Muriatic acid has been used in marinas and detail shops in the United States for decades now. It does work really well for cleaning aluminum pontoons and boat bottoms.
But should you use it, is it dangerous, and will it damage your pontoon boat?
I wanted to find out, and you can read below what I found out.
For full disclosure, I have never cleaned my pontoons with muriatic acid, but have done a lot of online research and asked in forums about how best to use it.
After my research, I decided that I would never use this stuff based on what I’ve read.
I’m going to tell you why below, all based on my own personal preference and what I have discovered.
Cleaning Pontoons with Muriatic Acid
Muriatic acid is a highly corrosive substance, and in the wrong hands can not only eat away at softer aluminum but can also be very dangerous to the person using it. Especially if they aren’t comfortable using chemicals and don’t apply common sense.
But pontooners still do use it, and here are just a few comments I received after posing the question “have you tried cleaning aluminum pontoons with muriatic acid” and what was your experience? Here’s a sample of the top responses.
“I’ve been using muriatic acid for years to clean my pontoons. I just dilute the spray and rinse it off immediately and it works great for me! Detailers and marinas around my area have used it for years. Unless you’re an idiot you will be fine!”
“I don’t recommend it. Muriatic acid can permanently etch and damage the aluminum pontoons, even causing the metal to darken and turn black. Just the opposite of what you are looking to achieve.”
“Muriatic acid will cause stainless steel to rust, but I still use it on my pontoon boat, just very carefully and rinse thoroughly. I find that by using a water hose with a spray nozzle and rinsing from the top down helps, using a pressure washer runs the risk of splattering on the rails.”
“Muriatic acid cleans aluminum pontoons really well. Just be careful if you go down that route, dilute properly, and pressure wash immediately. I use muriatic to remove the growth, and then Napa aluminum brightener to remove oxidation. Then finish with aurora bottom coat to limit future growth.”
“It will burn through your clothes and is really hardcore stuff. I used to gasp and hold my breath when using muriatic acid, but I used it because it works great! Wear Tyvek coveralls, gauntlet rubber gloves taped to the suit, rubber boots with the suit outside the boots, safety glasses and most of all, a respirator with organic vapour cartridges. Then clean away and neutralize with plenty of water when finished.”
“This stuff works brilliantly, but it’s very strong. At full strength it’s as strong as battery acid and will burn through anything, and even melt plastics as I found out to my cost.”
Can you see a pattern emerging here?
From the feedback I have received, yes, cleaning pontoons with muriatic acid before you polish works really well.
But, the risks and complexity involved puts someone like me off. I have never been comfortable using chemicals, and don’t feel that this type of project is one that would sit well with me.
How to Clean Pontoons Using Muriatic Acid
What if you still do want to clean aluminum pontoons with muriatic acid? Here are my tips based on what other people have given me as feedback.
- Dilute at least to 4-parts water and 1-part acid.
- Wear protective clothing, gloves, and a respirator mask at all times.
- Stand down wind when spraying.
- Don’t let any kids or pets near the boat.
- Rinse down with water immediately after cleaning.
Don’t take this as reliable advice, as I have never done it myself.
If you are proficient and comfortable with chemicals and acids, I am sure it would be no problem for you based on the great cleaning results.
But for an average guy like myself, I am not going to even attempt to clean my aluminum pontoons with this stuff.
What to Do Instead: A Safer Method
What I have done in the past is use a product called Star Brite. It’s an aluminum cleaner that will brighten up pontoon tubes, but it’s nowhere near as toxic.
It uses a combination of weaker acids as far as I know, plus some other ingredients including surfactants and inhibitors. It’s never damaged my aluminum pontoons, and has removed oxidization, water stains, and other debris with no corroding after effects.
Yes, I don’t believe it will work as well as muriatic acid does, but I am comfortable using it with no concerns for getting it wrong.
To apply the stuff, use a cheap pump sprayer, and follow these steps:
- Spray or hose water onto your aluminum pontoons.
- Test the Star Brite on a hidden patch on the rear underside of a tube.
- If good, spray over a patch that you will be working on.
- Leave for 5 minutes.
- Hose off with clean water.
- Repeat.
Read the instructions though so you’re comfortable with each step.
I’ve also spoken to other pontoon boat owners who use a product called NAPA metal cleaner. As with muriatic acid, I’ve not used it to clean my pontoons, but the feedback I’ve heard has been really good – so worth a look – I believe it’s also made by Star Brite though, so could actually be an identical product.
Conclusion
If you’re comfortable using muriatic acid on your pontoon, then you’re going to get really good results.
I am not comfortable doing so, hence my use of Star Brite.
You might not get the results you want when using it, but I would definitely try it first before you go down the acid route.
