oxidized paint - 'HELP'...

[HoleHopper]

Does anyone know of a product that can restore the color on an old aluminum boat. The paint is oxidized and hard water stained. I have thrown on every car care, polish /wax /rubbbing compownd, I had for a car. Nothing worked!

Just wondering if there is some magic stuff that someone might know of???? Citrus cleaner? ext.ext????

Thanks

[HoleHopper]

Bump

[Hooked On a Feeling]

I use a 50/50 mix water & vinegar to remove hard water stains off boat & motor, works great. But, for oxidation, I have no clue.

Hooked

[HoleHopper]

Thanks Hooked! I'll give her a shot!

[cheesehead]

Hole hopper

Sounds as if your paint has faded and no matter what you do besides repainting it will bring back the color.

[Wishin2BFishin]

I used a product called Poli Glow last year on my 1978 Penn Yan and it came out great. My boat is white with a dark blue stripe. The blue stripe was oxidized pretty bad but it still looks great after a year. The kit is just under $60.00 but it will do my 20 foot boat two or three times. The kit has a scrub pad and this stripper liquid that you put on then wash off. After the boat is dry you put three or four coats of the polymer on and your all set for at least two years.

[kevfish]

I would go with a new paint job on "Big Blue"

[Steve Bakken]

We've entertained just about all of the "quick fix" methods, and some do make it look better for a while. The best thing I can say to go with is an aggressive rubbing compound. You also will need a machine buffer. Doing it by hand doesn't create the heat or friction neccesary to remove the oxidized layer. We use 3M's Perfect-it III Extra Cut with a wool pad on a buffer. We've been able to save some pretty bad paint jobs. If that doesn't work, then the paint has deteriorated to the point that there are not enough resins left in the paint to bring back the shine. At that point, unfortunately, you're probably looking at a paint job. By all means, give everything else a try first, sometimes you get lucky. But buffing is kind of the final indicator as to whether or not your paint can be saved. Good luck.

[HoleHopper]

I will try the 3M stuff with the buffer but my gut tells me the paint is done. Just dont know if the old dented boat is worth repainting. Will it hurt the Alluminum if I dont repaint it? Anybody know?..........

Thanks for all the info!

[Steve Bakken]

No, it won't hurt it. Many of the boats out there were only painted on the sides when they were made. The hulls are bare aluminum. We've had 50+ year-old boats at the shop and the bare aluminum was as strong as the day it was made. It'd just a matter of cosmetics when you're talking about whether or not to paint the sidewall.

[Steve Bakken]

No, it won't hurt it. Many of the boats out there were only painted on the sides when they were made. The hulls are bare aluminum. We've had 50+ year-old boats at the shop and the bare aluminum was as strong as the day it was made. It'd just a matter of cosmetics when you're talking about whether or not to paint the sidewall. That and re-sale value if you're ever going to sell it.

[HoleHopper]

Cool, Thanks Steve! You just saved me a bunch of work!