Tarnished Aluminium frames on 70's fairline and other questions.

[jacobjohn7]

Please bare with me as I have several queries with regards to doing up a project boat, more detailing than anything, but getting it to stage where I can detail it will be good.. feel a bit obsessed and desperate for answers/help ... here goes

1. Aluminium frames on 70's fairline, some more tarnished than others... some with sticky residue on of left over pulled off 'gaffer'? tape.. I've been using brasso as a starter from rec's I have had, any other ideas to remove heavier tarnishing and slight rusting stain around screw heads on front screen.
want to get these back to full 'shiny' glory. Hope I can. Ideas please.. brillo? other pad?.. thank, any help appreciated.

2. Old fixing for side openers have come off or snapped with the screw fixings still into the fibreglass? have some of the original bits and pieces, would it be good to just get new sets of locks... but the main question is if I take out the original screws from out of fibreglass side and bearing in mind its an old boat.. will there be something to screw into, prob not just an hole, but how would you create something of substance to screw into so that its secure once fixed. Any help appreciated.

3. The canopy area is prob the original, its more or less intact and is not far off as it prob ever has been on the sides. But the top has had wear and has gradually lost most of its covering whatever it was.. looks like a vinyl type covering on fabric. I have on order a renovo set with blue colouring and restorer etc. but have a feeling the restorer wont be substantial enought as from the inside there is bits of light where bits have got flaky and thin. Is there a product that kind of pastes on thicker like a rubber compound in blue to restore the top that way? thanks, and brilliant ideas appreciated.

4. White bodywork of boat... I have on order some rec'd product G3 compound for removing and residue etc (not sure how much it will take out) then intend to to use an auto glym type resin polish... but with this going onto what is now a matt body work what is the rec'd technique to get some shine back to the body - if at all possible? or is a new gel coating needed to paint on before this to get the shine back?

5. top opening vent just above sleeping qtrs in bow... this is fibreglass with no gaskets and when I was washing looks like it was letting in water easy, may be different with rain coming down, and product/suggestions for making a better seal? maybe just simply a bead of silicone round the apperture into boat... or rubber gasket that hangs down stuck round the inner sides of top vent piece

Think that should keep me going for a while I hope some people can help out! Thanks all.

 

[vas]

hi there,

not sure how bad the condition of all these assemblies is, photos would be nice btw, I'll try and pass on some info I got off probably the best polisher/chrome plater (if that's a decent way of describing his profession...) in Athens.

Having a set of alluminium cone bases for the railings on my 75 or so Versilcraft Mystere at hand, went to him asking what I could do to get them shinny again...

Now, seems that all alloy bits on boats (as well as cars, bikes, pushbikes, etc) are anodised.
Once 20-30years have gone, this anodising is worn out at places, badly scored, scratched you name it.
Your options are:

chemical cleaning and chrome plating == cr4p, as once you bolt it back on any stress on holes, touching other material whatever, will slowly crack the plating which in the following 3-4years will start flaking.

chemical cleaning and powder coating = depending on what it is and where it fits, may be an option

chemical cleaning and anodising again = the real way to go, BUT:
got to do all the bits in one go as colour matching is an issue, unless we are talking about the best of the best artist...
highly unlikely it matches other stuff around.

In a few words, if there's great damage you've had it, you either go for anodizing and pray it works out, else you get into the eternal polishing business.

Would be nice to have a few pics to be able to judge. Pics from my rough bits can be seen in the rebuilt thread

cheers

V.

 

[jacobjohn7]

cheers vas, see my profile for pics of boat... ta.
John

 

[zapcat]

How I wish I was lucky enough to have tarnished frames! Ive had two quotes for a new windscreen for my Triana - £3000 + and £1,800 ish!

I did have the same problem though with an old TVR with ally window frames. I started with wet & dry to get rid of worst corrosion, then worked down to wire wool, then fine valve grinding paste, then T-Cut then polish - took a while but worked really well.

 

[jfm]

I can't see any pics in your profile - sorry if I'm looking in worng place

1. The rust stains are often most easily removed by painting on a rust remover. Has consistency of water, paint on with brush, rinse off after 10 mins

2. When you remove the studs for the canopy from the GRP bodywork, you might be able to re-use the same holes. If you can get to inside you can put a plywood pad in. If none of that works, fill them wish glass then white gelcoat and polish off, then drill new holes. You can get new canopy fixings from mail order firms like boyriven, www.seascrew.com, asap supplies, Tomer+Hayter, and many more

3. It sounds like you need a whole new canvas making. Sunbrella is a good material. This is unfortunately a £1000-ish job

4. Sounds good. Plenty on here are exoopert in this and will advise

5. It sounds like you need a rubber gasket. Find out the profile and buy from wilks or www.seascrew.com or one of those types of suppliers. Or if you just need rectangular section neoprene gasket, self adhesive, you can buy that from loads of car restore websites

Good luck, and post some pics if possible.

 

[jacobjohn7]

How I wish I was lucky enough to have tarnished frames! Ive had two quotes for a new windscreen for my Triana - £3000 + and £1,800 ish!

I did have the same problem though with an old TVR with ally window frames. I started with wet & dry to get rid of worst corrosion, then worked down to wire wool, then fine valve grinding paste, then T-Cut then polish - took a while but worked really well.

------------------------
Thanks for that really good advice i'll give it a try.

 

[jacobjohn7]

I can't see any pics in your profile - sorry if I'm looking in worng place

1. The rust stains are often most easily removed by painting on a rust remover. Has consistency of water, paint on with brush, rinse off after 10 mins

2. When you remove the studs for the canopy from the GRP bodywork, you might be able to re-use the same holes. If you can get to inside you can put a plywood pad in. If none of that works, fill them wish glass then white gelcoat and polish off, then drill new holes. You can get new canopy fixings from mail order firms like boyriven, www.seascrew.com, asap supplies, Tomer+Hayter, and many more

3. It sounds like you need a whole new canvas making. Sunbrella is a good material. This is unfortunately a £1000-ish job

4. Sounds good. Plenty on here are exoopert in this and will advise

5. It sounds like you need a rubber gasket. Find out the profile and buy from wilks or www.seascrew.com or one of those types of suppliers. Or if you just need rectangular section neoprene gasket, self adhesive, you can buy that from loads of car restore websites

Good luck, and post some pics if possible.

-------------------------------
thanks for the advice, appreciated. But not sure if you've misunderstood this particular post.. or maybe its me being dozy ;o) but the canopy holes/fixings are fine. Its the alu side top opening windows to both sides of main living/sleeping area. the fixings have snapped off, the are those winding nut type lockers. cheers