DIY Boat Detailing: How To Polish Your Own Pontoon Boat

We are diving into the nitty-gritty of DIY boat detailing, specifically how to polish your pontoon boat to perfection. Clean and shiny pontoons are a sight to behold, but getting them to that state—well, it’s a messy, long, and dangerous job!

But, if you're up for a challenge, we’ve got step by step instructions on how to polish pontoons and do it yourself boat detailing. But we also want you to understand what you're in for!

Polishing a pontoon might save you a little money, it’s not a task for the faint of heart. It's intense, meticulous, and, yes, it can be downright dangerous! Our skilled professionals at Laken Water Sports are ever-ready to lend a helping hand, which can not only save you time, but save you more hassle than you realize.

What You Need To Polish A Pontoon Boat

The process should take 8-10 hours when done properly.

Gloves
Respirator (don’t skip this, you really do need one!)
Paint Stripper
Lacquer Thinner
Polishing Kit, like Zephyr Super Shine 'X' Polishing Kit
Rotary for polishing brush
Terry cloths or rags
Protective coating, like Shark Hide, or similar

How To Polish A Pontoon Boat

If you’re ready to give it a shot, here are the steps you need to polish a pontoon boat.

polishing pontoon boat

Step 1: Removing Protective Coating

The first step in our DIY boat detailing adventure is to rid our pontoons of the protective coating on the pontoons. Shark Hide is a popular brand that helps give it a nice reflective mirror-finish look and because it works so well, it’s hard to remove.

For this, and similar types of protective coating, you need to use paint stripper and apply it generously with a rag and gloves. Then let it sit for 30 minutes before wiping off. If it’s stubborn, you can let this soak overnight. You’ll know it’s done when the coating turns orange.

Why paint stripper? Well, while Shark Hide recommends lacquer thinner, for DIY removal, paint stripper is more effective. Lacquer thinner really doesn’t work. You can find it at an automotive store.

Safety First: Always use gloves when handling paint stripper to avoid any skin irritations. And if you have a respirator, it’s highly recommended.

Tip: Protective coating will become gummy and sticky while the stripper is working. It’s easier to remove if you wait until it turns orange before trying to wipe away.

Step 2: Lacquer Thinner Application

If you’ve waited long enough, the protective coating will come off easily with lacquer thinner. To remove it well, wear gloves and use a generous amount on a terry cloth. Here, patience is your best companion! Go slow, and make sure you use a lot of lacquer thinner. You need to make sure you get all the coating off.

Keep going until it’s all wiped clean. You will use about 4-5 full rags for most pontoon boats. When one fills up, throw it away and get a clean rag. You don’t want to find yourself smearing the old coating all over the boat.

$polishing pontoon boat$

Step 3: Polishing Time

Now grab a polishing kit, like the Zephyr polishing kit. Make sure it has a cutting wheel and aluminum cutting compound rouge bar. This will be used in the heavy cutting process, where we are aiming to cut through any residue and sanding marks left on the pontoons.

The first part, using cutting compound takes about 6-8 hours of dirty work to do it well. Use 3500 RPMs to do a good job.

Go slow and steady for good results. This initial cutting process might take around six to seven meticulous hours, but the results are worth every second!

Safety Reminder: Always wear a respirator during this step! This process will kick up black metal soot, and you don’t want to breathe that in. And, of course, handle your equipment with care to avoid any accidents.

After the initial heavy cut, we move to a quicker cut and polish, aiming to eliminate any remaining dullness and scratches. Chrome rouge compound works well and this part takes about 1 hour. This step removes any scratches and areas of dullness.

Tips

Only do 12 inch sections at a time, starting at the top, and work your way down slowly
The slower you go, the better
This process should take 6-8 hours, if you’re going slow enough
Don’t use a lot of compound
Be very careful with your rotary, if can slip and cause injury, hold on tight

Step 4: Finishing Touches

Finally, a basic metal polish on a foam pad gives your pontoon that flawless, mirror-like glossy finish you want to see.

To do a good job, use 600 RPMs to buffer and go slow.

Step 5: Protective Coating

Once you achieve that gleaming finish, make sure you remember to add a protective coating back to your pontoon boat. Shark Hide is popular, but there are others on the market.

Why You Should Choose Professional Detailing

OK, so you’re interested in saving money and going the DIY route to polish your pontoon boat. But if you don’t own a buffer or respirator, you’ll have to buy them, and they can be a little spendy. And you’ll still have to purchase the paint stripper, paint lacquer, and compound kit. Then, you’ll have to spend hours and hours of hard dirty work on your boat. And in the end, if you didn’t do a good job, it won’t look good anyway.

There are 2 alternatives.

First, do some of the work yourself and let us do the rest. Call and talk to our service department and we can talk about how we can help you out.

Second, let us handle all this dirty work for you! This process is intensive, time-consuming, and can pose health risks if not done correctly. That's where we, the experts at Laken Water Sports can help. Our seasoned professionals guarantee:

1. Precision & Perfection: Our experience ensures every nook and cranny of your pontoon is treated with meticulous care, leaving no room for imperfections.

2. Safety: We prioritize your safety and the safety of your boat, employing the best practices and equipment.

3. Time Efficiency: We value your time! Our team works diligently to bring your boat back to its gleaming glory in optimal time.

4. Long-lasting Results: Our professional detailing promises results that endure the tests of time and tides.

Final Thoughts

DIY boat detailing can be quite the long and tedious adventure. We always recommend having a professional polish your pontoon, but if you do decide to do it yourself, remember to follow these safety tips and to go slow for better results. And if you find yourself halfway through the project and wanting to throw in the towel, give us a call and we can help you out!