the plan. So few weekends that we can go up there now that school has started and I've got more important projects to take on when there.

 

[Hugh H]

Re: How do I get my aluminum dock to look silver again

So this product on the T.V. show Trucks or perhaps at the N.Y.C. boat show.
Sharkhide * Metal Protectant * Aluminum Cleaner * Aluminum Polish * Black Streak Remover