Restoring the Shine on the Pro Crappie

[mttoney]

So I decided that I wanted to polish up the aluminum on my Tracker Pro Crappie. Ive done a few test spots and the difference is huge! Using 3M Marine Aluminum Restorer and Polish, buffing pad, and 3000 grit sanding pad. Tried just using the buffing pad to polish it, but there was still some pitting spots. Used the 3000 grit sanding pad and polish, which easily smoothed the pits out and after buffing it, it left a nice shining finish. It'll be a lengthy process, but the results will look good I believe.

Here's a few pics.


Around the cleat is before polishing, to the sides is after polishing.


Test section.


What it looks like before polishing. Mainly oxidation and water spotting with some pitting.

[jimp]

Better get some good shades. Looking good.

[genec]

Looks good,will you need to put polish or something to help keep it from dulling,if so what?

[mttoney]

The 3M polish I'm using is a 2-n-1 restorer and polish. Aluminum is easily shined up, just over time it will oxidize, get weather spots, and have imperfections that I call "pits." The compound is really just a micro-abrasive paste that wet sands the imperfections from the surface.

[red]

looks good

[mttoney]

Finished the right rail tonight. Its definitely time and labor intensive as I expected. The difference is remarkable though. Plan on continuing later, possibly this weekend if I don't take the boat out. Going to complete the rails first, the transom second, then lastly the sides and part of the bottom.