Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Pulled the boat out of the water yesterday. Pressure washed the toons. They look great above the waterline, but below they are black and rough feeling. I polished and sharkhided them one (1) year ago when the boat was new. It has been in the water since then. I know to use thinner to remove old sharkhide, but not sure where to go then. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Haven't used either but hear AC coil cleaner or acid (muratic) also heard the works bathroom cleaner. Have used Brillo pads with pretty good success, worth a try if they aren't too bad and will leave a little shine to them. I know the acid will leave them dull or kind of grayish cast to them.

i've used a/c cleaner, had to be the acid stuff--the non-acid did nothing.
eye protection and skin protection a must.

This is not to shine the toon. I am trying to get the black crud that was left when I pressure washed the under water part of the toon. I test sprayed a spot with oven cleaner. Left on for some 30 seconds or so and pressure washed. Unbeleaveable effect! Clean aluminum. However, can says donot use on aluminum, contains sodium hydroxide. I am actually spraying this on the crud, which has a layer of sharkhide beneath it, so it is not being applied directly to aluminum. Goes a great job! What do ya'll think?
Thanks

Be very very careful with that stuff, sodium hydroxide is LYE. It can hurt you real bad if ingested or gets in your eyes. Wear heavy rubber gloves so you don't get your hands burned by it. An old long sleeve shirt too, that you might have to throw away after. Good luck and be safe!

I tried The Works on mine last year. Results were mixed. Cleaned some spots well, others were unaffected or streaked. That stuff is STRONG! On a wind-less day early in the morning to avoid a breeze, I sprayed it on. The fumes chased me all around the damn boat. Potent stuff.

i don't think i'd use oven cleaner on aluminum. try the acid a/c cleaner.
be very careful with it.

although a chemist might tell you that the cleaning mechanism is the
same for both of them... i don't know. know any chemists?