Aluminum boat polishing?

[quikz28]

i am looking for your opinions on polishing an aluminum boat. i have a 17" tracker and last summer i polished it a couple times but it isnt as good as i was hoping it would be.

would you guys wet sand it with 800 - 1000 - 1200 - 1500 grit or should i avoid sanding the hull?

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

here are pics of it last year
the day i brought it home, yea it was a little rough but it was a steal

after a little bit of polished, you can kinda see its a little hazy and not like a mirror finish

[Murr1525]

Re: Aluminum boat polishing?

You may want to look up Tim Lingor's Blinded by the Shine Thread.

I had great luck with #0000 steel wool, I wouldnt think of sanding before trying that with the metal polish if working by hand. Of course a machine could make things easier.

[quikz28]

Re: Aluminum boat polishing?

i should of mentioned that it was done by a machine

you would use the steel wool and then polish it? id have to test it in a spot to see how it does

[tcope1]

Re: Aluminum boat polishing?

Personally, I would not polish it. I've cleaned up my upper gunnel's and got them to shine but this is how the upper part of the boat should look. As far as the hull, there are two issues I see. First, it's annoying if it shines like a mirror and second, it's a lot of work to keep it that way. Water and air are going to _quickly_ turn it right back anyway. I'd give it a very good cleaning and then perhaps a quick wax. The wax makes it easier to keep clean, that is all.

[Murr1525]

Re: Aluminum boat polishing?

i should of mentioned that it was done by a machine

you would use the steel wool and then polish it? id have to test it in a spot to see how it does

Whoah, looks like I lost my train of thought mid-answer on my reply there.

I would use the Steel wool + Metal Polish if working by hand, before sanding.

With a machine, you can certainly look at what Tim did.

[Custom Detail]

Re: Aluminum boat polishing?

I would GOOGLE aluminum boat polishing and find out how they do it and what they use maybe call them and ask for advice

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Aluminum boat polishing?

You may want to look up Tim Lingor's Blinded by the Shine Thread.

Blinded by the shine is the thread you want to go through. Now, this thread dates back to 2004 so there have been some product changes since then. We would suggest substituting the Mirror Glaze All Metal Polish paste for Hot Rims Mag & Aluminum Polish Paste and the Gold Class All Metal Restorer liquid for All Metal Polish just introduced at SEMA a few months ago.

[BillE]

Re: Aluminum boat polishing?

Try a search (Google) for Airstream Trailers. Those critters were Al and some of their owners have shined them to extremes.

Bill

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Aluminum boat polishing?

Classic thread, awesome before and after pictures...

Before:


After:



And...

[juliom2]

Re: Aluminum boat polishing?

Wow.........Terrific!!!!
Now fish can do their hair.......Nice mirror finish!!!

[Blacktie Detailing]

Re: Aluminum boat polishing?

will this work for boat props and exhaust tubes?

[Murr1525]

Re: Aluminum boat polishing?

As far as bare metal, yes.