Buffing Pontoons-How do you get rid of swirl marks

[garygve]

I'm buffing my pontoons with the Sharkhide compound they are really shiny and they look good in the shade, but when the sun hits it from a angle you can see swirl marks. I tried rubbing them by hand in a horizontal direction which does get rid of the swirls but its not as shiny and the reflection is not as sharp as doing it with the buffer. Would a orbital polisher work for getting rid of the swirls and what type of pad and compound have you guys used to get rid of these? I hate to put the Sharkhide on over these swirls because I would not be able do anything about it without removing the Sharkhide.

[Bamaman]

I use a Porter Cable dual action polisher/sander with a high quality metal polish on my boat every May/June. I've not experienced any swirl marks. I also have a high speed polisher with a wool bonnet, but it's much harder to handle.

After numerous cleanings with lacquer cleaner, I still cannot get all the black oxide off the toons. Sharkhide protectant just smudges. I can polish the outside of the outside toons, and the three nosecones in about 1 1/2 hours. It's much easier to just polish the boat yearly rather than get it clean enough for an application of Sharkhide.

[garygve]

I use a Porter Cable dual action polisher/sander with a high quality metal polish on my boat every May/June. I've not experienced any swirl marks. I also have a high speed polisher with a wool bonnet, but it's much harder to handle.

After numerous cleanings with lacquer cleaner, I still cannot get all the black oxide off the toons. Sharkhide protectant just smudges. I can polish the outside of the outside toons, and the three nosecones in about 1 1/2 hours. It's much easier to just polish the boat yearly rather than get it clean enough for an application of Sharkhide.

What are you using on your Porter Cable a foam or a wool pad I went to autogeek and they have both in different types and blends?
I'm going to order the porter cable dual action and want to get the right backing pad. I have an electric 1800 rpm polisher but can't get rid of the swirls I'm hoping the dual action will eliminate them. Also what polish are you using? Thanks

[Bamaman]

I'm using a hook and loop 6" pad with a wool bonnet. The foam pads are for applying polishes, compounds and waxes.

I recently put too much pressure on one side, and it snapped off the screw head in the polisher. Cost me about $45 to get a new bearing the pad screws into--and $10 for the pad. I'll let the machine do the work in the future.

I'm using White Diamond metal polish bought at Advance Auto Parts. Sometimes you have to ask for such products as it's kept in the back room--not out front. Four dime size dollups on the bonnet is all it takes for 2' x 2' section. It turns into a black mess and after about a minute or two it all of a sudden polishes the area , turns into a powder and mostly blows away in the air. Take a towel and wipe off the rest from the toon.

My high speed polisher will put out a superior mirror finish using rouge as a polish, however I have no intent to have a boat so shiny. I'm too lazy to maintain it that way all year.

[Bryden24shp]

Keep you bonnet clean, too. Use an old screwdriver and remove all the sludgy crap very frequently. On the last swipe, I use a fresh bonnet. After I'm done for the day. I soak the bonnets in soapy water over night and scrape them clean with a scraper. The best way I found to get rid of the swirl marks was to use Meguiars SwirlX, I use this on my car and truck and it worked great on the pontoons with a fresh pad and light pressure.
Good luck!

[garygve]

Keep you bonnet clean, too. Use an old screwdriver and remove all the sludgy crap very frequently. On the last swipe, I use a fresh bonnet. After I'm done for the day. I soak the bonnets in soapy water over night and scrape them clean with a scraper. The best way I found to get rid of the swirl marks was to use Meguiars SwirlX, I use this on my car and truck and it worked great on the pontoons with a fresh pad and light pressure.
Good luck!

Are you using a buffer on your pontoon or the dual action type? Thanks

[Bryden24shp]

I use a 2 speed grinder/polisher. I have a DA orbital polisher I use on the car and truck, I tried it on the pontoons, you have to put too much pressure on it to do anything, the wheel just stops oscillating. I stopped using it after a few minutes. But the terrycloth pads that go on it fit my polisher, too. So that worked out pretty good.

[garygve]

Finally got the pontoons buffed out, what a lot of work would not have started this if I would have known how much time and money it was going to take. Its hard to stop once you have half a pontoon shiny. It took 3 hours to clean the pontoons with lacquer thinner to get rid of the black, it didn't take much time to wipe on the 2 coats of Sharhide that was the easy part. What are you guys doing to repair the Sharkhide if you rub the clear off of a spot on the pontoon?

[teecro]

Looks nice!

But what the heck is it that your boat is supported with? Looks like it could tip backward pretty easy... I'm guessing that looks must be deceiving....

[garygve]

Those are called Sea Legs its 4 hydraulic legs that fold up under the deck or it can stand up 6' if I extend the legs full vertical.
I don't need to tie up when I park it somewhere or put in a lift at my cottage its all contained you raise or lower it with a remote control.

[teecro]

Those are called Sea Legs its 4 hydraulic legs that fold up under the deck or it can stand up 6' if I extend the legs full vertical.
I don't need to tie up when I park it somewhere or put in a lift at my cottage its all contained you raise or lower it with a remote control.

Oh ok now I see for what they are.... That is a pretty neat set up for working in shallow water. Not going to work too good on Lake Norris; I've got about 40' under me in the slip..... I'm hoping to afford one of them hinged trailer like lifts that you pump air in and out of the floats to lift the boat out of the water.

[teecro]

Those are called Sea Legs its 4 hydraulic legs that fold up under the deck or it can stand up 6' if I extend the legs full vertical.
I don't need to tie up when I park it somewhere or put in a lift at my cottage its all contained you raise or lower it with a remote control.

Oh ok now I see.... Those are pretty neat for use in shallow water.