Boat Polishing

[NightTrain]

I decided to polish up my jet boat, since it's finally spring and it needed it. Running around exclusively in glacial fed rivers leaves a residue, and of course the aluminum is constantly oxidizing.

I'm not finished with it, but should be today... or maybe tomorrow - I find myself getting OCD about a small area that's just not quite as shiny as another. This was a LOT more work than I had anticipated, and I learned much from this project.

2/3 of the way on the 1st pass :



Almost done on the 2nd pass :



Interestingly, contrary to every YouTube video that I watched, a buffer isn't what gets it to shine. I'm not using a buffing compound, simply a bottle of 'metal shine' that I bought at the State Fair a couple years ago. I just take a few drops of it on a rag, rub it on an area, let it sit, rub it again, let it dry and then wipe it off.

When it's finished, the boat should look brand new... it already looks 100% better. Once I'm done with the polishing, I'll put the canvas on her - don't want to get any chemicals on that.


Oh yeah, and yesterday we took her out on Lake Lucille for the annual "How ya feeling this year?" shakedown cruise. She's purring like a kitten at idle and roaring like a lion at WOT! We're going past Sarah Palin's house on the lake in this pic, btw.