Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hi all!!! When I got my boat last year, the previous owner had left it in a marina for a year, causing the logs to get crappy. He scrapped off the sides when he pulled it out, but, the parts of the logs that set on the bunks of the trailor, is still rough and crusty. I am going to clean my logs and hopefully buff then to a nice shine before the season starts here, but I am wondering,,,,, how do I clean the parts that set on the bunks? Do I need to? Will it effect the speed that much if I dont? I dont have access to a scissor trailor. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

That one nice thing about have rollers instead of bunks, you can work around them and then pull the toon back a little to get to the rest.

But anyway you can use a sander and finer sand paper to get you close to the shine before you pull the buffer out and it will be quicker, I have done it the buffer way and it took a while but then 2toys told me about using fine sandpaper and then I seen it a few times on TV on different aluminum projects and I did pick up 2 mph with my big 50 horse engine after I cleaned them

Also I knew guys with bunks that would jack them up off the bunks enough to get to them to clean them, but be careful as toons are heavy and you don't want to lose nothing attached to your body.

But don't worry I sure some one will come by with a better ideal.

o'reilys sales a aluminum brightner thats pretty cheap that will clean them just spary it on.works realy good.Take 4x4 post with the boat backed in the water on the boat ramp a lay them long ways and pull it out of the water

You have to watch the sprays a lot of them etch and cause them to get dirty quicker the next time

Hey there Daniel,
When I have to get to the bottom of the logs, I take a 4X4 and catch at least three (or more)cross members under the boat, set a bottle jack on the trailer frame, and with another section of 4x4 between the jack and the one under the cross memebers I raise the boat up just far enough to slide a short foot long piece across the bunks. That will keep it from falling on your hands when your scraping around ddown there.
I'll include some before and after shots of what you can expect if you use the Sharkhide Aluminum Cleaner.
Hope this helps.
Clint

THIS IS BEFORE SHARKHIDE CLEANER

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THIS IS AFTER SHARKHIDE CLEANER

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Not to be slamming Clints product because everything he sell is top notch and he backs it up with his name. But if you go to AC/Heat and air co. and ask for Alum- Brite coil cleaner ut is about 15 bucks a gallon. follow instruntions and it will make your toons clean and kinda white for a while. Then apply Clints Sharkhide to leep them looking good. The gradually loose white look and return to aluminum color.

Alumi brite will etch the toons some

Clint - at PDB I asked if Sharkhide cleaner will remove or adversely effect my antifouling paint, don't remember if you answered. Will it ? I plan to clean and polish prior to spring launch.

badmoonrising wrote:Clint - at PDB I asked if Sharkhide cleaner will remove or adversely effect my antifouling paint, don't remember if you answered. Will it ? I plan to clean and polish prior to spring launch.

Hey there badmoon,
First of all, I'm so sorry, I must have missed your question at the PDB site or I would have answered you. I never ignore a question, EVER.
To try to answer your question, I've never tested Sharkhide Aluminum Hull Cleaner directly on "Bottom Paint" before but I can tell you in all the years that I've been selling it to coastal customers, not one single person has ever called me with a problem concerning their anti fouling coatings. Not that I want you to be the first!
I would suggest trying it in a small out of the way spot first just to be sure. And I'll make you a deal. If you try a small spot and it looks like it will harm the paint, I'll buy it back from you.
I hope this helps,
Clint

You may have repied and I missed it, I asked right before Brady deleted all my posts

Thanks ! I'll try a bit on the inside of one of the logs before I get more involved. I can always mask off the antifouling if it's an issue.