How to Protect your New Aluminum Pontoon Boat with Alumetron

Skipper February 21, 2023 Ask The Skipper

Ray Derry asked:

I just bought a new pontoon boat and the pontoons are perfect and clean. Do I still need to clean them or can I just go ahead and apply Alumetron?

Answer:
For your convenience, I’ve highlighted the hyperlinks in case you want more information about the products.

Alumetron bonds chemically to raw, clean aluminum. If you have contaminants or pollutants on your aluminum, Alumetron will not bond properly and will have to be stripped, the surface cleaned and then re-applied. Alumetron can be used below the waterline as well as above.

When preparing the aluminum pontoons on your new boat, it’s important to use the right cleaner; otherwise the Alumetron may not adhere properly. Using soap or detergents often leave a residue that can impair the attachment of Alumetron to the surface.

During manufacture, the aluminum is coated with oil and during manufacture of your boat; there can be other pollutants such as welders smut, soil and skin oil from handling. Then there are the pollutants and road salt that attach during road transport to your dealer and to you. You need to degrease and clean them with a cleaner that does not leave a residue.

To clean and protect your aluminum pontoon boat, follow the procedures below:

Raise the boat off the trailer bunks, if applicable: How to Lift Your Pontoon Boat Off the Trailer Bunks.

Rinse the pontoon with water and then spray on Boat Clean Plus. Apply Alumabuff to a Marine Power Mitt and scrub it well, using a back and forth motion, horizontally with the grain. Scrubbing against the grain or in a circular motion can leave swirl or scuff marks. Rinse clean, wipe off excess water with a microfiber cloth and allow to dry thoroughly.

Apply 4 thin coats of Alumetron to the entire pontoon, following the instructions on the bottle. Allow each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next coat. (Watch the How To Apply Alumetron Video). Under normal temperature and humidity conditions, each coat should be dry by the time you coat all of the pontoons, ready for the next coat. If cool and damp, allow extra time for complete drying before applying subsequent coats.

Allow Alumetron to cure a minimum of 96 hours.

Apply 2 coats of VS721 to the entire pontoon, allowing 24 hours between coats. VS721 will act as a fouling release coating below the waterline, making maintenance and clean up easier and will add greater durability and scuff, abrasion resistance above the waterline, plus it will make the top of the pontoons easier to keep clean and shiny. Applying VS721 annually will automatically extend the factory warranty from 1 year to 3 years.

NOTE: If your new boat is transported to your dealer over the winter months, it may have streaking, etching or even pitting from road salt splashed onto the pontoons. Depending on the severity of the discoloration, etching or corrosion, you may be able to remove the damage with Boat Clean Plus, Alumabuff and a Marine Power Mitt as above, or if the damage is more severe, you may have to neutralize and passivate the corrosion or pitting with Alumabrite CBX and buff it out with Alumabuff and a Linear Buffer.

Because of the Durability and Long Life of Alumetron and VS721 it’s important to get your pontoons looking their best before applying the coatings as this is what you will see for the next 10 years.

With proper maintenance, these coatings can protect your pontoons, above and below the waterline against staining, discoloration and fouling, for up to 10 years.

Be sure to go online and register your warranty.

Failure to properly clean your pontoons or use of an inferior cleaner that leaves a residue can result in delamination. Many soaps and detergents will leave soap scum. Boat Clean Plus and Alumabuff are free rinsing and won’t leave a residue.

See the following photos:

How to Protect your New Aluminum Pontoon Boat with Alumetron: