Polished aluminum in salt.

yamanube

yamanube

This Is The Way
Staff member
Location
Mandalor
Anyone have experience with raw, polished aluminum on a surf ski? Thinking about changing my hull color and the faded pink anno isn't going to match.
Is it a maintenance nightmare? I don't want to be constantly polishing but am not afraid of a little rub job now and then.

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kevbo

kevbo

Location
dfw
It will tend to tarnish, how fast it happens depends on the alloy. The only way to keep it like new is to spray clear over it.
 
Quinc

Quinc

Buy a Superjet
Location
California
Clear coat works well. There is some fancy 2 part polish compound you can get that is supposed to keep it from tarnishing as well.
 
M

mikesx

Absolutely polish it ! I polished my B Pipe on a boat I rode only in salt, surf and back bays. The only regret I had was that I didn't polish it before the crinkle powder coat trapped salt and pitted the alum. Made it twice as much work polishing. The pic is after about 18 seasons of riding, and all I did after each ride was spray silicone for maintenance. End of season I would hand buff with Blue Magic. If you look close you can see that the flange head yellow zinc STEEL bolts didn't corrode even after 18 seasons, another benefit of the silicone bath after each ride. Anything I have aluminum I polish now when new. The pole I made for the same boat was also polished aluminum ran only in salt. You may have a little more work polishing something that was previously anodized, but raw alum as long as it's rinsed and treated after each ride holds up for better than painted or powder coated. Powder coat is for office furniture.DSC01152.JPGDSC01153.JPGDSC01142.JPGDSC01143.JPGDSC01145.JPG
 
SXIPro

SXIPro

JM781 Big Bore
Location
Here on the 'X' mostly
mikesx said:
Absolutely polish it ! I polished my B Pipe on a boat I rode only in salt, surf and back bays. The only regret I had was that I didn't polish it before the crinkle powder coat trapped salt and pitted the alum. Made it twice as much work polishing. The pic is after about 18 seasons of riding, and all I did after each ride was spray silicone for maintenance. End of season I would hand buff with Blue Magic. If you look close you can see that the flange head yellow zinc STEEL bolts didn't corrode even after 18 seasons, another benefit of the silicone bath after each ride. Anything I have aluminum I polish now when new. The pole I made for the same boat was also polished aluminum ran only in salt. You may have a little more work polishing something that was previously anodized, but raw alum as long as it's rinsed and treated after each ride holds up for better than painted or powder coated. Powder coat is for office furniture.View attachment 434130View attachment 434131View attachment 434132View attachment 434133View attachment 434135
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Now that is dedication. Well done.
 
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