Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Just picked up my Sweetwater pontoon from storage and dropped it in the driveway of my lake house. I need to fix a few things, change fluids and of course clean it. I have an electric pressure washer and cleaned off the right tube pretty thoroughly and then sprayed "JJV's Best ALU100-G Aluminum Pontoon Cleaner" on it https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FP ... UTF8&psc=1
I did the back of the tube repeatedly and the area below the water line looks great(who cares), but above it's all blotchy. I sprayed it on heavily, waited a few minutes, added more and scrubbed with a large scotchbrite and or brush, waited a few and pressure washed it off. It the side view picture I did the area left of the rope. Any ideas how to make it better? It's dead smooth on the sides. My friend said get a gallon on muratic acid?

Could that be oil residue from a slick floating by. I don’t think the alumabrite stuff will cut oil. Try first with a strong detergent like a tire cleaner to remove the oil first. Then apply the brighter. Good luck and let us know the outcome.

If you use muriatic acid, don’t go beyond a 40% solution mixed with water.

My neighbor, who does a lot of aluminum boat work, recommends a 20% solution, which will probably take two cleanings.

He says that anything around 50% and up will turn the aluminum white. That won’t hurt it, but likely isn’t the look you’re going for.

Just go to NAPA and get a gallon of their aluminum cleaner. It is an acid based product but safe if used as directed. It is cheaper than the stuff mentioned bought on Amazon. HVAC outside condenser coil cleaners are essentially the same product.

My toons looked about like your, if not worse. I used the NAPA product and could be more pleased!! Just sprayed it on and hosed it off after 30-60 seconds. One gallon did my entire pontoon (2 tubes) and ladder and some of the trailer that had stains from trees. Will absolutely use it again when needed. Some good stuff for very reasonable price. Easiest cleaning I have ever done on my toon!
Sami

SamiGuy wrote: ↑

Mon May 07, 2018 7:37 pm

... Easiest cleaning I have ever done on my toon!
Sami

Would an acid wash like this do any good on toons that have NEVER been cleaned in 20 years?

Much of the advice here seems to be for ongoing seasonal maintenance. I'd like to know what to use to get years of gritty lake scum off the lower half of the tubes.

Do you have access to a pressure washer? If so, then blast it clean and then use the NAPA product. Under 20 bucks and really nothing to loose but about 1 hour and some water.
Hope it works for you as well as it did mine. I was totally surprised, pleasantly so!!
Sami

Bamaman wrote: ↑

Sun May 06, 2018 2:15 am

Just go to NAPA and get a gallon of their aluminum cleaner. It is an acid based product but safe if used as directed. It is cheaper than the stuff mentioned bought on Amazon. HVAC outside condenser coil cleaners are essentially the same product.

I went to Napa bought a gallon of aluminum brightener for $18. That with a scotchbrite and my electric pressure washer did the trick. Thank you. I forgot to take after pictures and now it is the water. And it's cold and rainy...

Great Job!! Now you can help somebody else when they ask. Good stuff and pretty easy.

guy48065 wrote: ↑

Tue May 08, 2018 7:05 am

Would an acid wash like this do any good on toons that have NEVER been cleaned in 20 years?

Much of the advice here seems to be for ongoing seasonal maintenance. I'd like to know what to use to get years of gritty lake scum off the lower half of the tubes.

I do have a pressure washer--but not 200 miles away at my cottage.

My immediate need was to glue a transducer mounting block to the back of the toon so I tried a plastic scrub brush, then ScotchBrite, then acid, then a wire brush, then a coarse sanding block. Nothing removed that build-up. It literally looks & feels like cement. If it's THAT tough then epoxy should hold to it so I glued the block on with PC-11. Seems fine but time will tell.

As for the rest of the floats I think I'll just leave them scummy. I'll try the ScotchBrite again after it's been soaking in the lake for a few weeks.