Download Article

Download Commodity

Polishing an aluminum gunkhole, such as a pontoon gunkhole or fishing boat, is a process that takes just a couple of hours. First, wash the boat to remove any buildup of dirt, grime, mineral deposits, or algae. Then, apply an aluminum cleaner to treat oxidation and prepare the hull for shine. Finally, utilise an aluminum polish and buff it in to seal the aluminum and make your boat shine. Shortly plenty, your boat will be ready to hitting the water again looking fresh and clean!

  1. i

    Park your boat on its trailer on a flat surface outside. Tow your boat out of the water if information technology isn't already on the trailer. Park the trailer in a apartment, clear area somewhere where yous take space to work on information technology.[1]

    • You'll need access to a h2o source that you can connect a hose to as well.
    • This method works for both unpainted and painted aluminum boats. Proceed in listen that if you have a pontoon boat with aluminum pontoons and a fiberglass torso, this method is only for polishing the pontoons.

  2. ii

    Spray the aluminum hull with a pressure washer. Set a power washer and connect it to a water source. Turn it on and spray down all the aluminum surfaces with plain water to remove built-up grime, grease, algae, minerals, and whatever other dirt on the surface.[ii]

    • If you don't take a power washer, you tin hire one at a home comeback eye or hardware store. Alternatively, you lot can rinse the boat with a regular hose and scrub away buildup with a towel or sponge.
    • Wear closed-toe shoes and eye protection whenever you lot operate a ability washer. If you have a loud gas power washer, it's a good thought to vesture earplugs also.
    • If yous have a saltwater boat and there are barnacles on the hull, spray them at an angle with the power washer to go under the edges and remove them. If this doesn't work, try scraping them off with a plastic putty knife.

    Advertizement

  3. 3

    Put on safety gloves and eye protection. This will protect you from getting any aluminum cleaner on the sensitive peel of your hands or in your eyes. Aluminum cleaner can cause irritation in these sensitive areas.[iii]

    • Any kind of chemical-resistant rubber gloves will work to protect your hands. Avoid using work gloves that are partly made of fabric because they tin can soak upwards the cleaner.

  4. 4

    Spray an aluminum cleaner in an fifty-fifty coat over the entire hull. Attach a spray nozzle to a canteen of aluminum cleaner or pour some cleaner into a sprayer. Use the fine mist setting and spray the cleaner on generously using smooth, fifty-fifty strokes until you lot have covered all the aluminum surfaces.[iv]

    • You tin can become an aluminum cleaner fabricated for boats at a marine supply shop, home comeback center, or online. It is frequently called aluminum cleaner and restorer.

    Warning: Never use any cleaners that contain hydrofluoric acid or other unsafe acids. These can burn down through your skin or cause loss of eyesight if you become them in your eyes.

  5. 5

    Scrub the cleaner into the aluminum with a plastic mesh scrubbing pad. Use a scrubbing pad made for cleaning boat hulls. Scrub in long, fifty-fifty, back-and-forth strokes applying steady pressure to ensure even coverage. This will aid the cleaner penetrate the aluminum and treat whatever oxidized areas.[five]

    • Many of the aforementioned brands that make aluminum cleaners and restorers also make scrubbing pads meant for applying them.

  6. 6

    Rinse the cleaner off with plain water. Spray downwardly the entire aluminum hull with fresh water using a regular hose. Become over all the aluminum surfaces several times to make sure you get rid of all the cleaner.[six]

    • Try not to allow the cleaner dry out on the aluminum before rinsing information technology off. If you have a large aluminum boat, it might be a good idea to work on 1 side first, applying cleaner and rinsing it off, and then move to the other side and repeat the process in that location. If the cleaner dries and leaves any residue, scrub it off with a wet towel or sponge.

  7. 7

    Let the boat air dry before proceeding. Look until all the water evaporates and the boat is dry out before you apply polish to the aluminum. You need a dry aluminum surface for the polish to work efficiently.[7]

    • If you desire to speed up the drying process, wipe downwards the hull with a dry towel to remove the excess water, then let it air dry for thirty minutes or and so.

    8. Ad

  1. 1

    Rub an aluminum polish into the hull with a make clean, dry cloth or wool pad. Squirt 3-four drops aluminum polish onto a clean, dry out cloth or a wool buffing pad. Rub it in evenly over a small section of the aluminum surface using overlapping circular motions. Continue until you've covered all of the aluminum and reapply shine to the textile as needed.[eight]

    • Aluminum polish will seal the aluminum with a protective coating and give it a uniform shine.
    • If the textile or pad you are using becomes dirty as yous go, this ways it is rubbing off oxidation. Fold the cloth over to a clean function or replace the pad with a clean i to avert rubbing the oxidation back onto the hull.

    Tip: Yous tin apply the smoothen with an electrical buffer if you wish. Just make certain to use a soft, wool buffing pad to avoid streaking.

  2. 2

    Wait for the polish to dry until it looks hazy. Allow the polish dry out onto the aluminum until it looks kind of cloudy rather than clear. This typically takes anywhere from 5-20 minutes.[9]

    • Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for the specific aluminum smoothen you are using for exact information on how long to let information technology sit earlier buffing.

  3. 3

    Buff the shine into the hull with a clean, soft, dry cloth. Apply firm pressure and motility the cloth in overlapping circular or S-patterned motions. Piece of work in small-scale areas and move on once the brume from the polish disappears and the area looks shiny.[10]

    • Don't use straight up-and-downwardly or side-to-side motions when buffing. This will consequence in a less blended finish.

  4. 4

    Repeat the polishing procedure annually to reduce oxidation buildup. Use aluminum cleaner and polish to your gunkhole at least once a year using this same process to preserve the aluminum and re-smoothen it. This will get in much easier to requite your boat a lasting smooth.[xi]

    5. Advertizing

Inquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Things You'll Need

  • Gunkhole trailer
  • Power washer
  • Protective eyewear
  • Closed-toe shoes
  • Safe gloves
  • Aluminum cleaner
  • Scrub pad
  • Hose
  • Clean cloths
  • Wool pad (optional)
  • Electric buffer (optional)
  • Aluminum smooth

References

About This Article

Thanks to all authors for creating a folio that has been read 12,887 times.

Did this commodity help you?