Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I have a 2 part problem.
#1. I have researched the forums and have tried the sharks hide tube cleaner, Air Conditioning acid cleaner and toon bright. Didn't touch the buildup, made the top portion nice and white in color. This boat was from eastern Nebraska and the guy who owned it for 10 years left it beached on a sandy beach all summer long for 10 years with very heavy calcification on the back half of the tubes, about 1/16th of an inch thick. Does anyone have any other suggestions for cleaning them up? Do I need a sander and mechanically remove the buildup?

#2. Because he stored it this way the trim/tilt oil was milky white in color and the oil had to be replaced. My trim indicator still doesn't work, the needle on the electric trim gauge just shows "up" all the time and barely moves when the engine is all the way down.

Any suggestions you have would be appreciated. Still snowing between days of high 60 degree weather here in Wyoming, really looking forward to enjoying the boat on the water!! Thanks

Maybe muriatic acid? Or possibly clr?

This isn't what you want to hear but sanding is about the only way you will get it off. (my experience)
Mine wasn't that bad but my old boat had set up about three years and it was bad enough that acid, wouldn't touch it. coarse sanding sponges down to fine sponges was what I had to do.

You could try renting a high psi pressure washer with a spin nozzle. This will remove concrete so it might work, it should be at least 3500 psi.

garygve wrote:You could try renting a high psi pressure washer with a spin nozzle. This will remove concrete so it might work, it should be at least 3500 psi.

I don't know how thick the logs are but at 3500 psi pressure, be careful

The last resort would be abrasive products. I suggest getting a dual action sander/polisher--available at Harbor Freight inexpensively. They don't get you in trouble as easy as some other sanders.

You'd want to use galuminum oxide paper. Start by using only the grit needed to cut the deposits. Then, go to higher number, less grit sandpaper and eventually polish the toons if possible.

As far as the tilt gauge, you may need to get a new sender that fits on the powerhead.

That type of long term build up will most likely only be removed by sanding. Try taking a putty knife and scraping it a bit. If you can not easily get it scraped to bare metal, bust out the sander.

Your lower unit oil was not milky because of the way it was stored. It had water in it, either because of a leaky O ring on either the drain/fill plug, or a seal internally. This also has nothing to do with your tilt/trim gauge. Somewhere on the motor mount there will be a sending unit which is most likely bad. My advice: Spend some time will Google and research your brand and year of motor. You should be able to find the correct readings to test your gauge and your sender. Replace the bad unit and you will be good to go.

Good luck!

To remove calcium,algae and crud, our marina uses muriatic acid and a pressure washer. I have them acid wash and pressure wash our boat every spring,it sits in a freshwater slip year round for a 22 ft. tritoon they charge me $250.

Seon wrote:

garygve wrote:You could try renting a high psi pressure washer with a spin nozzle. This will remove concrete so it might work, it should be at least 3500 psi.

I don't know how thick the logs are but at 3500 psi pressure, be careful

Your not going to hurt the toons even with my 14 hp 4000 psi 4 gpm model

Muratic acid will take it right off. Use it out side with rubber gloves and eye protection, if you are over good concrete use something plastic to catch the drip ens in or you will eat a hole in it. i brush it on stright with a stiff brush scrub an area rinse with water and move down the log a little bit and repeat. if you do it over grass well ya it will kill the grass

I agree with using the scraper first, then hit it with a D/A until clean enough to cut it with the hull cleaner.

Hey Firedog...
I'm just north of you in Buffalo, and I have the same problem!!

Were you able to crack the code on getting that nasty 'cement' scale/buildup off of your toons?
What worked?
I have the same problem, and have heard suggestions like:
- Get a sand blaster and knock it off' (could hurt the toons right?)
- Get your belt sander out and grind it off. (would like to avoid that level of effort unless absolutely necessary)
- Get this stuff call "ZING". It works like Muriatic acid but is easier on the aluminum?
I've tried about everything else. CLR, Lime Away, Calgon beads, Vinegar,
Hoping you 'broke the code' on this nasty stuff??
Thx
F16 Fighter Pilot