Pontoons - Growth from being slipped...what is it?

[SoCalPescador]

I'm looking at purchasing another pontoon.
Found a 2018 Lowe SF 212 with Merc 115hp 4 stroke.

Boat was left in fresh water lake (never in salt water) for 5mos every summer. Stored on trailer 7 mos. This was every year since 2018.

The pontoons have considerable growth on them as well as the outboard motor mounting bracket. Bracket will need to be sanded and painted due to paint falling off.

The growth has a rough texture...when you rub your hand across it, it feel like 80-100 grit sandpaper. It is from water line down.

Owners claimed pontoons were cleaned every end of season and every other season power washed with muriatic acid by marina

What is this growth and how can it be cleaned / removed?
Is this growth damaging to the aluminum, i.e., pitting and some aluminum falling off when cleaned?

Is it galvanic corrosion? How can this be confirmed?

I'm very concerned about this growth/rough texture and its effect on the alum pontoon's integrity.

Thoughts?





Thanks!

 

[Scott Danforth]

High mineral content. its basically hard water deposits.

 

[racerone]

High mineral content in the water ?

 

[SoCalPescador]

High mineral content. its basically hard water deposits.

I have hard water in my house....spots that can be cleaned usually with vinegar.

This a hard growth like sandpaper. It looks like it would need to be sanded or somehow chemically removed....but I don't know that is why I ask.

 

[racerone]

??---But the pontoons are exposed to this water for 5 months you say !----Hurry , -----visit your local boat shop , they will know how to explain this to you.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have hard water in my house....spots that can be cleaned usually with vinegar.

This a hard growth like sandpaper. It looks like it would need to be sanded or somehow chemically removed....but I don't know that is why I ask.

Which is why the prior owner paid someone to clean it with muratic acid and a pressure washer

 

[Sea Rider]

Boaters thinks erroneously that fresh impoluted looking water is free from contaminants, but no have their own invisible contaminants, same applies for motors run in fresh water for very long year periods. Get yourself a Karcher Washing Machine to clean those mineral deposits periodically before are highly visible. A KWM is best investment ever...

Happy Boating​

 

[SoCalPescador]

??---But the pontoons are exposed to this water for 5 months you say !----Hurry , -----visit your local boat shop , they will know how to explain this to you.

5 months per year for 4 years!

 

[ahicks]

I live on a freshwater lake in SE Mi. Comfortable sharing it's normal/not unusual. Guy likely lives in an area of the lake that doesn't get a lot of water circulation, and further, my bet is he's not cleaning it annualy or it wouldn't be that bad. It's not corrosive, no danger there, but it IS a bugger to get off.

 

[racerone]

Yes 5 months every year.-----Just another example of nature baffling a lot of folks.----As stated , perhaps a corner of the lake near a point of fertilizer " run off " from farmers fields.----Stagnant water perhaps.----Run to the local boat shop.----They will have seen this before and will know how to tub & scrub this boat for you.

 

[SoCalPescador]

Boaters thinks erroneously that fresh impoluted looking water is free from contaminants, but no have their own invisible contaminants, same applies for motors run in fresh water for very long year periods. Get yourself a Karcher Washing Machine to clean those mineral deposits periodically before are highly visible. A KWM is best investment ever...

Happy Boating​

Searider,
I have a common gas powered pressure washer (for cleaning decks, driveways, etc.). How is the Karcher different? Which Karcher model is sufficient to remove the heavy grit / corrosion on pontoon tubes? Are chemicals are used? If so, how are they applied?

 

[racerone]

I have observed a shop apply a liquid ( acid wash ?? ) and then rinse the boat off with pressure washer.----Your local boat store / shop will have a catalogue with boat cleaning products.----Explain with pictures and they may have just what you need.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Sno bowl toilet cleaner, a scrub brush, and a turbo tip in the pressure washer

 

[ahicks]

Sno bowl toilet cleaner, a scrub brush, and a turbo tip in the pressure washer

Works best on dry tubes. Too much dilution if wet down first. Multiple applications often required, make SURE to rinse well between them.

Pressure washer will often remove a lot of it. Water line build up still pretty tough.

 

[Sea Rider]

Searider,
I have a common gas powered pressure washer (for cleaning decks, driveways, etc.). How is the Karcher different? Which Karcher model is sufficient to remove the heavy grit / corrosion on pontoon tubes? Are chemicals are used? If so, how are they applied?

The Karcher Washing Machine it's a German state of the art product, will perform same as any high quality washing machine that connects to a water faucet. Don't have the least idea about which products to use to remove mineral deposits, my boating club uses them to remove salt water marine growth specially heavy seaweed, barnacles growth under, side of hulls, lower leg's motors just with fresh high water pressure. An easy peasy task...

Happy Boating​

 

[captmello]

I had/have a similar build up on my toons. the previous owner kept it in a slip every year like yours. It wasn't an issue until I bought a bunk trailer with carpeted bunks. It was really hard to get the boat on and off. I tried some acid cleaner, didn't do much besides lighten my wallet. I finally just broke out the orbital sander and smoothed it out. It sits on a lift now so the buildup is no longer accumulating.

 

[SoCalPescador]

Thanks. The owner called dealer and asked for advice. He ended up washing is with some kind of acid and said it removed 99% of growth. He sold it the next day after cleaning, to a buyer who didn't see what I saw.

 

[racerone]

A willing seller and a willing buyer.----Another success story.

 

[clemsonfor]

5 months per year for 4 years!

5 months at a time is a long time to be in the water! Yes it will grow stuff and you will get calcification on aluminum from minerals in the water.

 

[clemsonfor]

Thanks. The owner called dealer and asked for advice. He ended up washing is with some kind of acid and said it removed 99% of growth. He sold it the next day after cleaning, to a buyer who didn't see what I saw.

Even if he did. That's not a big deal. May cost you some money if you wanted it removed or a little less money and more time of you do it yourself. Many people would just run it as it probably.