Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

So we have had the boat a few days. We can see under certain lighting conditions discoloration around all bends in the frame. Is this from the heating process for bending, poor paint or powder coat (not sure they are painted), or something else??

I’m hoping someone can tell me if this is normal or if they have seen it before. I’m waiting for an answer from the dealer/manufacturer.

I tried to post pic on first post, I’m trying it one more time.

That's just from the steel rollers that are used during the bending process, plus the alum is after all being distorted during the cold bending and as such may show some defect from it...

[quote="teecro"]That's just from the steel rollers that are used during the bending process, plus the alum is after all being distorted during the cold bending and as such may show some defect from it...[/quote]

Teecro, thanks fo the reply. I think a word was left out. Did you say that the aluminum is “stronger” after the bending process?

The aluminum likely has an anodized finish. It is hard to tell how bad it is by looking at pictures, but I would not be too happy with that on a new boat. My 2006 Premier does not have any variation in the bends. It seems to me like a quality control issue.

My first Manitou had the same marks. The railings are not anodized. They are bent, then painted and baked. Like Teecro said, the aluminum is distorted, and it shows through the paint. Manitou sent me a can of silver metallic paint to spray over the marks. I wasn't really pleased, but the alternative was to have the railings replaced, with the same railings, which would have probably had the same marks. Since then, Manitou has been powder coating the railings on the higher end models and those spots don't come through. I would surely show the dealer, see what he says.

[quote="Steve7"][quote="teecro"]That's just from the steel rollers that are used during the bending process, plus the alum is after all being distorted during the cold bending and as such may show some defect from it...[/quote]

Teecro, thanks fo the reply. I think a word was left out. Did you say that the aluminum is “stronger” after the bending process?[/quote]

No I didn't mean stronger, while it may not be weaker it is certainly not any stronger; alum only bends easily once...

I think what your looking at is a slight lack of QC during the bending process whereas the alum is distorted from dirty steel rollers and/or a lack of lube (if any) during the bending. The alum was likely anodised in stick form before purchase and anodising is a surface hardening treatment which is distorted during the bending (stretching) on the outside portion of the bend...

When I bent my bimini the aluminum looked like that. Of course mine was by mistake so I would expect it, but your's should not. Mine are anodized, as I believe most are now.