Have I endangered my mast or my chain?

[Greenheart]

I've left my mast chained to the fence at the boat-park, while I work on the hull. The mast is secured with waterproof padlocks...but the chain is galvanised steel, and so is the fence. So...assuming it's damp there, which metal will suffer? (I've no idea what my mast is, but it's not carbon or wood!)

How rapid is the deterioration?

 

[Seajet]

Dan,

our club has a large galvanised steel rack, where dinghy and cruiser masts are stored horizontally - some very expensive kit and I suspect some thought went into it, I've never seen or heard of any corrosion problems.

I expect your mast is anodised alloy, probably a Proctor; it might not be wise to leave it like you have for a very long period, but I'm sure it will be fine for now.

 

[prv]

For a few months? At worst you might get some rusty stains.

Pete

 

[VicS]

I've left my mast chained to the fence at the boat-park, while I work on the hull. The mast is secured with waterproof padlocks...but the chain is galvanised steel, and so is the fence. So...assuming it's damp there, which metal will suffer? (I've no idea what my mast is, but it's not carbon or wood!)

How rapid is the deterioration?

Id guess that the mast is anodised aluminium. Provided the galvanising of chain and fence is sound I not expect any corrosion issues but I would try to protect the anodising from physical damage. Some pieces of wood cable-tied to the fence perhaps and run the chain though a piece of plastic tubing

 

[Greenheart]

Thanks gents. :encouragement: