Hello - I have my 1985 45' PleasureCraft out for general maintenance on the engine, and the owner of the yard where I am having the work done said that I should have a recoat for the pontoons because electrolosis is coroding the original coat, and the pontoons will soon start to pit and get holes in them. Of course this is a $5000 job... I understand the problem and don't doubt that is is occuring to some degree, but I don't know if it is something that needs to be addressed. Does anyone know of a method of looking at aluminum and deciding if/when it needs to be recoated? The original coat is black, and it is fading in places, but how long is that coat supposed to last?
Any info would be helpful. Of course I want my boat to last a long time, but I also don't want to have a $5000 "recoat" done if it isn't really necessiary.
Thanks,
Chris

Eelectrolosis doesn't attack the coating on your pontoons. It can attack the _meta_l where the coating is worn away.

When were talking electrolosis in most cases were talking stray current coorosion. You would be farther ahead to eleminate the sources of stray current damage.

Many Aluminum boats are not painted in fresh water.

Now lets talk about 5k for recoating your pontoons. In 03 I had the bottom on my 55 Pluckebaum sand blasted and 2 coats of Coal Tar epoxy applied for $2540 at Lee Spry Marine in Iuka Ms. They did an incredible job. You might want to shop around.

http://www.yandina.com/electrolysis.htm

http://www.yandina.com/galvanicIsolator.htm

I don't know much about the coating, frankly I would leave the aluminum bare. But galvanic corrosion is caused by stray dc currents in the water and hull. I would goo through my electrically system. Check all the connections to make sure they are good, and to make sure there is no DC going to the hull.  Of course if your boat sits in a marina, it could be the marina or the boat next to you causing the problem, but check out your own boat and make sure it isn't the cause.

OHB and Elke are very right on this. The price is way to high and will not correct the problem. The problem is either the boats close by the marina or you boat. Sounds like reverse polarity somewhere. Tell them I will do your pontoons for $2000 including lift and paint.

What did you do about the problem?

I didn't have the work done. I have looked at my electric system and think the problem is probably from the marina/boats near me. I had the soft _meta_l conductors on the motor (I can't remember what they are called) replaced when I had the boat out, about 4 months ago, and they are already pitted and rough. So I do see the problem but am not convinced it needs to be addressed now. Maybe in the winter...

thanks for the interest!

Keep a sharp eye out