Painting over mast anodising

[Iain C]

My rig is coming down this winter, and I'd quite like to smarten it up a bit. It's almost 40 years old, and the gold anodising is wearing very thin. It just looks a bit tatty and lets the boat down, plus the anodising cannot be giving it as much protection as when it was new.

Any ideas of how to resurrect it? (short of re-anodising!)

I guess the obvious one is paint it, if so, what with, and what prep work is required?

If I did paint it, would it be OK to change the colour to silver, or would it chip very easily back to the original gold anodising?

Thanks!

 

[Lakesailor]

Seems like a rod for your own back. Not a route I'd want to follow on a mast.

 

[Ludd]

Can't advise,but my previously gold mast had been painted black(professionally) when I bought the boat in 2004. Got a few chips after quite intensive use in that time(probably more than average use) but still looks good.
Looks like black enamel.
Why not try doing a bit round the mast foot,see how it looks?

 

[exfinnsailor]

Be easier to break it than paint it IMHO

 

[SHUG]

I have used Hammerite Smooth Silver spray paint to patch up a silver anodised mast. The results match up well and the paint is very durable.No prep. other than a rub with fine wet and dry and its easy to maintain.

 

[Billjratt]

Lots of upmarket boats have painted spars, mostly white, in my experience.
I think there is an extensive preparation process, which makes the whole thing worthwhile in the end.
I believe a professional job will repay the cost difference over the ensuing years.

 

[ianfr]

Mast painting

Hi

I painted my previous boat mast after a quick rub down with wet and dry.

2 Coats Hammerite Special Metals primer. (Water based)
2 Coats Hammerite smooth Silver.

After 3 years still looks fine apart from the odd chip here and there which is easily touched up.

Regards

Ian

 

[wot]

Re-anodise it with alocrom 1200: http://shop.trimite.com/brush-alocrom-1200-kits

if you do, make sure that you use deoxidine 624(also available from the same place) as a pre-treatment, after removing any bad corrosion by mechanical means using non-ferrous tools.
It's actually surprisingly easy and quick to achieve a good protective finish.
One of the main tricks is to use wetted tissue draped over non horizontal surfaces to keep the Alocrom in contact with the area to be treated.

No connection with the company above - just a lifetime (seemingly) treating corrosion on Naval Aircraft.

 

[Dipper]

My previous mast had been painted when I bought my boat 17 years ago. When odd patches had become worn or showed spots of corrosion I rubbed the areas down, primed with Hammerite Special Metals Primer and painted the whole mast with Hammerite Smooth. There is a 'proper' mast paint around but I can't remember the name. The beauty of Hammerite and the primer is that it dries so quickly.

The mast looked good for years although eventually I found corrosion underneath the spreader bracket (unrelated to the painting) and decided to get a new mast which will see me out.

If you had asked the other day, I could have shown you the cut up mast in my garage.

Edit: Wot's suggestion looks really good.

 

[Bobobolinsky]

Epoxy primer and two pack poly colour. 2K clearcoat to finish

 

[planteater]

Hi

I painted my previous boat mast after a quick rub down with wet and dry.

2 Coats Hammerite Special Metals primer. (Water based)
2 Coats Hammerite smooth Silver.

I did the same two years ago (in Gold) and it looks fine. If doing it now I would probably use Bobobolinsky's method (also recommended by Don Casey) and go for a modern looking white finish.

 

[Iain C]

Many thanks for all the ideas guys. I spoke to Trimite about the Alocrom...they were really helpful but it's better for localised areas of vanished anodising...I want to get an even finish all over. For example where the halyards have worn away the anodising, it's thin, but not gone.

So I will probably Hammerite or Smoothrite...I've never been a big fan of gold, but it will look better on a 70s cruiser than white. I think silver might be a happy compromise though!

 

[ianfr]

Iain

I agree, the gold finish looks a bit bright! The silver looks for all the world like an ordinary aluminium mast.

Here is a photo http://picasaweb.google.com/iankfrench/Eloisa#5582566976273748626

That was taken after 2 years.

Regards

Ian

 

[Searush]

Thanks for the piccy, Ian, it does indeed look good.

Ah, well, that's another job to go on the list

 

[Iain C]

Agreed, that looks the business Ian. Definitely on the list for the winter then!