Metal sticks tricks

[billyfish]

I'm new to selden masts. I know how to varnish wooden ones, and miss it a bit . But now have one that's been up for 15 years looking gruppy, I was planning on hot soapy water for a good scrub, anything else to do, coat with anything?

 

[dansaskip]

A good wax polish once its clean

 

[jwilson]

Toothbrush round cracks and crevices, small bottlebrush to run up and down inside luff groove, followed by a spray of McLube into groove

 

[billyfish]

What's mc lube . I have silicone spray

 

[Wing Mark]

A drop of oil or some other anti-corrosion around every fastener and fitting.
Strip, clean and sort out any sheaves or other moving parts which don't work nicely.
A coat of wax polish all over.
I use a cheap wax with teflon on the luff tracks.

It's worth cleaning the halyards first, as it's amazing how much dirt can come out of a wet rope when it goes around a sheave.

 

[jwilson]

What's mc lube . I have silicone spray

McLube Sailkote. A better dry lubricant than silicone.... Expensive but works really well. Race boats who want everything to work as well as possible use lots of it.