How to keep an aluminum hull looking nice

[ohthetrees]

I've very attracted to aluminum boats like the Allures, Garcia, etc, but after a couple of years they look like workboats. I've seen a bunch in person, and not one has looked very nice. I'm wondering if it is possible to keep the hull looking "nice". I don't need a high polish, but I don't like the blotchy and drip stained look.


Does anyone have first hand experience keeping an aluminum hull looking good?


Ideas:

• Go over it with very light sandpaper once a year
• Go over it with a a buffer and a heavy cutting polishing compound
• Paint
• Vinyl Wrap

My experience with painted aluminum is that the smallest injury to the surface allows oxidation which causes spreading bubbles and paint failure. I'd imagine vinyl wrap might have the same problem?


Hoping to hear some first hand experiences.


I'm not looking for advice to "get used to it". If there isn't a way around this issue, it isn't the hull material for me.

[Nekton73]

If you are considering a bare aluminum hull then perhaps a marine grade clearcoat. With no paint to match it would be fairly easy to spot and repair nicks or corrosion when needed.



https://www.canadapontoon.com/en/p10...-fluid-oz.html


https://www.nyalic.com/Marine_c_7.html

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by ohthetrees

Go over it with a buffer and a heavy cutting polishing compound

If you've got lots of time you could probably make an aluminum boat look like an Airstream.

[CrispyCringle]

Aluminum. Salt water. No chance.

[Jim Cate]

We saw an alloy fly bridge m/v a few years back that was finished in "engine turning" swirls all over the exterior surfaces. Looked kinda neat to me, and certainly obscured any small defects or stains. I don't know how old it was or how much maintenance was needed.

Jim

[psk125]

We have a 1976 aluminum sloop in our harbor that's been well cared-for. She's finished with Awlgrip, and hangs anodes over the side when not under way.

[ohthetrees]

I wonder what their paint maintenance routine is.

[wrwakefield]

Vanity is expensive.

Most aluminum boat owners I know prefer bare aluminum for simplicity and toughness, but they look like bare aluminum- as you say.

Those with painted hulls [2 part LPU like Awlgrip, etc] profess the need to stay on top of blemishes and touch-up several times each year. They schedule extensive paint/cosmetic work [e.g., re-coating] every 2-5 years.

Likewise for steel boats, but without the option to go bare…

Those I know with painted metal hulls DIY to keep costs reasonable. [e.g., up here an Awlgrip hull prep and paint job- not DIY- for a 45 foot monohull runs US$30-40k. It is about half that in Washington state, for comparison.]

Just some anecdotal info from several aluminum [and steel] boat owners I know. [My boat is painted FRP…]

FWIW

Cheers, Bill

[noelex 77]

All of the options listed so far are perfectly valid treatments for an aluminium cruising boat.

However, there are benefits from leaving it bare. Unfortunately, very few aluminium boatbuilders can form the flat sheets into an aesthetically pleasing poetic form, but it is possible.

The advantage of bare aluminium is that it requires no maintenance. This is our boat in Ireland after over 5 years of no treatment.

[psk125]

Originally Posted by ohthetrees

I wonder what their paint maintenance routine is.

Awlgrip says to wash down the painted surfaces with soap and water. NO WAX and NO POLISHING.

[psk125]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

All of the options listed so far are perfectly valid treatments for an aluminium cruising boat.

However, there are benefits from leaving it bare. Unfortunately, very few aluminium boatbuilders can form the flat sheets into an aesthetically pleasing poetic form, but it is possible.

The advantage of bare aluminium is that it requires no maintenance. This is our boat in Ireland after over 5 years of no treatment.

Strangford Loch?

[ohthetrees]

Youtube is full of people cleaning their aluminum fishing boats with various acid based cleaners, and it looks fast and easy. Here are a couple:


https://youtu.be/BmIzZBnkhDs?si=iQl3D4XpEdyJtFAd&t=62

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz9kEp3mRl0

[Stewie12]

I cruised on an aluminium motor yacht for 5 years and never had problem with the paint. It looked really good. The only problem was when you I wanted to screw something made of metal to it was that it had to have a rubber gasket behind it and the screws had to go into rawlplugs otherwise the paint would bubble around the fitting. That apart aluminium was great.

[myketch42]

my aluminum hull painted with awl grip never required any annual or semi annual maintence and looked good except small fade for 10 years Shark skin is very effective albeit expensive per quart on raw aluminum goggle it .

[merrydolphin]

I agree with most. Leave it bare. I was captain of a 70’ Morelli and Melvin power cat, all aluminum. We used to give tours. All we ever did was occasionally (maybe once every 2-3 wks, in order to keep it looking good for business was wipe it down with a vinegar water solution. Virtually nothing else. I love aluminum. Absolutely the best boat building material.