Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

[arod2012]

I just got a 85 Kayo 20' pontoon, always been in freash water and I am looking to see if there is a way to polish or clean the pontoons to make them look new (or almost new) again. Also, I have it off the trailer now and on blocks and was wondering if I am doing any damage to the pontoons by keeping it on the blocks with the weight of the everything. It will be on the blocks for about 4 weeks and then abck on the trailer.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

You can get a muriatic acid based toon cleaner at virtually any boating dealership, or at The big O.com. You just spray it on, let it sit and hose it off with plenty of water. This will "dull" your toons, but cut all the gunk and moss off.

If you want to get the toons looking like new, you'll then have to go to aluminum polish and a bunch of elbow grease to restore the shine. You'll go through a bunch of rags.

Then, you go to lacquer cleaner and more rags--wiping down until there's no more black on the rags.

Lastly, it's a couple of coats of Sharkhyde protectant. It'll maintain your shine for years--and something you'll need to reapply about ever 3 years. There's nothing about it.

My new Bennington was manufactured 5/4/12, and its toons are already starting to oxidize. I plan to getting the boat on the trailer at 20 hour service and polish the toons.

You'll be surprised how nice your boat can be.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

I like to use Alumaprep 33 and a green scotch brite. Same process but a little less work. I do it to my Aluminum boats after I run in Alkali lakes. Sharkhyde is good stuff if you can get it applied correctly. It doesn't last as long as they say it does and high Alkali water trashes it but it's still the best stuff there is.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

Walmart sell a gallon jug of "Purple Cleaner"($4.75), like the old "Purple Power" we've used for years....it's a strong alkaline detergent, spray it on, brush it some, rinse with a hose. I use this stuff on my aluminum canoe and it really cleans it! If you really want a shiny/mirror-like finish, it'll take a Lot of polishing with compounds...probably not worth it!

 

[arod2012]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

Thanks for the info. I just want them clean with no water mark/lines on them. No need to have them like a mirror or anything.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

I'd wait until someone answers your question about leaving it on blocks. Seems to me that might not be a good idea, but I really don't know about the strength of pontoons. "BrianMC" has a thread called "Project Fishtoon" that shows some very impressive work. You might send him a PM and see if he can offer advice.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=564672&highlight=project+fishtoon

 

[sccatfish]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

Mag wheel cleaner

 

[tommytoon]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

I go to the local truckwash and have them spray it with the acid cleaner and pressure wash, truck wash meaning 18 wheeler, thats how they keep the aluminum clean on the trucks $50.00 to $80.00 bucks im lazy lol

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

Pressure washer with a turbotip is how we clean dads before it gets put away for the season. I don't use any chemicals

As for the blocks, that is how 90% of the pontoons around here are stored for the winter. They pull the boats out and drop them in the yard on blocks for the winter. Very few people on the lake actually own pontoon trailers.

http://www.toonjack.com/

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

I tried mag wheel cleaner and all those alumn. wheel cleaners .There a waste of money.

 

[Bama Hound]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

The best thing for the buck can be gotten from NAPA. It is called Aluminum Cleaner. The last time I bought a gallon it was $12.00. The good news it goes a long way. It is made by a company in Atlanta, Ga. called Niagra. You only need to use 2 or 3 oz. to a quart spray bottle. Use more up to a point you will figure on your own. Recycle Greased Lighting or Windex bottles. Use 3M paint stripper pads you get at Wal-Mart in paint section. They will be located on the aisle with spray paint. The trick to using the stuff is spray and follow immediately with the stripper pad. Rinse and repeat until you are happy with result. It will turn pontoons snow white if you don't. I do mean snow white. Used like I say and you will have those "toons" looking like the top of a soda can. Use gloves and watch which way the way the wind is blowing so it doesn't blow back in your eyes. All the other things mentioned here I have used with not had as good results, with the exception of the truck wash which a buddy of mine does as he buys and resells boats. You can take this for what it is worth. I have only had a pontoon boat since 1985. You have to use pressure washer on really cruddy "toons" to start with, before you can get with the Aluminum Cleaner.

 

[sccatfish]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

I tried mag wheel cleaner and all those alumn. wheel cleaners .There a waste of money.

Everyone I used to sell mag wheel cleaner to for that purpose when I worked at a outdoors/hardware store in high school and college thought it worked pretty well, even the ones who were skeptical at first. In fact, almost all of the mag wheel cleaner we sold was bought for cleaning pontoons.

 

[ROBBSRACING]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

I used AC coil cleaner I bought from a plumbing supply store. The pink stuff. Sprayed it on half the tube at a time with a pump sprayer and let it sit on there for 2-3 minutes then hosed it off. VERY easy to do and the results are AWESOME. Then I went overboard and went at them with sandpaper and aluminum polish.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Is there a way to clean the pontoons??

Depends on what you are trying to clean.....if it is grime or organic growth, a power washer and brushes will take it off. As to oxidattion, IMO opinion (I am an indistrial water treatment expert and have background in metalurgy), that unsightly coating is how aluminum protects itself. The coating (aluminum oxide) is how aluminum protects itself from further corrosion. Take it off and you have more metal loss.