See full version: How To Clean A Boat Hull | Fiberglass Or Aluminum
Next, you’ll want to remove any old wax from the hull’s surface. Take some microfiber towels and use your favorite boat wax removal solvent. Let the solvent do the work for you so you don’t have to scrub hard. Please only use products specifically designed for removing wax from boat hulls. If unsure, check the label, it will state if it is for ‘marine’ use. more
Make certain that you only use an appropriate boat wax which is made for your type of boat. Waxing functions to further protect the surface of your hull from the water and the harmful chemical pollutants often present which can damage your hulls surface. here
If your hull is coated with slime, grime, growth, and barnacles, you’ll lose valuable fuel efficiency, and even risk your motor overheating and burning out sooner, due to the increased work needed to propel it through the water.
For these jobs, it’s best to use your 1-inch putty knife to prevent damaging these areas. For the thru-hull, a flat head screwdriver should work just fine. [links]
BritePlus MX is an economical, and highly effective, pre-mixed solution for cleaning stained and oxidized aluminum trailer—painted or not. From tractor-trailers, to horse trailers, cattle and stock trailers, tankers, engine compartments, wheels and much more. A 2.5 gallon container is normally enough product to clean a 20 foot trailer twice. more
BritePlus MX is the heavy-duty aluminum trailer cleaner you can count on. And not just for trailers! Just remember: BritePlus MX can dull and/or whiten polished surfaces—so choose SILVER BritePlus MX for shiny and mirror-finish applications. here
BriteWash is designed to work in combination with BritePlus & Silver BritePlus products.
BriteWash is a concentrated detergent cleaner. It works great on its own for normal cleaning mixed with water. [links]
Another way to get rid of the wax is to sand it down. You can use 200 grit sandpaper and start sanding down the surface that needs to be polished. Make sure that you clean all parts and crevices on the boat. Once you are done with getting rid of all the dust and debris, you can wipe the boat with a wet sponge and cleaner. Now let the boat dry before starting to polish the boat.
Apply one layer of wax and wait for some time to let it dry. As the wax dries down, it starts looking somewhat hazy which is the indicator that wax has adequately dried. You can apply the second coating of wax in the same circular motions and seeing to it that the entire surface area is covered.Wait for some time so that the wax dries completely. Now buff the surface with a had cloth to get rid of the haziness created due to wax. Once you start buffing, you will start seeing the shiny and glossy surface. Buff the entire area and voila polishing your boat is done!
After the boat has dried and cleaned correctly, it is ready for polish. You can select the polish based on your preferences. Start applying polish with the help of a pad. Polishing can be done by hands and a soft cloth. Most people like buffing that is applying polish with a towel or a pad. However, you can also use a buffer with foaming pad. Make sure apply polish on the entire surface and be very specific around the areas with fittings. It is recommended to hand buff the crevices. Once the polish is done, let it dry for some time and see if the surface appears to be glossy. more
The boats need to be polished once in a while. As the boat is in contact with water, it becomes susceptible to debris, dust, etc. Polishing the boat helps in maintaining the gel coat of the boat intact and also prevents corrosion. The type of polish or wax to be used depends on the type and material of your boat. In this article, we will specifically focus on the protocol to polish the aluminum boat.
I have never tried it but I see no reason that after cleaning the hull with hydrofluoric acid you could not apply Navel Jelly to get a protective coating. The cleaning is the hard part with Navel Jelly and the acid does that very nicely. You would have to apply repeatedly to get a good protective coating but at least you would not have to scrub to get to oxide off.
Re: aluminum boat cleaning more
Cleaning with Hydrofluoric acid:
Hydrofluoric acid can also be used; it is the fastest of all the cleaners and the easiest to use but also the most dangerous. It also produces noxious fumes. It will turn the hull a silvery white. It will also etch glass and stainless steel but is harmless to plastic and most paints used on boats. Test a small area if there is any question. Be very careful using this product and wear protective clothing.
I have put my Tracker on the back burner for another boat project. I will hopefully start back on it in another month when I am not fishing or working.
Re: aluminum boat cleaning here