Any boat owners?

[rowdyredneck]

I'm making a deal on my first fishing boat. Its an aluminum 16' Tracker with a 60 horse Mercury outboard. The boat is used but in very good condition with a decent price since its out of season now. It does however need a good cleaning. The hull is stained from dirty river water and algae.
Does anyone know of a decent cleaning product or home brew that will work good for cleaning the hull without damaging the paint and finish?

[22WRF]

Try Simple Green before you buy any of that expensive boat store hull cleaner.

[Bruce FLinch]

boat -noun & verb- defin. A hole in the water, surrounded by wood, fiberglass or aluminum, to where one throws their money

Maybe Bon Ami Cleanser. Says it can be used on aluminum cookware. Try a household product first. If it doesn't work, at least your wife can still use it!

Now get out there & clean up that garage, before you bring that boat home.

[22WRF]

Bon Ami Cleanser

Will scratch

[Bruce FLinch]

Originally Posted by 22WRF

Will scratch

I looked @ the label. It is not like Comet. It's ok for fiberglass tub/shower, cookware. But I'm sure the Simple Green wouldn't scratch !

[rowdyredneck]

If it doesn't work, at least your wife can still use it!

No wife to worry about, which is probably the reason I'm able to buy this thing in the first place. My biggest concern is gas prices, how much I'll be able to use it next summer with gas over $3 a gallon already.

[durk]

If the stains don't come out, might be just as easy to repaint.

[Pistolenschutze]

Rowdy, there is a product on the marked called "Toon-Brite Pontoon & Aluminum Boat Cleaner" that is supposed to work pretty well. Vinegar also works fairly well.

[rowdyredneck]

Thanks, I was wondering if vinegar would do it but wasn't sure if it was strong enough. I'll try a few of the suggestions.

[rowdyredneck]

Well, I made the deal and brought it home this afternoon. Its a '96 Tracker Super Guide V16 with a 60 horse Mercury. It has power trim and tilt, trolling motor, live well, tach and speedo, three seats and a few other extras including a new prop. Other than being a little dirty on the outside its a very clean unit and I got a good price on it on account of being an end of season deal. The sad thing is I just brought it home and winterized it, then put it in the shed. I'll have to wait till next spring to take it out on the water, but at least I'll have all winter to clean it up and add a few more goodies like a stereo system.

[armedandsafe]

Now I have drool all over my keyboard. Good thing I wasn't using FirstInLine's computer or you'd be in trouble!

Pops

[Pistolenschutze]

Let the bass and the catfish of the world take heed! Rowdy will be on the warpath come spring!

[catfish83861]

I also have a 17 foot Basstracker with a sixty horse Mercury on it. I am very happy with this old boat and it handles extra fine in rough water. Now when its already cruddy outside I stay home but have been caught in a nasty gale or two with it. The only grip I have is the old two stroke is sometimes really finicky about starting. Mine has the choke where you push the key in, well on mine you need to do this about six or eight times then it will start,normaly that is . Once it has been ran for a bit it starts right up. Hope you have as much fun with your boat as I have with mine. catfish

[durk]

Originally Posted by rowdyredneck

Well, I made the deal and brought it home this afternoon. Its a '96 Tracker Super Guide V16 with a 60 horse Mercury. It has power trim and tilt, trolling motor, live well, tach and speedo, three seats and a few other extras including a new prop. Other than being a little dirty on the outside its a very clean unit and I got a good price on it on account of being an end of season deal. The sad thing is I just brought it home and winterized it, then put it in the shed. I'll have to wait till next spring to take it out on the water, but at least I'll have all winter to clean it up and add a few more goodies like a stereo system.

That looks to be the kind of boat I'm looking for, after I sell my current boat.

[Neverhome]

Rowdyredneck,

Nice boat. Pistol is right with Toon Bright. I am not sure how it works on painted surfaces. It may be worth a call to the manufacturer. I keep an aluminum boat in brackish water all summer and the bottom turned dark brown from the river and salt and had a couple of dozen barnacles on it too.
I had to use a scrapper for the barnacles but the Toon Bright took care of the rest with the use of a pressure washer. It looked like a brand new hull after cleaning and this is on a 1974 Sears aluminum 12 footer.

I am sure you will enjoy it come spring.

The reason I call myself Neverhome is because I am on my boat every spare minute I have during the season and thus am "Neverhome".

[Texman]

good looking boat son... First thing I would do to clean would be try your pressure washer,, or take it to a good car wash that has the high pressure setting on the wand.. Than I would hand wash what didn't come off with a simple green and water mixture,,by hand.. That way you get to really inspect that hull..

Then wax the bee-geevers out of it.. make it slip through the water better,, trust me,, it works..

[jim summers]

Nice boat,but for me the Bass Tracker Panfish 16 is the boat to own if pan fishing is what you are into. I bought one in 2000 and and it has been a great purchase, it has stick steering which puts you right up front where you can see things better, for the money i don't think you can get a better boat for panfishing.

[anfoman76]

Rowdy if you ever come in off the water..did you get it clean? What did you use ? Hope your having a good summer with her

[merrill]

Originally Posted by catfish83861

I also have a 17 foot Basstracker with a sixty horse Mercury on it. I am very happy with this old boat and it handles extra fine in rough water. Now when its already cruddy outside I stay home but have been caught in a nasty gale or two with it. The only grip I have is the old two stroke is sometimes really finicky about starting. Mine has the choke where you push the key in, well on mine you need to do this about six or eight times then it will start,normaly that is . Once it has been ran for a bit it starts right up. Hope you have as much fun with your boat as I have with mine. catfish

I assume you know to squeeze the primer bulb on the gas line that goes from the tank to the engine. If you flood it, pull out on the lever that accelerates/ changes gears and that throws it out of gear then push the lever forward, all of the way. Then try starting it. This allows the gas to flow thuough the engine. When engine starts return lever to neutral position Same principle as flooring the gas pedal on your car when it is flooded. I have a similar BassTracker.

[hammybone]

Originally Posted by rowdyredneck

Well, I made the deal and brought it home this afternoon. Its a '96 Tracker Super Guide V16 with a 60 horse Mercury. It has power trim and tilt, trolling motor, live well, tach and speedo, three seats and a few other extras including a new prop. Other than being a little dirty on the outside its a very clean unit and I got a good price on it on account of being an end of season deal. The sad thing is I just brought it home and winterized it, then put it in the shed. I'll have to wait till next spring to take it out on the water, but at least I'll have all winter to clean it up and add a few more goodies like a stereo system.

Dont put it up yet! still alot of fishing season left. Nice boat partner... see quite a few of Trackers in my neck of the woods at the lakes. That 60 hp should that rig plaining in no time. I have a 17ft Spectrum by Blue Fin alunimum v-hull center console 50 hp Force.. Yes the 1989 motor is original. It has been grarage kept till last fall I had to use the garage space for my daughters appliances..ect ..put a nice cover on it to keep the elements out. Most people can't believe its 1989 year model cause the boat still is in good condition . I have had the motor rebuilt and it has had to lower units replaced due to impact with stumps . My insurance co paid for the over haul and the two lower units. I insured my boat because of libelity issues I used my boat to take my Scout Troop fishing If some one got hurt on my boat I would file a claim luckly I never had to use it with the exception of the collision losses. Happy fishing
pcrm1f

[Texman]

Originally Posted by Texman

good looking boat son... First thing I would do to clean would be try your pressure washer,, or take it to a good car wash that has the high pressure setting on the wand.. Than I would hand wash what didn't come off with a simple green and water mixture,,by hand.. That way you get to really inspect that hull..
Then wax the bee-geevers out of it.. make it slip through the water better,, trust me,, it works..

Yep absolutely, or now would be the time to buy your own pressure washer..