Dirty aluminum boat

[Buck9]

My lund boat has a fine film on the outside, and I can not seem to get it off. Tried different cleaners and waxes with little success. Anyone have an easy solution or found a good way to clean aluminum boats?

[FishingFrenzy]

I've heard of people using oven cleaner for their aluminums. Is your boat painted or just bare aluminum? Maybe those 3M green scrub pads would work?
What is the film like? Oily? Waxy?

[Mayhem]

Is it on the paint or on the abare aluminum? If you store it outside it is most likely weathering, red is particularly bad for that. For your paint try Meguiars automotive products, for the bare metal use a 3M green scotch brite pad.

[Buck9]

It is painted and that is part of the problem i am scared to wreck the paint. I have tried buffers and started to remove some decals. Spot cleaning with new products just seems tough. the film is like a white scum. Not oily or waxy. Some of the lakes around here are very dirty and have lots of green scum mid year

[Ruger1022]

We use Vim after a season on the Chesterslue!! works really well!!

[Mayhem]

It's more work but I usually apply the products by hand as a buffer can quickly do damage when it builds up heat. I would try Scratch-X (about $14 at wally-mart) first on an inconspicuous area. Hope that helps.

[ghostguy6]

can you post a picture of it? There are a few things it could be.

[Buck9]

I have used CLR on it and that seems to somewhat work but does not last long. Can look at getting a picture of it tomorrow.

[great white whaler]

buffer ,with fine grit cutting compound,,use water as u polish

[ÜberFly]

We used to have some stuff to clean our Grumman canoe it was specifically for aluminum, it worked very well. I can try to find out what it is/was...

P

[Buck9]

I will try some of the suggestions. Sure uberfly that would be great. Looking for anything that will work and get me on the water instead of boat cleaning

[Penner]

There is a marine Aluminum cleaning product made by Spray Nine. Cleans up Aluminum real well. Local boating stores would sell it.

What ever you use ensure you rinse the boat off well before taking it to the Lake.

[Kokanee9]

Is the film on the entire exterior of the boat or is it more concentrated up to the waterline mark? That would help to know if it is from lake water or general weathering.

[lifesaflyin]

There is a marine Aluminum cleaning product made by Spray Nine. Cleans up Aluminum real well. Local boating stores would sell it.

What ever you use ensure you rinse the boat off well before taking it to the Lake.

another vote for spray nine. one of the best cleaners I have ever used..

[Buck9]

Staining is only up to water line and I have tried spray 9. Somewhat works but think that it is more elbow grease than spray

[ÜberFly]

"Trewax 4 season marine metal polish".

Called a marine place in Calgary but they don't carry it, bust said they have something comparable (sorry didn't get a name).

Hope this helps.

P

[Buck9]

Thanks for all the different options, I ended going with Vim just because easily found and inexpensive and it did a great job. Next question what does one use to protect the boat now. What kind of polish or finish should I apply to try and keep the shine and make stain removal easier in the future.

[mooseknuckle]

Had the same issue. Believe it or not after trying everything the wife gave me one of those mr clean magic erasers. You'll need 3-4 of them and a little elbow grease but it worked really well, add beer and then it's admiration time.

[kinuseo]

Just take it to a car wash and use the presoak and let it sit for 5 mins and wash with soap and rinse with wax, cheap easy and effective, scrubs, shines and protects.:)

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

Buck 9 Hot water and Dawn dish soap will clean that up no problem and wont effect the enviroment either .

[Redfrog]

Commercial product. great price
http://www.stevestonmarine.com/product_detail.php?id=17552&page=20

[mszomola]

i have a fiberglass boat and its white ....


first thing is , always wipe your boat down after use. The scumline is very difficult to remove.

im not sure about aluminum but i clean my fiberglass with a mild acid boat hull cleaner .... its the only way for me to get my whites back ... on aluminum might be a bit different but i would check along those lines. normal soap wont ever work ...


i also apply 3 levels after which is a wax cleaner , wax and polish ... i dont generally get a scum line all year but i wipe the boat down ever time after use rain or shine ....

[Mayhem]

Thanks for all the different options, I ended going with Vim just because easily found and inexpensive and it did a great job. Next question what does one use to protect the boat now. What kind of polish or finish should I apply to try and keep the shine and make stain removal easier in the future.

Not sure, but isn't there some product called "shark oil" thats supposed to seal the aluminum so it doesn't tarnish?

[Alberta_bassman]

there is sum poilsh for metal its called typhoon 40 u can get it at auto shops... or just look 4 a lazy metal polish ... it will work 4 sure ... it is a very very thin layer of petineana.. is the spelling right..well who cares...that looks hazy ... get sum rags or to it right with a couple terry cloths.. i had the same problem on my lil alum...:bad_boys_20: