OPINIONS PLEASE....Pontoon Boat Log Sealing!

[Krazymaan]

Thats a great color for the pontoon.

[NICE PAIR]

3 coats of Durabak "Smooth" Light Grey today! It took 1-1/2 Gal so far to get to here on 25" x 24' long logs!
I'll prolly add more tomorrow if the weather lets me and then the clean-up begins!!

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[WillySteve]

Finished up today....Things you'll need to know if you ever use this stuff!

The best and IMO the only thinner to use for this stuff is XYLENE.
It's what you use if you're thinning it to spray OR after the gallon can is open after several hours.
2-3 coats is all you'll need after using a Metal Etching Primer to prep the Aluminum.
If you use a brush it will dry up and become unusable after a couple'a hours....There is NO cleaning it after it begins to harden....OR Anything Else!!!
A Small Nap Roller works really well, (as does those foam rollers), and can be used continuously but take it off the roller handle before it starts to dry or you'll be throwing away roller and all!
Even with xylene you are hard pressed to get this stuff off of your skin once it starts to dry, (or anything else), so Do It Quick and enjoy a TOUGH, Flexible, Almost Indestructible Polyurethane coating on your Pontoon Logs....OR ANYTHING ELSE!!!!

[W2F a V-King]

Does this have an activator, like MEK to poly or just gets nasty cured by exposure to air?

Sounds like it's a done deal !!!

[WillySteve]

Does this have an activator, like MEK to poly or just gets nasty cured by exposure to air?

Sounds like it's a done deal !!!

It cures from moisture in the air similar to a Silicon!
If it's a hot humid day it dries to the touch in 30-45 min after applied.

I forget if I mentioned it but years back I was removing the bed from a customer's pickup which had a spray in liner and the guy didn't put tape over the Bed Bolts. After an hour or more of doing my best to cut that stuff away enough to insert a Torx head socket I finally got out the torch and melted it enough to get it done.
I've since put a piece of masking tape over the head of every bolt that might someday need to be removed. It sticks and stays fine. You'd never know the tape is there but then will cut away easy if needed because it's stuck to the tape, not the bolt head!

[WillySteve]

FYI: I forgot to mention it took 2 gallons to cover the pair of 25"x24' logs with 3 coats, brushing the corners and using a roller on the rest!
A short nap roller leaves a small textured finish but looks nice and the peace of mind is priceless!
Also, the Light Grey color almost looks like new pontoons from a distance.

[David - WI]

Probably be about 10 mph faster with that fine textured finish... you're gonna be a millionaire (if you don't tell anybody how you did it).

[WillySteve]

"UPDATE"
OK guys, I've had these logs covered for several Months now and I can give you a conclusive reply!
From the 1st time I reached top speed I had some bed liner peel back from the nose of the logs, (BTW, top speed was not affected)!
Our beaches are all small river rock and the sharp edges of the stones cut the liner enough to get water under the liner when at speed.
Having a gallon of BL left, I proceeded to re paint the affected areas. This also didn't last long so next step was to sand the frontal areas with 80 grit and re apply!
This has been holding up good as long as I don't beach the boat!
The back approx. 4/5th of the logs have been holding up really well since day one.
Conclusion: Were to do it again, I would sand the entire area which I was going to cover with 80 grit and then use the Priming/Etching solution and then apply!
BTW, still no water in the logs!
Hope this answers some questions!
WS

[stokernick]

Interesting post. I have a relic paddleboat that should have gone to the landfill but through the years I've fiberglassed many holes, etc. to keep it alive. This year after redoing the front sponsons thought I was ready for another season, well after launching noticed I had a potential submarine! Pulled it out, drained it and looked for voids, but other than a few few cracks, etc. nothing major.Went to Walmarts to buy some 5200 and stumbled upon Flexseal Marine, $12.99, WTF, so made the purchase and gave it a shot. Did it work? Hell yes, boat is high and dry, I'm a happy camper!!

[olboatman]

WillySteve Thanks for the update and there ya have it ......its all about prep, prep and prep! I use bed liner paint on my plow truck and have found the same thing. Gary

[V-bottom]

I am glad to hear it is holding up well. I was afraid to take the risk on refinishing my tubes as you did and had some new ones manufactured. I also added a third centre tube. What a difference now in stability and performance

[rayayork]

Hi WilleySteve, I know this is an old thread but I am looking to seal my pitted toons on my Tritoon and wondered how the Durabak held up in the long term for you? Thanks

[WillySteve]

Not well!
I spent alot of time prepping the alum with etching and it still didn't adhere well in several places. I'm thinking if it were prepped with maybe #80 grit and then cleaning and etching it would grip much better.
My problem was when I pulled up to a gravely bank it would cut into the liner and then peel off when going across the water as it would get under the liner. The areas 1/2 way and up the tubes have stayed on real well but I have to keep redoing the bottoms. I have not spent the time to really prep them again, but it's in my future.
Read thread #38, l I really don't think you can keep it on if you're beaching the toon.

[rayayork]

Not well!
I spent alot of time prepping the alum with etching and it still didn't adhere well in several places. I'm thinking if it were prepped with maybe #80 grit and then cleaning and etching it would grip much better.
My problem was when I pulled up to a gravely bank it would cut into the liner and then peel off when going across the water as it would get under the liner. The areas 1/2 way and up the tubes have stayed on real well but I have to keep redoing the bottoms. I have not spent the time to really prep them again, but it's in my future.
Read thread #38, l I really don't think you can keep it on if you're beaching the toon.

Thanks much for the quick reply. I don't really beach the pontoon but it is in the water from May to September and I have to top coat with ablative paint.
New pontoons are in the future but hoped to get another season out of the current ones. Thanks again!

[99fxst99]

I had a shipyard apply Duraback to a steel deck on a Navy living barge years ago. Went down great, looked great, but came up in sheets a few weeks later. This stuff is very sensitive to how its applied (prep, temp, humidity, etc). The rep replaced it all and the shipyard reapplied it, but I have been leery of it since for marine applications. I do know, however, of a Jeep that was interior coated with it successfully.