Anyone washed a pontoon boat?

[dieseldad97]

Had a request to wash the aluminum on a pontoon boat. Past experience with aluminum is thats you need acid to wash it. Anyone have any advice for me? Thanks.

 

[JimFergerson]

I'm by no means anykind of two-step fleetwash guy...

But I have downstreamed a HF aluminum brightener, and followed up d/s a high PH soap with increadible results.

 

[Kiloman]

Good advice Jim

 

[dieseldad97]

Thanks Jim. Hal, I know that you know your stuff also.

Hey Jim, I'm gonna pm you to hit you up for more info.

 

[RGilliam]

yea just two step it, it will clean up nice.

 

[Scott Stone]

The biggest secret to acid, and getting good results is to make sure you dilute it correctly. Too strong and it ruins the shine on the aluminum. Too weak and it doesn't clean right. You need to neutralize it, too, that is why you use the High Ph soap.

 

[dieseldad97]

Thanks for the help guys. I've never 2-stepped, but I guess there's always a first time. Not sure if it's gonna happen on someones boat. If I were to fill a 2 gallon pump up with water, how much HF would I mix? Another question: how high on the PH scale should my soap be? Thanks.

 

[Kiloman]

Gerald if you have a 2 gallon pump up if the truck acid is worth a hoot just fill it 1/4 the way full then the rest water.Like Scott said you need to get it right.Another thing is you want your soap to be around 9-11 on the ph go any stronger and it could brown the aluminum.That can be fixed with a stronger mix of acid.Really since its not a painter surface the acid should be enough on its on.

 

[RGilliam]

thats awfully strong acid, The stuff we use, isnt mixed that strong. I have some HF I use for stuff thats really bad, and we just do a small dash in it. 1-4 on some strong acid will turn that crap white fast!

 

[Scott Stone]

Most acids are 50:1. That is what i mix them at with great results. 4:1 is way to strong.

 

[Kiloman]

Like i said Ron if the acid is worth a hoot you dont need much just a little goes a long way.Which kind of acid do you have Rgilliam?

 

[Russ Johnson]

A good aluminum brightener can be used, as Scott said, near 50:1. I have a customer that burns wheels on purpose, he polishes them up from raw. He says it gets less gunk in his buffer wheel. He cuts at 20:1.

 

[RGilliam]

ok so if his acid is worth a hoot, dont you think 4-1 is going to be to strong? I've got several diffrent kinds of acid at the shop.

 

[RGilliam]

the kind of acid we put in a pump up spray is hf. its very strong, the stuff we usually use its as aggresive. we use alot of it. thats my acid tank on the right.​

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[sodak]

Gerald
Just a word of caution. If you use Aluminum Brightener, make sure the pontoon tubes are bare aluminum and not painted silver. I washed my friend's pontoon with brightner and stripped some of the silver paint from the tubes and it is all streaked up now. He still lets me fish and drink beer on it though.

 

[Pressurized]

Brad, im looking for the "like" button next to fish and drink beer!

 

[Christopher]

That is a good point about being painted, I have seen some here that are painted and some of the paint is worn off and they look strange.

 

[dieseldad97]

Thanks for all the help guys! I'm gonna look at the boat tonight and I'll see what the owner expects from me. I had no idea that the pontoons may be just painted...I'll have to look into this.

 

[KGILL]

Any update on the pontoon boat? I would love to see the after pictures and know how you went about it. We have a bunch of water down here and many boats to go along with.

 

[dieseldad97]

Sorry for not updating this thread guys. I did a test spot for the customer with an acid wash, and he didn't like the dulling effect. We then polished an area with a aluminum polish and he loved the results. He's gonna spend the time polishing the pontoons himself. Thanks to all of you that helped me here.