cleaning/restoring aluminum boat

[josh6780]

ok, I just got a 13 or 14ft alumacraft boat. I have looked everywhere on the net and I cannot find anything about cleaning alminum. I have got brown crap on the sides and what looks like ox buldup. I am looking for a product that will remove all this crap. Or do I have to sand it? I just want to bring back the orignal aluminum shine. If there is a way. If not tell me what I need to do to prep it for a paint job.<br /><br />Also the engine has not been started in about 30 years. The fly wheel does turn. So There is hope here. But I already have one engine on my whaler I have to fix. I was wondering how much it would cost to just go have it serviced back to good shape. It's a evenrude I believe its a 25 horse I don't know how to tell. I have the serial numbers but I don't think that tells me anything. How do you identify your evinrude engine?<br /><br />Job

 

[josh6780]

Re: cleaning/restoring aluminum boat

just putting this back on top.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: cleaning/restoring aluminum boat

O/K, I'll throw my 2cents into the ring.<br /><br />I have a large aluminium front deck, over the years it turned blackish due to oxidisation. I scrubbed it with a mild coustic soda solution - came up brand new. <br /><br />In the FAQ section of these forums is a good article on how to revive a 'sleeping' outboard.<br /><br />Need a model number to identify rudes'.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[josh6780]

Re: cleaning/restoring aluminum boat

you know I don't get it. I have looked everywhere for hours on restoring almuinum boats. And I cannot find anything. only repparing them. Do you not restore them. Am I just post to paint over them? Does anyone know where I can find any information on restoring aluminum? How to properly sand it? Or take build up off or something. I know there is a way. I have sanded a little spot on mine. And it looks great. Problem is I don't know if your suppose to or not. If anyone has any information please tell me. I have found out how to restore every kind of boat but aluminum.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: cleaning/restoring aluminum boat

Josh, you're in tennessee, so I'd assume that you're dealing exclusively with fresh water. This is your call. I see no problem with sanding aluminum. Others might say different, but I've done it in the past, and had no problems. You might try a buffing compound, followed by an aluminum polish. With an electric or pneumatic wheel, you should have some really good results. I paint my aluminum boats. I like them that way. If that's the way you want to go, sand off the oxidation, prime with a primer that's high in zinc, and paint. I like epoxy paints, but again-there's others who might disagree. So far, I've done that and my boat looks great. The only problem with paint is that you're going to know it every time you bump something because it's bound to scratch the paint. I don't mind, but you might.

 

[Solittle]

Re: cleaning/restoring aluminum boat

Unless you put a coating of some type on the oxidation will return. That is not necessarily a bad thig as the oxidation by itself is a protective coating.