pontoon contamination

[jlh3rd]

what kind of contamination would this be. The boat has only been operated in fresh water. I'm looking to put it in brackish water so the pontoons need painting. It comes off extremely easy with a wire brush, but the one marina thinks it might need soda blasting. They do light sanding. But with soda blasting, I'm looking at $2700+/-....plus added expense of a slip on the chesapeake, 1:20 minutes away, so not close....and adding some nav, and other additional equipment.
Pictures show spots I've done...A video shows it's like a dust coming off....

 

[flashback]

Try some toilet bowl cleaner or a pressure washer. Looks like dried algae to me..

 

[Scott Danforth]

algae or mineral deposits

 

[jlh3rd]

thank...
the reason I asked was that the marina was worried it might be aluminum oxidation/galvanic,based on my description .....so I wanted other opinions...

the toons aren't pitted....my pressure washer helps but doesnt remove much....Weather's too cold and time constraints for my labor also....gotta get a work order in so I have to make a decision if I want to pull the trigger on this....I've used the "toon" cleaners, before..it just comes back as you see...
I'll try toilet bowl cleaner but I'm looking for wipe on, then wipe off...
I just spent 20 mins doing this with battery powered wire brush..sent pic to marina , he says not too bad...maybe they can prep sand, and paint as per their $1700 estimate.....they do not do soda blasting, that's the problem for me...contract it out, co-ordinate with marina, be ready by season....+ $1000 more....

 

[FunInDuhSun]

Try some toilet bowl cleaner or a pressure washer. Looks like dried algae to me..

I wouldn‘t do toilet bowl cleaner with aluminum- but it works great for cleaning fiberglass.
Looks to me like a high pressure power washer with a cleaning solution should do the trick.

 

[jlh3rd]

I wouldn‘t do toilet bowl cleaner with aluminum- but it works great for cleaning fiberglass.
Looks to me like a high pressure power washer with a cleaning solution should do the trick.

thanks....
you would think so as it does come off easily with a wire wheel.
toilet bowl cleaners work like the "toon" cleaners do, you just can't let it sit and dry on the toons.....
I power wash it every spring and fall but unfortunately, even if I use the narrow stream nozzle.....which would take forever......it doesn't remove it like one would hope........
....and right now, it's too cold to mess with a power washer....

 

[racerone]

Time to start building pontoon boats with fiberglass / composite materials for these simple tubes think.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I wouldn‘t do toilet bowl cleaner with aluminum- but it works great for cleaning fiberglass.
Looks to me like a high pressure power washer with a cleaning solution should do the trick.

Why? Oxalic acid is a great corrosion remover for aluminum and steel. The active ingredient in toilet bowl cleaner is oxalic acid

 

[jlh3rd]

yeah....I'm no engineer , but one would have to consider weight vs strength....how to connect the toons to the frame......impact resistance....

I wonder why the fiberglass "party" boats ( I think they were called) didn't catch on ?
Fiberglass hulls with a pontoon deck style arrangement...more efficient use of the engine also...

edit: deck boats they're called...

 

[Scott Danforth]

yeah....I'm no engineer , but one would have to consider weight vs strength....how to connect the toons to the frame......impact resistance....

I wonder why the fiberglass "party" boats ( I think they were called) didn't catch on ?
Fiberglass hulls with a pontoon deck style arrangement...more efficient use of the engine also...

edit: deck boats they're called...

Because aluminum pontoon boats are half the cost to manufacturer and last twice as long.