DIY How to polish an Aluminum Pontoon Boat

[@caker65]

dude you're a hard freakin worker...MUCH RESPECT! thanks for the videos and helping to educate us

[@DCSuperShine]

Thanks man appreciate that!!! And np you guys name it all worth it!!! Thanks for watching!

[@georgemyers6518]

Great job on that boat. I appreciate you making these videos for us. Please keep them coming.

[@DCSuperShine]

Thanks for watching George! You guys keep watching and I’ll keep ‘em coming :))

[@andwhat9818]

Man I would love to get in this business something but bringing shine out of the dullest surfaces must feel extremely rewarding and satisfying

[@DCSuperShine]

Yup it definitely is! Thanks for watching :)

[@30roundclipazine79]

Great job and explanation.I did that to my aluminum tracker boat when I bought it from my friend 2 years ago it looked like a mirror and after one season on Lake Erie and it looked like I hadnt done anything. I really expected the shine to last a couple years not a couple months.

[@dualcablowlux]

use sharkhide

[@shanewattenbarger4061]

great job and thanks for sharing info

[@AndreSW08]

Thank for the great advice in such detail 🙏

[@rubenparedesjr3412]

I'm just here to comment, to help your vids get out.

[@DCSuperShine]

hehe thanks bud!

[@glennr9913]

The results look great. But I can't believe how much labor is required. This looks like a great opportunity for somebody to engineer a better system.

[@Phil-wu3qj]

Great video. You make it look easy. Can you please provide a list of pads and the kind of buffing pad you used at the end. Thank you!!

[@DCSuperShine]

Hey Phil, Yes I definitely need to start posting links to what I use. My new website is almost complete. Just waiting on a few manufacturing issues to be solved as well and it will be live. Thank you for watching

[@MikeLJ-ku7ov]

What do you use to seal the aluminum

[@jeffgifford9636]

Wow!! Incredible work DCSuperShine 👏 🙌 👌

[@DCSuperShine]

Thank you! And thanks for watching 👍

[@jamilperry-li3eq]

Where did you get the enclosure from on the pontoon in the beginning of your video

[@Owenwilsonsnose386]

Man I didn’t notice until I start grinding my own tubes, but now I can see that the final product isn’t 100% perfect! Not saying your work isn’t amazing, but I had such a hard time expecting it to come out perfect Are most customers okay with some imperfections on the finish of a toon?

[@DCSuperShine]

Bud we are our own worst critics!!! I do my best to make it as perfect as possible… we are human so I doubt I’ve ever done anything 100% perfect. As for customers most are very understanding I’m just honest with them before I start… I often under sell so when it’s done they are SUPER happy :) And I always say this to these questions, this is what we do for a living so we see every little imperfection… 99% of ppl do not. Hope this help soften your OCD ;)

[@brianstarkey1824]

How much would you charge to do a 20’ pontoon boat just average price

[@steveworthington9017]

Great video Dennis, do you use the same rake to clean out your finishing wheels or is that too aggressive, thanks from Barbados 🇧🇧 West Indies 😎

[@DCSuperShine]

Yes sir same rake for all pads! Thanks for watching! Much appreciated :)

[@LeonardoCandido-gk2dx]

Good evening, I would like to ask a question, what sandpaper or disc do you use before polishing? and where can I buy it?

[@DCSuperShine]

it's aluminum oxide sand paper, same stuff you'd use to do bodywork. I sell it one my site as well. thanks for watching

[@leedawg28]

Do you use a buffer with the polishing wheel or a grinder? (rpm?) Thanks

[@DCSuperShine]

I use both a polisher 600-3500 rpm and a 6000 rpm grinder. thanks for watching!

[@selfdevelopment-g1v]

How much does something like this cost?

[@paulborg9609]

Thank you again Dennis. Question time - 1)when speed sanding you were going horizontally yet on some grits you were going vertical. Any special grit to do that or on in all grits? 2) when blending to clean up I assume no compound is used and same pressure right? Thank you again for your patience and advice.

[@DCSuperShine]

Hey Paul, as for high speed sanding I only go vertically on the last grit or 2, it’s not really needed I just got use to doing it that way! 🤷‍♂️ As for blending I clean the rake good and no product is applied. Thanks for watching!

[@paulborg9609]

@@DCSuperShine Lovely thank you for your clarification. Greatly appreciated with utmost respect

[@nickhagenbrock8454]

How many man hours go into job like this?

[@qd0reg018]

What causes a dull shine when I’m polishing ? Can’t get that mirror finish

[@DCSuperShine]

not sure what your using or what your process is.. could be many things

[@LJ_AF]

Awesome work. What did this kind of work end up costing the customer? Thanks for the videos.

[@DCSuperShine]

I charge per foot when it comes to pontoons… $75-$125 per foot depending on how much sanding is needed. This particular job was $2500

[@hugh-jassgarrett1914]

Do you put a lacquer or Sharkhide on them after you're done polishing?

[@DCSuperShine]

I do have a guy that put a clear on for me. But depends on situation and customer.

[@bsmothers1985]

Ok. I have a few questions. What speed you run when ur sanding threw the grits? And backi g plate where u get them from? They look like they have like a cushion type to it

[@DCSuperShine]

For sanding I’m on max speed but you can set it slower for better control. Those backing plates are no longer available unfortunately. But we have similar ones now. Just send me a message on Facebook.

[@teamrino5493]

Great video! Very informative! Thanks!!

[@DCSuperShine]

Thanks for watching much appreciated!

[@larsfischer1706]

how long does it last before it goes dull again. and is there protection on the polished one? Greetings from Germany.

[@DCSuperShine]

It depends on many things… river water, sea water… do you leave the boat in the water or not… does your area have issues with scaling etc… in normal situations it last the season very easily. We do put metal polish for protection yes. There are several companies that offer some sort of clear coat that can last years if maintained properly… just keep in mind that most of these protections will take away from your shine and once start to peel they look horrible and much harder to take off. Hope this helps

[@Blankenboat]

If I want to restore a toon to a satin finish like the factory that is 2 years old what would you recommend. The toon was acid washed with toon brite and it looks awful. Planning on doing metal jacket after all the correction is complete

[@Blankenboat]

What is the time spent on a 23ft on average

[@DCSuperShine]

The time depends on many things, experience being number one. Products used, are you polishing with a 3500rpm or 6000rpm… what kind of work are you? All those things come into play. But as a ball park I can do a 23ft alone in about 20 hours. That’s sanded and polished. Hope this helps

[@Deagle367]

What's the cost of this to get down in 2024?

[@deborahlovrich1718]

awesome what would you charge for this

[@DCSuperShine]

Most pontoon are between $2,000 and $3,000 depends on sanding needed

[@christopherowens2635]

How is this product compared to Zephyr? It seems like these two guys are competing.

[@DCSuperShine]

Zephyr is a good product! I like their pads, their bars don’t work well for me… Thanks for watching

[@christopherowens2635]

@@DCSuperShine You have the best polishing tutorial on youtube. Very inspiring. I would have purchased your polishing wheel kit if you had it on amazon.

[@SuperCampos75]

Great job 👏 and that must be cost alot of money 💰

[@user-gj7qh2zv8i]

where do you get your velcro rotary sanding discs Dennis?

[@DCSuperShine]

Right now until my brand arrives I’m using paper from a local bodyshop. Thanks for watching! Much appreciated :)

[@tomrenken625]

Final step, Cleaning polish remnants from edges, What to use?

[@DCSuperShine]

liquid metal polish works great, if there's a lot of black residue like in the welds for example, varsol or mineral spirits work best.

[@joshmyers30]

What size grinders were those ?

[@DCSuperShine]

6000 rpm dewalt

[@rickgrevey9686]

How often would one need to do this. Ever 1 season, 2 seasons??

[@DCSuperShine]

Depends on many things but mainly the water you’re in and maintenance… I have a customer that I do his every second year, but he pulls it out of the water after every run. Washed it regularly and re-apply’s liquid polish a couple time during the summer. He’s on the St-Lawrence river. Hope this helps

[@memtaylormade2006]

Great job!

[@DCSuperShine]

Thank you 😊

[@peggybalowski7626]

Wher is a goodplace andtype of sand paper to use

[@DCSuperShine]

I sell sand paper, but any aluminum oxide paper will work.

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

Best tip I learned here is this: have about five other people do the work!

[@DCSuperShine]

lol some ppl learn that the hard way!! :) thanks for watching

[@stevenjamieson5461]

Denis what did you use to take the hide off with?

[@DCSuperShine]

Sorry the hide???

[@stevenjamieson5461]

Shark hide coating

[@Clutch_Kick187]

@@stevenjamieson5461 That stuff is garbage.. it only helps a bit if your a pull in and out every use.. If your on a dock, its junk, and a nightmare to remove.. I have used toon brite and or napa aluminum brightener for 20yrs on my 3 pontoon boats.. Once per year, you spray the stuff on with a weed sprayer, hit it with a quick brush like car wash brush, and spray it off.. It has some acid in it that completely and perfectly cleans the toons to a consistent dull shine.. which looks very nice IMO.. And no scrubbing or buffing of any sort.. You don't need or want mirror polished toons and it doesn't last even a season.. I have seen many people spend 10-20hrs polishing toons to have them look like shit in about 30-60days..

[@vincentmckinney582]

Where are you located and what is you price for a 18 ft pontoon?

[@DCSuperShine]

I’m in Ontario Canada, and you’re looking around $2000 depending on sanding

[@user-ue7mw7hg7n]

Great video work on these vids

[@DCSuperShine]

Thank you :)

[@rbnjr]

I have a guest room for you in south Florida to polish a 12ft tri tube! free rent in exchange for a polish job, About a week should be enough?

[@DCSuperShine]

Lol thanks for watching.

[@osmosisdaily]

How much does something like this cost? Got a sub tracker 22 ft and deciding if I wanna pay for this or do it myself. But looking at this I rather pay

[@DCSuperShine]

I charged $2500 for this one.

[@osmosisdaily]

@@DCSuperShine sheeesh…but honestly kind of worth it. I’m a hard core DIY’er but this is not exciting. How long do you think it would last?

[@jponyboyace]

I need advice on pontoons…..same????

[@DCSuperShine]

It’s the same process as any other aluminum yes. Thank you for watching :)

[@magic9980]

Super shine ✨ 👍🏼✅

[@DCSuperShine]

:)) Thanks for watching!

[@BrianOertwig]

Why am I leaving tiny black marks on my polished toon

[@DCSuperShine]

Most likely pits… you’ll need to sand more to remove them all. Depends on how picky you want to get. Could excess product as well.

[@andrewwestaway5508]

No respirators?!

[@DCSuperShine]

Who needs those?

[@DeaDEye.21]

Carworxs 👊👊👊

[@DCSuperShine]

Lol it’s decent paper

[@iveneverdonethisbefore8390]

Looks great but these companies need to come up with a solution to aluminum pontoons, every godamn pontoon boat looks like sh-t after a month in the water.

[@DCSuperShine]

Greatly depends on maintenance! But they do have coatings that work fairly well… some are bad tho, and it depends on the person applying it. Experience is key!

[@glennr9913]

Epoxy paint would be much simpler to apply and much more durable. Pontoon factories should polish the tubes & clear coat them. I can't believe none of them do considering the prices they charge for new boats.

[@triggagotnohartcv1058]

I'll pay u. Lmk

[@radvalve205]

And one year later it's back to looking dull again, would rather just hit it with purple power aluminum brightener to knock the oxidation off (30 minutes total) and spend the remaining hours on the water with a drink and a couple babes in bikinis having a good time. Having a mirror finish is not worth my time.