Aluminium Toerails

[Guest]

My boat has black anodised toerails which are showing their age (20years). In some places the black has gone and natural aluminium colour shows in its place. Ideally, I would prefer silver anodising but new black would have to do if the change is impossible.
Can anyone suggest a way forward? can the anodised colour be changed? or do I have to paint them.

 

[simonjinks]

Reanodising would cost an arm and a leg, mostly in the preparation. Either prime with a self etching ally primer and repaint or replace with new ones from YS fittings now Holt Allen. Or strip and leave silver like everyone elses!

 

[Guest]

Is it possible to strip the black anodising? this sounds like the perfect solution.

 

[johnsomerhausen]

I wouldn't try stripping the black anodizing, since it would leave the toerail "inanodized" and more subject to pitting. The toerails on the boat I bought second-hand must have been fastened on a Friday for the first one and a Monday for the second one, because the port one is black anodized and the starboard one silvber anodized... The first owner told me they were both black when the boat was deliverd to him, but the starboard one slowly truned silver after a few years, so I assume the yard painted it to cover their mistake... Funny thing is, most people don't see the disparity.... I didn't in my pre-survey inspection and the surveyor didn't either, so I've things as they were.
john