Advice - Paint & Aluminim Cleaning

[5 Salt]

Just purchased my first fishing boat (99 18' Motion Marine Sportjet) and could use some advice in the area of cleaning paint and polishing aluminum.

Looking for good product(s) to remove stains/gas yellowing and general clean up of paint (white). As well I need a quality aluminum cleaner and a polish and/or sealer.

Some thing that work well applied with a buffer,but I do not mind hand rubbing.

Thanks

[ 02-23-2004, 10:02 PM: Message edited by: charmon ]

[Mr. BrownTrout]

As far as an aluminum cleaner, I just tried an aluminum wheel cleaner from Napa auto parts, works very well.....as far as polish goes, I used mothers aluminum polish.

[troybuz]

Charmon,
I have been looking into this whole aluminum polishing/ cleaning issue lately, and hear is what I have concluded.
A good aluminum polish works well if the aluminum is in good shape. Flitz is a brand that is often used. If the aluminum is in lesser shape I have been wet sanding the aluminum with 400 grit, and then polishing it back to a shine with a medium rubbing compond and an electric buffer (auto body style).
Everybody I have spoke with swears by a product called Sharkhide as a good sealer... www.sharkhide.com. They also sell it at Stevens Marine.
For the paint, I think Motion Marine uses a powder coating process for their color. Try a medium rubbing compound and see if you can't lift the stain. There is a chance the yellow has permenantly stained the powder coating, if so you may have to live with it.
Good Luck...I think Mark, at Motion Marine, builds one of the nicest boats on the market.

[WaterDog]

Calvin,

I use heavy metal from Les Schawb, red lable then green on the AL. I use auto wax on the powder coat. Your's must be white? I have not been able to get the gas stain off.

But then you saw my boat the other day. :blush: I use it so much keeping it clean is impossible so I gave up. Redbull saw it (or was that smelled it) up close and personal the other day at the MM shop and had to tell me I needed to wash it. I hope his new ride gets dirty and bloody every weekend so he will understand. :tongue:

[212hjet]

Once you get it cleaned, if you will wipe it down with a 50/50 spray of white vinegar/water, including windows, you will be amazed how nice it will keep. It only takes two people about 8-10 minutes to do my 22' inboard, windows and all. It is a 96 and still looks quite new. Never been polished nor waxed. But you have to start out with it in like new condition. I just keep two spray bottles and old towels with me so when we pull it out and before the cover, it gets wiped down. Works for us anyway.
Good luck.

[FishinMission]

Here's a tip to get rid of the black polishing residue. Get yourself a cheap bag of flour(or sneak some out of the kitchen when the wife isn't looking..he he)..dip a dry terry cloth rag in the flour, and that black gunk will come right off. If you get tired of polishing your aluminum...I'd recommend painting it with a nice color of SILVER. Then all you gotta do is wash it like you would your car. Don't get much easier than that.

Mark

[5 Salt]

The gas stains are troublesome. Got a 1/2ft square area about 70% clean with Maguire's Clear coat cleaner and 15 minutes of rubbing.

I have another 2' square area to go on the gas plus the normal wear & tear stains on remainder of the hull.

Maybe someone knows of something a bit more effective.

The aluminum ideas are good - thanks

[skein]

Try plain old ordinary baking soda. The McGuire's will put a coating (I think) that will prevent the soda from working, but on the other areas you will be amazed at how well it cleans. Use a fairly damp rag and just rub it on and let it sit for a while. It washes off with no residue and will not scratch the finish.

No guarantees, but I think it will help.

Skein