A Mirror On The Water... How to polish an aluminum boat | Renegade Polishing

[@JasonJohnson-fm3xp]

What an amazing outcome! Hard work + knowledge = success!

[@DrakesDetailing]

We agree! 😎

[@f-dubservicesincTV]

Boat owner must have been super happy!!! Nice job

[@DrakesDetailing]

I think so! 😎

[@michaelellegood3306]

This is an outstanding video. Very detailed with information like grit size, rpm, pressure and so forth. Kudos to these guys!!!

[@DrakesDetailing]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@beaulster]

Holy cow Drake!!! Speechless

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks bro!

[@CaliforniaCasey]

Wow! Excellent work!!

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks bro!!!

[@matthewpocock4824]

Thanks for explaining the revs and heat matrix. That's an inspirational job, mate. Big thanks from Australia 🇦🇺 👍

[@DrakesDetailing]

My pleasure!

[@colinhopkins3676]

Looks stunning

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thank you!!

[@DirtyHandsPureWater]

Some of the best explanation of the process I've seen on yt. Thanks, I have a 30 foot aluminum horse trailer I plan on doing this fall. Wish me luck!

[@DrakesDetailing]

Glad it helped!!! Good luck

[@AuDive0]

Greatly appreciated this Aluminum boat Polishing tutorial. Excellent detailing 👍. Very helpful advice. Really enjoyed the video thanks. Gregg

[@DrakesDetailing]

Glad it was helpful! 🔥🔥

[@dannyrexknight]

Yewww that looks fantastic! Be interesting to see how it oxidised.

[@DrakesDetailing]

You and me both!

[@eddydavis9548]

Nice work

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thank you!! 💯💯

[@marcusharrison3141]

I gotta learn how to sand better... Drake I followed your instructions on cleaning the engine bay to the T. AMAZING results... I got folks asking me if I would do their boat. You're the man...

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks! So glad you learned something!

[@louisborges7932]

Amazing as usual !!!

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks again!

[@Scottstunts]

I drive fuel tankers and like my rigs shinny. It takes a lot of time, elbow grease and patients. Props man that’s it of work and it looks beautiful. 💪

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks bro! It sure does

[@jasonreynolds7030]

Awesome work, fun to watch 👍

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thank you!

[@lightowl4345]

beautiful!

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@khalidalbagdadymd4081]

amazing job, congratulations

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thank you very much!

[@jdeax1982]

I hope you got a good chunk of change for this because I just did one of my pontoons this weekend and it kicked my a$$. Looks great like always

[@DrakesDetailing]

Yes sir! Thanks 😊

[@jdeax1982]

@Drake's Detailing so after the first pontoon video you made and this one, what do you think about renegade vs zephyr?

[@iainhetherington4608]

That’s so cool dude Cheers from Aus

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks bro!

[@gapingtonbobuah9299]

Absolutely insane !! I want mine done 2019 Kingfisher Falcon 1825

[@DrakesDetailing]

😎👍🏻🔥

[@davidhoughton4791]

picking up my 2013 Warrior tomorrow! Whoot!

[@davestewart9146]

Looks amazing, much respect sir 👍😁

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thank you!! 🔥🔥😎

[@ronw.johnson2430]

Do you have an update on the boat? I am very interested to see how the ceramic coating held up. I have a polished aluminum boat and I apply new metal wax/polish annually. Thank you for the instructional video!

[@DrakesDetailing]

Hey bro! I actually do not because I moved back across the country to Florida😎

[@cdarend9709]

Very informative video, sincerely apreciate the effort involved in sharing this! I have a similar Duckworth with some pretty bad dock rash/scraping/burrs (previous owner). Any suggestions on removing them?

[@DrakesDetailing]

Hey man! A paint/body guy would be able to take those scratches out, unfortunately unfortunately doing that tuna aluminum boat is a little bit out of my wheelhouse, but I do know how to make them them shiny ha ha! 😎

[@levisobczuk2569]

Great tutuorial! Is it necessary to start at 180 grit if the oxidation isn’t too bad? I started with 320 on my boat, will this have not as nice of an end result in your opinion? Thanks

[@mikebodi6413]

The boat looks like a million bucks with 50 cent off the shelf numbers. Your work though is amazing. Gonna try this with my drift boat.

[@DrakesDetailing]

😎🔥

[@turnandburnroadtripssouthe8432]

Amazing

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thank you! 🔥🔥

[@alexv8408]

Definitely way more work than paint/gel coat but HOLY SHIT look at that finish bro…. You’re a savage like always.🔥🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks bro!!! 🤘💯🇺🇸

[@AndresRodriguez-vp2dm]

Hey man, boat look fantastic I am planning on doing this myself soon. How will the mirror look handle against salt water?

[@DrakesDetailing]

It can tarnish it overtime, but if you maintain it and keep it up, it will be a lot easier to clean.

[@raypacheco01]

You’re definitely different 💯

[@DrakesDetailing]

In what way are you referring too ? 😂

[@raypacheco01]

@@DrakesDetailing as in you do above and beyond type of work haha

[@DrakesDetailing]

Oh thanks bro!! Ha

[@goblue3090]

So once it hits the water for a day of fishing wont the lower half be ruined with oxidation? Or will it shine for awhile? Amazing results by the way. True professional.

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks! No, oxidation happens from the sun. It will have water spots, but you just wipe it down

[@PolishedMobileDetailing503]

That black dust is why I’m done with aluminum 😂 I used to do a diamond plate truck box in 2.5-3 hrs but it took just as long to clean that crap off later. Great results as always !

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks! Haha, yeah polishing aluminum is one of the nastiest jobs out there!

[@singlar10]

I’m thinking about coming out to your class man

[@DrakesDetailing]

Nice!!

[@Oldstockz]

Drake, lovely video. What pad/ extension are you using? Currently taking a crack at my feather craft and running into some difficulties

[@DrakesDetailing]

Hey bro! If you are talking about an extension for the Makita rotary, this is the one I use: www.amazon.com/TCP-Global-Extender-Adapter-Polishers/dp/B016ANXVLA/ref=asc_df_B016ANXVLA/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241869369567&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4120796290992330687&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9015328&hvtargid=pla-569694434120&psc=1

[@itdafuzz]

A true master of your craft, great work! P.S. I'm sending you a football helmet for the next aluminum boat 😂

[@DrakesDetailing]

Hahaha that’s what my wife said todo! Thanks bro!

[@Detroit904]

@Drake's detailing, how do you clean underneath the boat? Where it actually lays on supporting frame? Thank you..

[@DrakesDetailing]

Hey there! That part is not included. It would be extra because the boat would actually need to be lifted and blocked for that

[@dknowbeatz3665]

My aluminum boat is from 1974 and has quite a few dings, dents, and scratches, which I have been able to get the dings and scratches out (mostly) by using a fine wire wheel. Would you still use the same 3 different grits of sandpaper?

[@DrakesDetailing]

Yes, it should still bring a similar shine, however there’s not much you can do about the dings and dents.

[@njseashorechas2698]

WOW X 100 !!!

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks 😎🔥

[@michaeldecker2725]

Outstanding results. I would have been curious to see before and after of the interior as well as a really nice shots floating in calm water maybe with a sunset in the background. Any chance of that happening? 😅

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thank you very much! Ha ha I’ll have to take notes for that for my next video 😜

[@perfectshineofjax]

I have used Dr Beasley’s Metal Coat on similar aluminum with excellent success.

[@DrakesDetailing]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@kat4animals004]

Do you wash and buff and wax trailers? Do you have any videos of trailer care? I have a painted .040 aluminum pet grooming trailer that has some scratches I want to minimize. I am new at this. Any suggestions?

[@DrakesDetailing]

Typically you don’t buff trailers, because most of them are galvanized. However some of them are painted, but you typically just wash them.

[@Lahainalongboarder]

Man you are just hooking it up with the trade secrets! 🤙🏻🤙🏻 I’m a welder but I am looking at getting an aluminum boat that’s 20+ yrs old. It’s in really good shape and I’m thinking about polishing it up. But that’s a lot of work. I’m not sure if I want to leave the oxidized outer layer for protection or if I want to make it all shiny 🤔 In your opinion what are the pros and cons

[@DrakesDetailing]

Hey bro! It’s definitely worth the work to get it back to a mirror finish. The maintenance is way easier!

[@__kakarot__7563]

Can I use a rotary or angle grinder works best

[@DrakesDetailing]

I was using a rotary in this video- it just had a different attachment on it for the aluminum buffing pad

[@davidross-l3d]

What backer pad for the sander are you using?

[@DrakesDetailing]

Just the factory backing pad that comes with the Maxshine

[@misterjameswest]

Very novice question here as I'm looking at buying an old Alumacraft boat and would like to clean the outside to a mirror finish. My question is this: Is the sanding basically just taking the oxidation off and not taking a thin layer of aluminum off? I know--a rookie question!

[@DrakesDetailing]

Hey there! You are still taking a small layer of the aluminum off, but that layer of the aluminum is oxidized, so you by sanding you are exposing a new layer of aluminum underneath that has not seen the light of day, hence not being oxidized. Hope that makes sense 😎

[@hazyhatrogue]

Hella nice! Great job overall, but I am wondering why you didn’t polish the cleats (unless it just didn’t show well on the bid). Is there a functional reason to not polish them? …also, how long would that shine hold up in dirty freshwater like an inland river or lake if the boat were to stay in the water full time (tied up at a dock when but in use)?

[@DrakesDetailing]

We did shine up the cleats, but the main purpose of the video was to show how to polish aluminum, so I just make it more of a broad video.

[@willenniss3895]

How do you keep the rotary polisher from jumping around and catching edges while sanding.

[@DrakesDetailing]

You just have to have good arm strength and stamina to keep it in one place. Heck, it took me years to not let it throw me off when I hit something, and I still do it sometimes haha!

[@alexdickinson3272]

My wheels leave alot of residue left regardless of the speed I go, is my angle grinder to fast? Mine is 11,000 not 6 like he is using? Driving me crazy any tips are welcome

[@DrakesDetailing]

I’m not the biggest expert with the metal stuff- but, You may be going too fast

[@jordanthompson6772]

If you had to price this job out. What would you charge? I have a similar boat I'd love to have this done with.

[@DrakesDetailing]

All in I’d probably be around $100 per foot

[@HOMELESSG0D]

what a pain, great job as always Drake. Wouldn't touch this for anything under 5k

[@DrakesDetailing]

More like 8k! Haha 😂

[@CaliSilvaSluder]

Are the sanding discs 5"? it seems like it would be easier with a larger disc

[@DrakesDetailing]

Yes they are, it’s actually easier to control a smaller disk than a big disk. You can refine and perfect your work more if you work in smaller areas.

[@MrThomasfouraker]

I am in Jacksonville FL. I have an aluminum boat that is painted currently. I would like to contact you to see what something like this would cost. You're close enough for me to bring it to you. Thanks!

[@DrakesDetailing]

Sounds good! You can submit an inquiry right here on my website: revivalmarinecare.com/ Thanks!!💯

[@becauseitsmusicdude8326]

You can shave that beard on that surface man😂. Looking great as always, never seen bad finish from you, maybe you could make video about fails or mistakes to avoid? I think everyone would like to hear some legends 😅😊

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks bro!! Mistakes and failures! Ha there are too many to talk about haha 😂

[@becauseitsmusicdude8326]

@@DrakesDetailing I believe you can make good trilogy on this topic. 😅

[@jacobgillette7656]

Dude my jaw dropped at the end result.. first time that’s happened in awhile. Good shit

[@DrakesDetailing]

Heck yea! Thanks bro!

[@darrenprintz2966]

I ha e never seen or heard you explain how you polish wear the boat sits on the trailer

[@DrakesDetailing]

Typically (unless the customer is specifically paying for it) don’t do the bottom. If they wanted it done, they would need to take it to a marina and have it lifted off of a trailer

[@TheInternalwisdom]

How long does the mirror on the water last?

[@DrakesDetailing]

It will last around a year- the more important part is just to keep maintaining it so you don’t have to redo it

[@justinvanbreemen]

I am curious, what kind of sandpaper did you use on the aluminum? I would assume it is not abranet from mirka.

[@DrakesDetailing]

No, I used a brand that I bought locally. I think it was sun gold

[@justinvanbreemen]

@@DrakesDetailing thank you for the reply!

[@joeross952]

Same steps for aluminum boat trailer?

[@DrakesDetailing]

I have never tried it on a trailer, I assume so, but I hate I hate to tell you that set in stone because I’ve never done one before.

[@markmorningstar2460]

I’m 10 months late but great video!

[@DrakesDetailing]

All good bro! Thanks so much!

[@jrod3000cc]

Hoodie string making me nervous. 😅Nice work though!

[@DrakesDetailing]

Haha yes, I have thought about that

[@dylanarmstrong808]

How much would you charge to do something like this for?

[@DrakesDetailing]

$25 per foot per step

[@nikkojones2784]

You're a B E A S T !!

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks bro!! 💯🤘

[@mdjamesd]

Why wouldn't you use a DA for the sanding? Just honest question

[@DrakesDetailing]

Wasn’t enough power

[@mdjamesd]

@Drake's Detailing interesting. I would have thought a Flex forced rotation with 800 grit going perpendicular to previous grit sanding marks would have helped even out the breaks between panels.

[@DrakesDetailing]

It may, I never tried that! Good point

[@martyclark3487]

Where are you located?

[@DrakesDetailing]

Pensacola, Florida😎

[@gdasilvajr]

Is there anyone in the sf bay area that can do this?

[@DrakesDetailing]

Not that I know of unfortunately:/

[@sauceymeatwad2856]

Biggest question is how do you get the bottom of the boat if it’s on a trailer?

[@DrakesDetailing]

You typically don’t buff the bottom of the boat. However, if you want to, you would need to have the boat pulled off the trailer at a marina.

[@sauceymeatwad2856]

@@DrakesDetailingthanks for the feed back really appreciate you and all your videos! Great info as always

[@dshogan6174]

Great video, but I’m looking for how to POLISH a boat without destroying the paint, decals, not SAND it.

[@DrakesDetailing]

Well, luckily, I have hundreds of videos in my channel showing how to do just that 😎👍🏻 m.youtube.com/@DrakesDetailing/videos

[@1stfrompuertorico568]

1st

[@DrakesDetailing]

Thanks 🙌🙌

[@hybridcolorpodcast]

What did this job cost the client?

[@DrakesDetailing]

At least $30 per foot per step..

[@Duhamal]

So where is the middle ground? I picked up a used boat project. 80s and has not had anything in years... At least as bad as that one. That one sure is sexy but I dont need to see myself that badly.. :D

[@DrakesDetailing]

Hey bro! You can just not go that far, maybe stop a couple of steps in and don’t keep braking down to finer grit and just cut it off when you are somewhat satisfied with how it turned out

[@ekuhlkamp]

Man, at 5:45 I saw the cord for your hoodie getting way too close to your angle grinder and was going to comment to get that under control or you'd get the grinder flipping up into your face. I didn't want to be an asshole so I wasn't going to comment, but the end of the video changed my opinion. Out of curiosity, what happened?

[@DrakesDetailing]

Hey bro! A tad confused on your comment. What made you “change your mind” at the end?

[@djdrisco123]

Doing around the rivets is a fuckin nightmare. I have a 16 ft Lund and I'm trying to do this. I want to die.

[@DrakesDetailing]

Haha yeah it’s a pain! But it’s definitely worth it! 😎

[@cozziwysong3905]

do mine next lol man what that cost $7k

[@DrakesDetailing]

Not quite that much, but quality work is never cheap 😎