Polishing deep scratches out???

[brotherkicksave]

I need help. Has anyone had success with sanding scratches out of aluminum pontoons? Sanding and then polishing?

 

[5150abf]

Re: Polishing deep scratches out???

I have sanded out hundreds of scratches and will tell you to leave them alone unless you want to do the entire boat, even on brand new aluminum it is very very difficult to get it to blend, on an old boat what you will get is an old tube with big chrome spots all over it, the scrathes will look better.

Also depending on how deep they are sanding removes material so if you aren't careful you can end up with some really thin tubes that will dent really easy, it really is best to forget you ever saw them.

I am have made ponttons for 25 years and have tries everything under the sun to try and figure out how to do a perfect repair, I have it down pretty good but that is because I have done it so much, for a guy to get it the first time isn't going to happen and your tubes are going to look terrible when you are done, leave it go.

 

[brotherkicksave]

Re: Polishing deep scratches out???

That's the problem. It is a brand new boat. Less than 30 hours. This is the Crest Tritoon that had a water leak in the center toon from the lower draining thru-hull fitting. The result of the water ingress caused the boat to sit lower in the water allowing barnacles to grow above the anti-fouling paint line. The dealer scraped off the heads leaving some ugly scratches on it. I am willing to sand and polish the toons. I'll see how close I can get it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Polishing deep scratches out???

Okay, now I know what we are dealing with, I will let you in my years of research.

I use a DA sander and the smallest grit I can get by with, really bad ones get 320 but I try to sneak up on it with 600-800, it takes alittle longer but you don't have to get rid of the big scratches from the 320.

Once you get the scratches out you will need a super fine Scotch brite pad and I mean the finest you can find, use the DA and the Scotch Brite going just beyond the sanded area, this will help blend it in, once you have gotten the edges blended in use the Scotch Brite and by hand go with the grain of the aluminum, yes it has a grain, if you look real close you can see it, just like wood only finer.

Use nice straight strokes and it will almost blend but be shiney, the more you rub it the shinier it will be so less is more, let it sit for a few weeks and it will get the nice aluminum patina back and blend in even more but you kwo it is there so you will always be able to see it sort of but your average on looker won't.

Oh and doin't dig it, alot of people that try it use the edge of the sander to get the scratch out but if you aren't carefull it will leave a visible dip, like a dent, you need to feather it, inother words keep the sander flat and a 1'' scratch repair will be 3''x3''

You have now been to scratch removal 101.

 

[brotherkicksave]

Re: Polishing deep scratches out???

Thanks 5150. I will copy these instructions and use them to a tee. By the way, my first appreciation of Pontoon boats came in 1985 on Lake Maxincuckee while attending Culver Academy. As a 14 year old surfer from South Florida, imagine the uphill battle I faced returning home from Indiana to try to convince my friends that Pontoons were the coolest boats. Those are the same friend that laugh now, "You finally got your Pontoon boat....good for you." Thanks for your help. Steve

 

[5150abf]

Re: Polishing deep scratches out???

DOn't believe I have ever made it to Maxincuckee btu I have been by the academy quite a few times.

It is nice up here in the north during summer btu I would prefer Florida around January.

 

[mmulloy]

Re: Polishing deep scratches out???

I have a 230SLR with leak also How did you find where it was coming from, mine is center toon and visible at rear when inspection cover is removed I have a drain line coming out back but am perplexed as no ski locker in boat so not sure why it's there for one and if there is a bilge pump? Any info will be appreciated

 

[brotherkicksave]

Re: Polishing deep scratches out???

On the bottom rear of the center toon there is a drain plug grommet. My understanding is that...the hole for the grommet was drilled too large from the factory. My dealer replaced the grommet with larger size, resealed it and no more leak. The hose is to drain any moisture that has gathered around the fuel tank. That hose is connected to the tray where the fuel cell sits on it/in it. And there is no bilge pump. Hope this helps.

 

[mmulloy]

Re: Polishing deep scratches out???

So the drain plug grommet is the hole that drain hose is connected to? I see no plug underneath center toon

On the bottom rear of the center toon there is a drain plug grommet. My understanding is that...the hole for the grommet was drilled too large from the factory. My dealer replaced the grommet with larger size, resealed it and no more leak. The hose is to drain any moisture that has gathered around the fuel tank. That hose is connected to the tray where the fuel cell sits on it/in it. And there is no bilge pump. Hope this helps.

 

[mmulloy]

Re: Polishing deep scratches out???

Also thank you for the info

On the bottom rear of the center toon there is a drain plug grommet. My understanding is that...the hole for the grommet was drilled too large from the factory. My dealer replaced the grommet with larger size, resealed it and no more leak. The hose is to drain any moisture that has gathered around the fuel tank. That hose is connected to the tray where the fuel cell sits on it/in it. And there is no bilge pump. Hope this helps.

 

[brotherkicksave]

Re: Polishing deep scratches out???

yes. on the bottom center of the toon. the hole that the grommet goes through. it was drilled too big and water seeps in through there.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Polishing deep scratches out???

I have to ask; isn't there a "Anodized" surface on marine aluminum that resists the natural oxidation that aluminum gets without the special surface? Wouldn't this surface be thinned/removed by sanding/polishing?