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Often overlooked on bass trailers, shiny diamond plates can make a huge difference to the look of your boat.
Think about what we put boat trailers through. We frequently dip them in and out of dirty water, drive them on slippery or muddy roads, and back them up into poorly maintained boat ramps. After a few years of this abuse, your diamond plates will look very unsightly. They will turn a dull gray and lose all their shine.
I have to admit, I’ve owned this boat for 10 years now and this weekend was my first time polishing it, so I’m not preaching to anyone. But after polishing, I was surprised to see how much better this 20 year old boat looked.
My diamond plates were particularly dirty, so it took me about thirty minutes to clean each plate. The length of the process will depend on your situation.
Over the years, I have tried many different chrome polishes to clean the tool boxes in my trucks. They are effective, but time consuming, and the black residue is difficult to remove, which reduces the shine.
A friend recommended that I try Pro-Tec Nu-Paint moisturizer. While I use it regularly on gelcoat with great results, using it on chrome sounds a little weird. But I tried it and can honestly say: it works better than any chrome polish I’ve ever used. In minutes, it removes decades of neglect and oxidation, leaving behind a mirror-like finish.
Wool polishing pad for drill Terry cloth, microfiber cloth or soft rag ProTech Nu-Paint moisturizer Dusting cloth
I applied Nu-Paint Moisturizer directly to the diamond plate. If your diamond plate is as dirty as mine, don’t be afraid to apply it generously for the first few rounds. Before you start working with the polishing pad, start spinning the drill slowly to distribute the product across the diamond plate. This will reduce any wobble.
I don’t think it’s possible to “over polish” a diamond plate, so I usually polish each section for a minute or two. You’ll notice a greasy black coating on the diamond plate and wool buffing pad. This means it’s working – and that’s perfectly normal.
This is when you will really feel the difference. After a few minutes, turn off the drill and take a clean rag to wipe off the black residue. Don’t panic if the mirror doesn’t look like a mirror after the first time. It will take a few cycles before you see the diamond plate as good as new, especially if your drill is as dirty as mine.
If you feel it is necessary, you can dampen the cloth to remove the black film. I do not recommend using products containing ammonia, as it can oxidize the diamond plate. Just use plain water.
After three rounds of the above treatments, I was amazed at how much better my trailer looked. Also, my entire boat looks cleaner, as for the first time since owning it, I can see the reflection of the diamond plates in the gel coat.
I highly recommend that you find a chair and sit down. The entire journey can take several hours, and if you bend over the whole time, your back will hurt.
Place a rag or old towel on your lap. I ruined a pair of trousers by shaking black residue off them with a polishing machine. My wife is very unhappy, and your wife may be unhappy too.
Do not use foam polishing pads. Foam polishing pads can tear when in contact with the rough edges of the diamond plates. Wool pads are more durable and less expensive.
Walker Smith is an experienced tournament angler and former fishing guide whose articles have been published in numerous national and regional publications for over a decade. His articles and videos have been viewed by millions of people. He is passionate about teaching others how to fish and understanding the human element in the process. When he is not fishing, he enjoys spending time with his wife and family, watching the Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs, and hunting.
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