Keeping Pontoons Clean

[jollymon]

I have started keeping my Pontonn boat in a slip, rather than trailering it. It has been in the water (Fresh) for about 2 weeks. I am already starting to notice a growth on it. Short of painting the pontoons does anybody know of any product that will help and that works. I was looking at a product called SharkHide. I posted a question asking if anyone has used it but got no replies. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Down South]

Re: Keeping Pontoons Clean

Those pontoons are going to collect a lot of growth if kept in the water. I wish that I knew of some way to stop it. I have a pontoon boat and usually never leave it in the water more than a few days at a time. I just helped a friend of mine clean his pontoons of growth with a pressure washer. His pontoon had been left in the water for a month or so. There are several chemicals that you can clean the pontoons with. (or so I hear) Alumibrite is one and is usually sold at refridgeration stores.

 

[jamelvin]

Re: Keeping Pontoons Clean

You can clean your pontoons using an aluminum cleaner. <br />Most trucking companies stock an aluminum clear. <br />Spray the cleaner on, after a minute or two use a garden<br />hose to remove the clear/gunk. You may have to use twice.<br />Once the pontoons are clean wax them with a car wax. I<br />have used a combination of paste and spray on wax in the<br />past but will probably just use the spray wax in the futher.<br />This will help to keep the algae/gunk of the pontoons for<br />a while. It also helps increase your speed and lower your<br />gas consumption.<br />A quick way to remove some of the algae/gunk with the <br />boat in the water is to get a plastic (not metal) putty knife<br />and use this to scrape the stuff off. (sit on a raft or cusion)<br />I don't think anything will totally keep the stuff off more than<br />a two/three months. hope this helps.

 

[jollymon]

Re: Keeping Pontoons Clean

Jamelvin,<br /><br />Thanks for the tip. I hope I get a chance to pull the boat this weekend and try it. Do you do yours while it is on the trailer? what about under the bunks???

 

[smalloutboardsarecool]

Re: Keeping Pontoons Clean

for under the bunks you can raise the boat up and clean/repaint your best bet is to use "slimy grimy" this will take all algie and stuff off fast sray your trailor bunks with itbefor getting the pontoon on. spray they pontoons with this when it is brought up then wipe clean

 

[wayne c.]

Re: Keeping Pontoons Clean

Harbour, I used a qt. of Shark Hide on my new Bennington before putting in a slip at marina. This stuff is expensive--around $40.00 a qt.. Boat set in water about 3 wks. before new lift finally came in. Still had water marks on toons, but not severe. Friend put his pontoon in at same time--didn't use Shark Hide, his looked a lot worse than mine. Really can't say how Shark Hide treated toons would look after long period of time in water.

 

[jamelvin]

Re: Keeping Pontoons Clean

I don't have a trailer, the marina I am at does it. Thier trailer is the kind that can<br />be raised and lower and they usually put the boats on concreate blocks with a <br />2X4 at the top. This allows me to wax almost all of the pontoons.<br />I check my pontoons this weekend and the were pretty clean. I compared them<br />with another boat that put in about the same time as mine (march) and mine<br />were quite a bit cleaner.

 

[jollymon]

Re: Keeping Pontoons Clean

leaner48 <br /> <br />My has only been in about 3 weeks also, and I am already starting to get growth on the pontoons, under the water line. Did you see any of this on yours? how about your buddies? I understand the water line is going to get some scum, but this will not hurt performance (If you can call it performance in a pontoon), and is easy to clean off. It is under the water line that I am concerned about.

 

[wayne c.]

Re: Keeping Pontoons Clean

Harbour, Now that mine is on a lift, all I can see is a dull water line not much color to it. As far as the bottom of the toons , not sure. Would guess not much different. Have seen my buddies out on lake, his toons have a brownish tint already, as far as growth--???. If your boat has been in the water, Shark Hide recommends you clean toons before applying. Of course they make the recommended cleaner--for a price-Ha! I used about half a qt., crawled under around inside trailer, put it every where toons were exposed. Stuff goes a long way. I had seen articles on Shark Hide in boating mags. I figured it was a one time thing, had already sunk big bucks in new pontoon, why not try to protect it. Let us know what you decide to do. Leaner

 

[wayne c.]

Re: Keeping Pontoons Clean

Yo Harbour, One other thing DON'T use this stuff on painted surfaces, such as lower unit on your outboard. I'm guessing they fear it might take the paint off--its for toons only.