aluminum boat gouges/dock scratches

[JDS]

Hi All,

I'm guessing a fair number of you have aluminum boats, and that those aluminum boats have found that stray screw/bolt/nail on the side of a dock that your boat bumpers just didn't protect you from. Any suggestions or techniques people have used to get those fixed? It's a fairly shallow scratch no more than a 1/16th of an inch, but kind of unsightly.

Thanks in advance,

JDS

[Mud Duck]

Originally Posted by JDS

Hi All,

I'm guessing a fair number of you have aluminum boats, and that those aluminum boats have found that stray screw/bolt/nail on the side of a dock that your boat bumpers just didn't protect you from. Any suggestions or techniques people have used to get those fixed? It's a fairly shallow scratch no more than a 1/16th of an inch, but kind of unsightly.

Thanks in advance,

JDS

I had some nice scratches in my Willies DB. The first thing I did is use a hi-speed roloc disc [like scotch brites on steroids] in a die grinder , then 150 grit sandpaper,n 180, 220, 320, and finally some alum polish, like Mothers Mag Polish. The scratches were gone. Problem is I had a few shiny spots til a few trips down the river and down the road occured. Good luck, I know they will come out. Depth of the gouge dictates where u need to start in my recommendations.

[Akatrout]

Originally Posted by JDS

Hi All,

I'm guessing a fair number of you have aluminum boats, and that those aluminum boats have found that stray screw/bolt/nail on the side of a dock that your boat bumpers just didn't protect you from. Any suggestions or techniques people have used to get those fixed? It's a fairly shallow scratch no more than a 1/16th of an inch, but kind of unsightly.

Thanks in advance,

JDS

Post this in boat and motor tech and you will prob get alot of great ideas.

[Just Fish]

A friend had a lot of dock rash on his hewes craft he had the paint removed and had it rino liner put on were his old paint was it looks great and very scratch resistent.

[adobe wall]

I spent a fair amount of time developing a repair process for scratches in polished and unpolished aluminum, if I remember to copy it at work I'll post it tomorrow. Should work fine on boats.

aw

[JDS]

Originally Posted by adobe wall

I spent a fair amount of time developing a repair process for scratches in polished and unpolished aluminum, if I remember to copy it at work I'll post it tomorrow. Should work fine on boats.

aw

Thanks Adobe Wall,

Look forward to the post.

JDS

[adobe wall]

forgot today, but will get it tomorrow. Have emailed myself a reminder.

aw

[adobe wall]

and then I remembered that I can access the info from home:

Small pneumatic polishers that take 3-inch polishing pads are recommended. For example, Florida Pneumatic’s FP-825 polishing kit includes a 90 degree, 2500 rpm tool with 3-inch pads.

IMPORTANT: Polishing pads should not be interchanged between stainless steel and aluminum. Segregate pads according to the material they have been used on previously.

When polishing with a 3-inch pad, do not allow the entire diameter of the pad to contact the surface. Instead, use the outside third (or less) of the polishing pad and work with the grain of the metal if it is visible. Allowing the full diameter of the polishing pad to contact the surface will result in swirl marks which must then be removed.

(there's more that deals with polished stainless and polished aluminum, here's the relevant info about repairing unpolished aluminum)

Use water as a cutting agent
Start with a 2000 grit pad to see if it is sufficient, it will repair light surface scratches
for severe scratches use a maximum of 320 grit. If 320 is used, go over the repair with 2000 grit (may need an intermediate grit between 320 and 2000). To blend the repair, finish with a 4000 grit pad rubbed by hand in the direction of the metal grain.

If you have any polished aluminum or polished stainless, I can add the recommended polish grit/cutting agent/and polish to use for those. When I initially drafted the instructions, the tech I watched was able to remove a 6" long scratch (easily felt with a fingernail) in about 20 minutes.

hth, aw