Repainting / re-anodizing a black-anodized aluminium mast ?

[Boo2]

Hi,

The mast of my UFO34 sailing boat has to come down for some other work and I was wondering about having it re-finished as the black anodizing has faded in a highly visible stripey pattern which looks like carp. I saw a reference on these pages to the effect that there's a Southampton firm that have an anodizing bath that can take a complete mast at one go, anyone know who that might be ?

Otherwise its going to have to be paint and I need to know what brand of paint will stick to an aluminium mast for the greatest number of years but which doesn't cost the earth. Is Awlgrip any good in this application ? If not, what ?

Many thanks,

Boo2

 

[alahol2]

12m any good?... http://www.afcanodising.co.uk/index-6.html

 

[merlin3688]

Anodising an old mast is difficult, all fittings need to be taken off including conduits and sound deadening, any stainless left in the mast would mess up the anodising tanks, the prep work to get it ready for anodising would take a while, all old anodising needs to be removed, think you will be lucky if they can do it for you.

 

[Yngmar]

This chap had his redone professionally in Awlgrip. Came out looking rather nice, perhaps apart from the choice of colour...