Polishing pitted wheel and aluminum rubrail pitting

3 posts / 0 new
Last post
TadTV
Offline
Joined: 9/17/16
Posts: 39
Polishing pitted wheel and aluminum rubrail pitting

Hi I'm considering a 1989 that has some rust pitting on the helm wheel and want to know if the wheel will shine up bright and what about those rust spots. Also will surface rust stains on bow pulpits etc come out. I don't mind some elbow equity, but I don't want to buy something I can't bring back to a good bright condition. Also the aluminum rub rail is pitted in many spots beyond polishing. I see there a replacement available at Catalina Direct- how do you bend it around the stern and bow corners?  I have seen many older Catalinas that had better rubrail aluminum.   Is that a hard project? Thanks.

 

Tad Davis
Simpler Times
1989 C-36 MK I #1004
Redondo Beach, Calif.
 

LeslieTroyer's picture
LeslieTroyer
Offline
Joined: 3/13/16
Posts: 533

I doubt the wheel will polish up.  Pulpits and stantions are  much harder and expensive to fix than the wheel.    Ask your surveyor about replacement costs and/or replating
​you can find wheels in good shape used (there is one on SBO foa a hunter for $150).  
It is an older boat (25 yrs) focus on important systems and hull/deck integrity. 

 Les

Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo 
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor. 

Commodore

 

Phil L's picture
Phil L
Offline
Joined: 1/15/08
Posts: 104

I disagree.  I do think the wheel will polish up.  Boeshield makes a product called "Rust Free" you can get at Sears and it does a remarkable job removing rust.  The pitting on the rub rail is a different story.  But one thing I decided some years ago was that I just wasn't going to be able to my '85 to look new again.  So I stopped trying.  That's not to say I don't take care of her and she looks good for her age, but there are things- like a pitted rubrail- that I'm just going to let be old.

Phil L 
Southern Cross
Channel Islands, CA
C36MKI #400

Log in or register to post comments