Keeping lake scum off toons?

[Coldbrew]

If you really want to keep it looking like new, when you bring it home from the dealer the first time, give it a light coat of polyurethane, and put it in your basement and keep it dry. Do not, I repeat do NOT put it in a lake. Lakes are big dirty pools of gunk that will totally trash your beautiful aluminum sculpture.

Actually....the lake that my boat is in is one of the cleanest lakes in the country so I won't need this advice, but thanks for caring.

[Strake]

Yeah I guess I should have mentioned that I keep the boat at home, not at the lake. I couldn't leave it there. I can't let that thing out of my sight! I want it where I can keep an eye on it, and do things to it right here at the house.

So its just left over lake scum. Do you guys that don't worry about the scum, not wash your trucks either? Anyway it looks like the sharkhide is what I'll be trying. Lasting 3 years sounds right up my alley. No maintenance, once applied. Hopefully.

Just be sure that the toons are cleaned to your liking, BEFORE putting the shark hide sealant on.

I'll post a few pics after we pick up our boat, cleaned and sealed Friday evening or Saturday.

[Soonertoon]

Now heres a fella that has come on here after spending a lot of hard earned money on a boat and has asked a honest question about how to keep his investment looking up to his standards. We are all supposed to be on here to help each other , yet he gets a series of smartass replies mixed in with the helpful answers he came on here for. What's the point on all that?
The guy likes a clean boat, so do I. If some don't put that much emphasis on keeping their boats to a certain standard so be it. However, giving people shit because they do care a little more...well quite frankly it makes you look like an asshole. The world is full of assholes. We don't need them on this forum. Say something nice or move on everybody.

[Strake]

Now heres a fella that has come on here after spending a lot of hard earned money on a boat and has asked a honest question about how to keep his investment looking up to his standards. We are all supposed to be on here to help each other , yet he gets a series of smartass replies mixed in with the helpful answers he came on here for. What's the point on all that?
The guy likes a clean boat, so do I. If some don't put that much emphasis on keeping their boats to a certain standard so be it. However, giving people shit because they do care a little more...well quite frankly it makes you look like an asshole. The world is full of assholes. We don't need them on this forum. Say something nice or move on everybody.

Thanks for saying what I was thinking

I don't get it, I've come here for tips from those who've figured it out before me, and I always appreciate the assistance. Don't see why some folks have to come back with smart ass replies.

[Kramfam]

"Do you guys that don't worry about the scum, not wash your trucks either?"

I certainly wash my truck...but I doubt that anyone has spotless tire treads and wheel wells

Grime is a fact of life for those of us that keep our boats in the water and don't have access to a lift.

I have a new pontoon boat and have used "pot scrubbers" to remove the thick slime and follow-up with Scotchbrite pads. After a summer of doing this, the Scotchbrite pads have left the toons full of inconsistent scratches above and below the waterline. As someone wrote above, are there different versions of the pads I should be using? As it stands now, I should've just stopped after using the pot scrubbers because now it looks terrible.

Not looking for perfect....just looking for consistency.

[BobG]

Now heres a fella that has come on here after spending a lot of hard earned money on a boat and has asked a honest question about how to keep his investment looking up to his standards. We are all supposed to be on here to help each other , yet he gets a series of smartass replies mixed in with the helpful answers he came on here for. What's the point on all that?
The guy likes a clean boat, so do I. If some don't put that much emphasis on keeping their boats to a certain standard so be it. However, giving people shit because they do care a little more...well quite frankly it makes you look like an asshole. The world is full of assholes. We don't need them on this forum. Say something nice or move on everybody.

Thanks for saying what I was thinking

I don't get it, I've come here for tips from those who've figured it out before me, and I always appreciate the assistance. Don't see why some folks have to come back with smart ass replies.

If you can't laugh at yourself, you might be taking yourself too seriously.
We've all been through this ordeal, and each of us must adapt to it according to our own priorities and abilities. Some of us have chosen the "slick as a whistle" path, and others have taken the "what, me worry?" path, and all of us have found our own balance.

This reminds me of a little discovery experience I had in United States Air Force Basic Training. One day while we were sitting around polishing our combat boots (can you believe we weren't working on our putting games?), the subject came up of how each of us tied our shoes. Who would have thought that we had SEVEN different ways to tie our shoes? If you can come up with seven ways to tie your shoes among 50 bored airmen, surely you can come up with an INFINITE number of ways of caring for your toons, among thousands of boaters. For many of us, shiny aluminum is just not important. Yes, for the person who started this thread, it's obviously a big deal. Some judge the book by its cover, while others will debate the merits of third person Yoda haiku over droll prose. Welcome to our diverse world.

[photonfanatic]

Anyone ever tried just a standard automotive buffer, and some heavy duty polishing compound? Probably not aggressive enough.

[BobG]

Anyone ever tried just a standard automotive buffer, and some heavy duty polishing compound? Probably not aggressive enough.

I'll probably use something like that when I pull my boat out at the end of the month. Honestly, nothing seems to beat sharkhide, once you have the toons prepped, and several people here have taken them to a nearby truck stop, to have somebody else polish them first - it's a LOT of work. I'm torn between that, and epoxy coating mine - it stays in the water 5 months out of the year, and even the super shiny boats take a beating under those conditions. My hope is that with an epoxy coating, I can clean off the green slime with just a simple brushing. Using the scotch-brite pad is a lot of work, and it would probably need it every week.

[Strake]

Got our boat back from the marina this afternoon where we purchased it (10 months ago), AFTER they acid washed it with Toon Brite and then Sealed it with SHARK HIDE.

Results were what I was hoping for..... it's not shiny, but it's all uniform all bright aluminum, with no more black, or streaking on it. Just as I heard, the Shark Hide will leave a slightly silver / white look to the finish..... but that's OK with me as long as it's clean, bright and uniform in appearance.

As agreed upon, they did all 3 nose cones up to the first weld seam, as well as the outside of both outer toons and all 3 rear toons about 4 feet in..... because that's all you can really see anyways.

I should have taken some pics when it was still outside sitting on foam blocks at the marina, but didn't think of it until it was back home hanging in our boat house. Here's two pics:

[garygve]

Before you spend money and time applying the Sharkhide everyone should know that it doesn't last below the waterline if it stays in the water all the time. It will keep the toons above the water surface nice, so if you don't have a lift you will be disappointed when you take your pontoon out at the end of the season. Also the Sharkhide has a very soft finish if it rubs against a tire it will mark and dull the clear Sharkhide if its not too deep of a mark a little chrome cleaner will shine it back up. I polished mine and put two coats of Sharkhide and it looks good above and below the waterline but I have a lift so its not all ways in the water.

[Strake]

Before you spend money and time applying the Sharkhide everyone should know that it doesn't last below the waterline if it stays in the water all the time. It will keep the toons above the water surface nice, so if you don't have a lift you will be disappointed when you take your pontoon out at the end of the season. Also the Sharkhide has a very soft finish if it rubs against a tire it will mark and dull the clear Sharkhide if its not too deep of a mark a little chrome cleaner will shine it back up. I polished mine and put two coats of Sharkhide and it looks good above and below the waterline but I have a lift so its not all ways in the water.

Gary,

As I just got our boat done, and Shark Hided and back home to the lift yesterday....... Can you re apply SharkHide to any areas, (touch up) should I rub up against a dock, or something? I got the rest of my can back from the marina when I picked up the boat, it's nearly full. They pushed me to provide 3 quarts to put on 2 coats so I did..... I kept saying that all you forum members suggest 2 quarts would be plenty for 2 coats...... Looks like you all were right. The can I got back is 90% full. Hoping I can use it for "touch up" if needed.

[photonfanatic]

Anyone ever tried just a standard automotive buffer, and some heavy duty polishing compound? Probably not aggressive enough.

several people here have taken them to a nearby truck stop, to have somebody else polish them first - it's a LOT of work.

Never heard of doing this. Is this a service that is commonly found at truck stops? Would it be the type of service, that would get all the streaks and grime off? Cause if so, I'd just take it up there and have em do that, then bring it home and apply the sharkhide.

[Gonefishing]

I pressure wash mine to get the lake scum off and then polish them. Doesn't look as good as the shark hide but it is clean

[garygve]

Before you spend money and time applying the Sharkhide everyone should know that it doesn't last below the waterline if it stays in the water all the time. It will keep the toons above the water surface nice, so if you don't have a lift you will be disappointed when you take your pontoon out at the end of the season. Also the Sharkhide has a very soft finish if it rubs against a tire it will mark and dull the clear Sharkhide if its not too deep of a mark a little chrome cleaner will shine it back up. I polished mine and put two coats of Sharkhide and it looks good above and below the waterline but I have a lift so its not all ways in the water.

Gary,

As I just got our boat done, and Shark Hided and back home to the lift yesterday....... Can you re apply SharkHide to any areas, (touch up) should I rub up against a dock, or something? I got the rest of my can back from the marina when I picked up the boat, it's nearly full. They pushed me to provide 3 quarts to put on 2 coats so I did..... I kept saying that all you forum members suggest 2 quarts would be plenty for 2 coats...... Looks like you all were right. The can I got back is 90% full. Hoping I can use it for "touch up" if needed.

You can re-apply just make sure its clean and don't use lacquer thinner to clean, it will remove the Sharkhide use a wax and grease remover you can get that at any auto store that sells auto paint which is not as strong before wiping on the Sharkhide. You will have to wipe it on quickly since it will soften the Sharkhide so you can't play around with it to much. Also I found out gas softens the Sharkhide I had some run down on my toons when I was filling the tank and it ate into the clear Sharkhide.

[Strake]

Before you spend money and time applying the Sharkhide everyone should know that it doesn't last below the waterline if it stays in the water all the time. It will keep the toons above the water surface nice, so if you don't have a lift you will be disappointed when you take your pontoon out at the end of the season. Also the Sharkhide has a very soft finish if it rubs against a tire it will mark and dull the clear Sharkhide if its not too deep of a mark a little chrome cleaner will shine it back up. I polished mine and put two coats of Sharkhide and it looks good above and below the waterline but I have a lift so its not all ways in the water.

Gary,

As I just got our boat done, and Shark Hided and back home to the lift yesterday....... Can you re apply SharkHide to any areas, (touch up) should I rub up against a dock, or something? I got the rest of my can back from the marina when I picked up the boat, it's nearly full. They pushed me to provide 3 quarts to put on 2 coats so I did..... I kept saying that all you forum members suggest 2 quarts would be plenty for 2 coats...... Looks like you all were right. The can I got back is 90% full. Hoping I can use it for "touch up" if needed.

You can re-apply just make sure its clean and don't use lacquer thinner to clean, it will remove the Sharkhide use a wax and grease remover you can get that at any auto store that sells auto paint which is not as strong before wiping on the Sharkhide. You will have to wipe it on quickly since it will soften the Sharkhide so you can't play around with it to much. Also I found out gas softens the Sharkhide I had some run down on my toons when I was filling the tank and it ate into the clear Sharkhide.

Gary,

Thanks for the tips !!! Hopefully it will hold up. OP, hope this has given you some insight as to choices on keeping it clean, or what to do about it. I was really surprised to see that our boat got so oxidized, etc after a total of 10 months ( winter included) and a total of 65 hours of use. Looks good now.