Im looking at buying an aluminum boat but the aluminum is dull. Is there something made that I can use to clean it up with? Im even open to buffing it out if it will clean it up.
You can make aluminum shine like chrome if you have the time and patience. You will not accomplish that by hand in your lifetime however. A buffer is necessary along with many pads. You can however use any number of aluminim polishes to at least brighten it a little. Again, a buffer will prevent you from developing tennis elbow in the process. The polish removes a lot of oxidation which turns the buffer pad black so frequent washing and use of lots of clean/dry buffer pads is required.
Like they said, you can get it to shine, but normally it's not easy, plus it can be hard to keep it that way. There are products to coat aluminum to keep it looking good, but that coating needs to be maintained too. I did a small area on mine to see how it would work with no coating, after one season without care it looks no different than the rest of the boat.
Like they said, you can get it to shine, but normally it's not easy, plus it can be hard to keep it that way. There are products to coat aluminum to keep it looking good, but that coating needs to be maintained too. I did a small area on mine to see how it would work with no coating, after one season without care it looks no different than the rest of the boat.
I appreciate your honesty. I'm not afraid of alot of hard work with a buffer but I would atleast like to know that if I keep it under cover during the off season that it will retain a somewhat new look for a few years. It seems to me that the previous owner didnt take care of it that well. Can it be painted?
OTR truck wash facilities have the acid wash for making aluminum fuel tanks look like new. Makes all the difference in the world when you get the tanks done too. Makes a 20 year old truck look like new.
Might find one and price out a boat washing. Don't know why they wouldn't accommodate you.
cleaning aluminum boat
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