As part of my electronics upgrade I am going to have to take down my mast in order to install a wind/speed/direction device (Tried pulling the new cable through the mast but it wouldn't go.)
While its down, I want to touch up the bottom couple of inches of the mast where the paint has corroded a little because of the small amount of water that collects at the base. I don't know what paint to use for this purpose. I wonder if someone could advise me of the steps that I need to follow to get a good job that will last and what materials I will need, or perhaps point me to a site that has this information. I don't know what is on the mast now and what might be compatible.
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Paul Meyers
1986 Catalina 36
Hull #615
Ventura, California
Paul, if the mast is white, I've found a can of enamel spray paint from ACE Hardware (my favorite boating store) works just fine. I made the mistake of getting flat paint, but have done touchups all over our mast and boom over the years and the difference is hard to see. Buy the "shiny" finish and it'll look great.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Thanks Stu,
Maybe I'm trying to hard. I thought that maybe I had to use alwgrip or interlux But, I think that you right, for the touch up I want to do and where it is a coat or two of a good quality enamel would probably work fine.
Paul Meyers
1986 Catalina 36
Hull #615
Ventura, California
Hard to say exactly what is the right touch up but if there is corrosion or scale then maybe a little more complicated solution should be used. This would be what would be done in the aircraft industry.
Remove all scale and corrosion, a dremmel with wire brush works well. With metal shiny and polished apply an aluminum pre-coat immediatly, allow to cure as per instructions. Then a thin coat of zinc-chromate primer, allow to dry. Color coat of your choice. This should arrest the corrosion but any disimalar metal fittings should be removed and cleaned then re installed using a corrosion inhibiting coating. This is really only time consuming in that you have to come back on subsequent days to let the various coats dry
Neil Roach
"Crewless"
1992 36, Mark I
Hull # 1174
Seattle