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Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | Anybody wax their aluminum boat?
For any boat, what the best way to go about it? Do you wax just the hull that you see, or do you get a creeper and get under her?
I bought a new Alumacraft last spring and am getting a water line around it. What's the best way to get that off? Soap and water don't do the trick. |
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Posts: 279
| I don't know how true it is but I was always told that if you wax the bottom of the boat it actually slows the boat down cause it causes friction. I know it seems like the opposite would be true. |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I wax down to the splash rail. Most aluminum boats today are actually painted with automotive paint, so they really can shine up well, and protection of that finish is key to keeping the boat looking sharp.
The reason one should not wax the bottom of the boat is because wax causes water to bead off, which increases the surface to water friction. When there is no wax on the hull, water can attach more easily (on your car it does not bead up) and has less friction because water can sheet off itself easier than it can off of another material.
Now...on our boats that might reach 60mph with the largest rigs and largest engines with optimal set-ups, one might see a drop off of speed by maybe 1mph, if that even. Those of us who have a 40mph rig probably would not see much of any difference.
One other thing I know people have tried to do to increase surface tension is to sand the bottom of the hull perpendicular to the direction the boat travels. The grooves in the hull trap water, allowing passing water to glide right over it. With our tin hulls, we probably would not see anything different here either.
A racing boat on the other hand...a mph could be the difference between winning and losing?
Steve
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Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | Thanks for the tips!
Anyone know how to safely remove the white film around the waterline? Car wash soap and water doesn't work. |
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| The white line is probably some sort of lime build up. Try LCR or other cleaners for removing calcium, lime or rust. I pour LCR on a rag wipe off build up then wash with soap/water. Comes clean every time. |
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Posts: 136
| Try vinegar, works well for removing water spots. |
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Posts: 183
Location: Grand Forks ND | Ducky is a great water-spot cleaner. I think it's basically a vinegar solution. |
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| 3M Fiberglass Cleaner and Wax worked well for me. It was a painted (white) boat, however, so I'm not sure how it would work if your boat is bare aluminum. It's a compound, so it takes some of the paint away (not noticeably), so it's not good to do all the time. I used to do it once a year and then put turtle wax on after that. Each time the boat is taken out of the water rub it with a sponge and water and dry with a towel (assuming you don't have it in the water all season). It can be tedious, but you won't have any future stains to worry about.
I clean the bottom with 409 or some other household cleaner. I don't think that created any problems and it helped give it some extra shine.
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Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | I think I'll try the vinegar trick 1st. I've heard it works from a few people.
I wonder if Simple Green would work? Anybody try that? |
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Posts: 537
Location: Gilberts IL/Rhinelander WI | Simple Green works very good. |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Vinegar and a nylon brush....
Get a spray bottle and liberally spray the hull. Take a nylon brush to stubborn spots. Dry. no more spots...
Steve |
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Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | Do you mix the vinegar into a solution, or use straight up? |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I've used it straight up as that will be the most effective. As soon as I'm done scrubbing, I wipe it down with a towel. After that, a good polish and wax (2 steps)
The polish removes those swirl marks that can show up with continued washing and
The wax seals the paint so any water spots that develop afterward come off much easier.
To really get the boat to shine, start with a rubbing compound, then a polishing compound, thirdly polish, then wax. Deeep deeeep shine!!
Steve |
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Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | Awesome! Thanks, Steve. I'll give 'er a whirl! |
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Posts: 181
Location: Valparaiso, Indiana | Ive used this product and it works awsome. Check out their videos
http://www.jjvsbest.com/product-information.html
http://www.jjvsbest.com/pontoon-cleaner.html
Edited by MuskyRuss 4/15/2012 7:36 AM
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Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA | VMS - 4/11/2012 10:43 AM
I've used it straight up as that will be the most effective. As soon as I'm done scrubbing, I wipe it down with a towel. After that, a good polish and wax (2 steps)
Definitely need to re-wax. Vinegar, simple green and stuff like that will take off any wax that would currently be on the hull. |
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Posts: 292
| i use dish soap or 409 to clean bugs and grime.also use a regular wax to help shine .speed buff to remove any marks. |
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Posts: 292
| for example washed with dish soap and still had dock rash ,used a speed buff then wax. i just got this boat 2 weeks ago.
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