News

How to Polish and Clean Your Pontoon

By: Pontoon Enthusiast

It’s natural that, after spending a good couple of thousands on your pontoon boat, you want it to look as beautiful and shiny after a few months or years in the water as it looked when you first launched it. As such, besides the furniture and accessories upgrades that are essential in order to preserve both beauty and functionality, it’s expected of you to do some polishing work every now and then.

This guide will show you the materials and techniques you need in order to polish your boat efficiently and apply coating properly. You could, of course, call for the help of a specialist, but any pontoon boat dealer will charge you around $400 for a mirror polish and application of Shark Hide aluminum cleaner. Honestly, unless you charge $200 an hour yourself, it’s not worth the money. For only a couple of dollars, you can get all the materials you want, and the entire work can be done in 3-4 hours (depending on the size of the boat, as well as your own experience and willingness).

All this being said, let’s get down to business:

1. PRELIMINARY CLEANING

Before cleaning your boat, you have to first clean your boat. Yes, it’s exactly how it sounds. Boats are known to accumulate a lot of dirt from the water, including algae and such, mineral buildup, and whatever dirt you see. While a pontoon boat that is towed back home after every use may have little to no dirt deposit, one that’s usually docked will definitely have plenty of things to clean. In particular, saltwater pontoons tend to have large amounts of salt and other minerals, as well as algae, in a thick layer on the below-water hull.

For a normal level of dirt, you’ll just have to use a power washer to remove everything in one go. If you don’t own a power washer, you can borrow one or use a wet rag (the latter option takes more time). If you haven’t cleaned your ‘toon since Reagan was still in office, you will need a gentle plastic scraper and a brush in addition to the power washer.

When it comes to power washers, there’s plenty of them to choose from on the market. For instance, you can check out the Sun Joe SPX3001 Electric Pressure Washer. You might be able to find cheaper alternatives on the market as well, but nothing will leave you quite as satisfied as this one. It comes with five different spray tips that ensure different angles for a thorough cleaning. The motor is also pretty powerful – it generates more than 2000 PSI water pressure while not consuming more than 1.67 gallons per minute. It also comes with a pretty long hose (20ft) so that you can clean any spot on your pontoon without carrying the whole unit around with you. A 2-year warranty is also included in the price. Find out more about it on Amazon here:

2. APPLYING CLEANER

Time to clean better! While cleaning solution plays no part in the actual polishing, it’s this very step that ensures a long-lasting polish. Otherwise, you’ll see your hull just as dirty as it was before polishing, within the span of a single trip.

Our recommendation, if you’re not delighted at the thought of spending money on acidic baths or whatever pontoon-specific product, is to use some plain old toilet cleaner. It’s a strong enough substance to remove dirt from every nook and cranny and it works exactly the same as any high-end product.

However, if you want to take it a step further and level up your cleaning game, we suggest you try the Meguiar’s M4916 Marine/RV Heavy Duty Oxidation Remover. Don’t be too scared of the “marine” label on it – it does a perfect job for any type of surface on your boat, pontoons included. It’s also fairly cheap and retails in convenient 16 oz. bottles. Although it will cut through any kind of dirt and/or grime, this product is non-toxic and easy to apply, either by hand or using a machine. To grab your own bottle, click the button below:

As applying the solution can really get pretty time-consuming, we recommend getting a plastic sprayer, kind of like the one you’re using to wash your windows or water your pansies. Dilute the solution to a 30% concentration (2 parts water, 1 part cleaner) and you’re good to go!

The best way to go is to apply the cleaner to a section, leave it to work for a bit, and then remove it before it dries. The reason for this is that if the solution gets dry, it will leave deposits that are super hard to clean. Hence, it’s better to take your time and work on one small area at a time. Use a wet rag to make sure every bit of cleaning solution has been removed.

3. BUFF

Finally, the actual polish. It’s not really necessary if you just want to clean your boat and applying Shark Hide can be done at this point as well. However, if you want that nice, glossy mirror finish, you better be sure your polisher is in good condition.

Speaking of which, if you don’t have a polisher, you should get one. It’s a really useful tool and it works for your boat, car, and bike, all the same, as well as for any other similar surface. You simply can’t do this kind of job manually and expect the same results. If you’re not sure what to buy, the Porter-Cable 7424XP is a very good choice, as it offers you ambidextrous handling and speed adjustment (2500-6800 RPM). You can, of course, buy anything you want, just make sure the speed isn’t too high or you may end up leaving marks that are simply impossible to erase.

Time to polish! For best results, use a 6-inch woolen pad. Also, in order to not leave polishing marks, it’s recommended that you use a circular or swirly pattern. Do you know how the kid from Karate Kid polished Miyagi-san’s car collection? Well, that’s the spirit.

This is the most time-consuming part of the operation, about 2 hours for a medium boat.

4. CLEAN AGAIN

Yes, we know, this is repetitive and annoying, but you absolutely have to make sure that no polishing compound remains on the hull before applying the Shark Hide. Otherwise, the residue will interfere with the Shark Hide and remain sealed there, resulting in a foggy and unappealing look.

At any rate, all you have to do is repeat the step nr.2 described above and remember to be as thorough as possible.

5. APPLY SHARK HIDE

It’s the job of every pontooner to make sure their boat looks good and nearly all of them use Shark Hide for that. It’s nothing complicated: an aluminum cleaning solution that you apply pretty much like a normal cleaning solution. Unlike the toilet cleaner, however, Shark Hide will take care of any oxidized surface as well, leaving everything nice and shiny.

Applying Shark Hide is similar to applying the cleaner on steps 2 and 4. A 2:1 or 3:1 mixture of water and Shark Hide should do for the average use, but more or less concentrated solution can be used according to your particular situation. Use a plastic spray bottle to pulverize the hull from the bottom up. Light foam will appear. Make sure there is no aluminum exposed (i.e. the foam must get everywhere) in order to not leave vertical streaks.

Rinse the foam with plenty of water after 4-5 minutes, as it absolutely must not dry. In order to not leave any marks whatsoever, work thoroughly on small sections.

That’s it! Well, polish is not known for being particularly resistant, and you may very well need to redo all that work after a couple of trips. However, Karate Kid became so not as a result of long years of training, but thanks to a couple of days spent polishing cars! As such, putting a bit of elbow grease and a couple of hours every other month can’t be that hard and, who knows, it may actually help you discover your inner karate fighter.

Buying a Pontoon Boat or a Deck Boat?

By: Discover Boating

So, you want a versatile boat that handles easily, features plenty of seating and storage, and is designed to be able to bring along a big crew? Sounds like you may have already narrowed down your choices to two choices that are among the fastest-growing segments in the entire boating industry: pontoons and deck boats. Since the very first aluminum pontoon was introduced in 1958 at the Chicago World’s Fair (it was a Sanpan), boaters have been drawn to their unapologetically simple design, ease of use and the no-frills ability to get lots of folks aboard to get the party started. Back in those days, you broke out the folding lawn chairs, fired up the charcoal grill, and slowly putt-putted your tiny outboard to the nearest cove of like-minded revelers.

Similarly, the deck boat concept really started in 1974 when a company called Hurricane started building a fiberglass V-style hull to add better performance and handling, but still retain the a pontoon-style topside and wide-open floor plan that people loved so much about pontoons. It was so popular, in fact, that the first deck boat (called FunDeck) has been in constant production ever since. But my, how times have changed. These two boat types have come a long way and have been refined to the point that they really stack up against any other powerboat style. And today, they really go head-to-head when families are in the market for a new boat. Let’s examine the pros and cons of each.

Style

This is perhaps the most subjective part of comparing pontoons and deck boats, and it all comes down to your personal tastes and what turns your head. Today’s pontoons are tricked out with coordinated graphics, a choice of rail skin colors, high-quality vinyl seats, and tough and attractive marine-grade carpet. But since every inch of a pontoon is built for maximum seating and storage, some folks find them a little utilitarian. Today’s deck boats are designed similarly to other fiberglass runabouts, but with the bow section carried as far forward as possible to accommodate more folks in the forward seating area. You’ll see coordinated upholstery accents, bimini tops and carpet, and the exterior graphics tend to be a little bolder. Many deck boats also have integrated wake tower options, which adds a distinct watersports profile.

Handling

With a fiberglass, V-style hull, you typically would compare the handling of a deck boat to a similarly sized open-bow boat. Look for a stable ride at all speeds, little or no bowrise, and superior turning at higher speeds. The option of outboard or I/O propulsion is a big plus for deck boats as well, depending on your needs. Even with a full load, pontoon boats (by design) are going to plane easily with less horsepower than a deck boat. Sharp turns are helped by the addition of hydraulic steering systems, but you will still cut a wider swath in a pontoon, unless you choose a performance model with triple (center) tube system, which provides extra buoyancy and stability.

Versatility

Both styles of boats truly shine when it comes to the ability to do a lot of different things on the water. Fishing, watersports, cruising, camping, entertaining, etc. are all right in the wheelhouse of pontoons and deck boats. In fact, depending on your family’s needs, there are all sorts of different packages to dial in your preferred activities, such as rod holders, tackle storage and livewells for more hardcore anglers. If you’re like most folks considering one of these boats, though, you will find that the basic features will serve you well, and allow you to fish in the morning, pull the kids on tubes in the afternoon, and finish the day with a beautiful sunset cruise.

Ease Of Operation

In the world of trailer boating, you really can’t get much easier than pontoons and deck boats. With their stable platforms both are fairly easy to master when it comes to everything from launching and retrieving to cruising out on the water. Look for a raised helm or a captain’s seat that features a fold-up bolster to increase visibility. Pull-up cleats conveniently installed around the deck will make it a cinch to pull up and dock from any angle. Make sure you’ve got docking lights for bringing the boat in safely in the evening, and an all-off master switch to make sure you don’t run down your battery when you leave the boat.

For more info on the two, visit our Boat Selector Tool page.

Fishing Has No Boundaries | Pontoon Depot

Special programs and custom boats help disabled boaters get out on the water.

By: Dan Armitage

Photo By: www.iboats.com

The boater profiles in Boating Without Boundaries were inspired by a blog I wrote about a national organization called Fishing Has No Boundaries (FHNB), with a local chapter that holds a fishing event each June at the pontoon owners’ club to which I belong.

Members donate their time and the use of their boats to FHNB so volunteers can spend the day boating with people who have special challenges.

Pontoon boats are especially popular among captains who host friends and family members who may have limited mobility, offering stable platforms and level decks that are often surrounded by fencing with wide gates. Aftermarket boarding ramps are available to allow wheelchair access from docks and shore, and several pontoon manufacturers offer extra-wide gates as an option in order to accommodate wheelchair-bound boaters.

Metalite Industries (met​aliteind.com) in Spokane, Washington, offers an Enabler model pontoon designed and customized specifically for boaters who need wheelchair access or have other special needs that require special adaptations to the boats. Campion Boats (campionboats.com) has generated admirers of its special-needs adaptations after a video shared on YouTube showed Andrew Streeter’s process using the Campion lift system that the British Columbia-based boat manufacturer developed to allow him to get back on the water (boatingmag.com/wheelchairboat).

FHNB is based in Hayward, Wisconsin, which is also the hometown of the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, and has chapters nationwide. To learn more about the FHNB program and a chapter near you, contact the organization at 800-243-3462, at PO Box 175, Hayward, WI 54843, or at fhnbinc.org.

Prepping Your Pontoon For Spring Launch

An ounce of prevention goes a long way on the water.