How to Polish Aluminum Boat Hulls

Aluminum is commonly used in the manufacture of boat hulls.

Aluminum is a commonly used material in the manufacture of boat hulls due to its durability, resistance to rust, and light weight. Despite its hard-wearing nature, maintaining an aluminum hull is still an essential part of boat care as salt is corrosive and can cause damage to your boat over time. Polishing an aluminum boat hull will prevent unwanted salt buildup and create a desirable mirror finish.

Things You'll Need

• Environmentally-friendly liquid detergent
• Sponges
• 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000 grit sandpaper
• Metal polish
• Handheld rotary tool
• Felt buffing wheel
• Soft cloth

Instructions

1. Clean the aluminum hull using a sponge, fresh water and environmentally-friendly liquid detergent.

2. Sand the hull using wet sand paper. Begin the sanding process using 200 grit sandpaper and move up to 400, 600, 800 and 1000 grit. Ensure all traces of each previous sanding have been removed.

3. Polish the sanded aluminum using a handheld rotary tool fitted with a felt buffing wheel. Buff the aluminum using circular motions until the polish turns black.

4. Shine the aluminum hull using a soft cloth until all traces of polish have been removed.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep sandpaper well-rinsed when sanding aluminum. Debris can build up in the grit and cause damage to the metal surface.

References

• Trailer Boats: Boat Improvement: Restoring Aluminum

Resources

• Flitz Polishing: Tips For Polishing An Aluminum Boat