Is painting or anodizing aluminum mast/ battens necessary?

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  • 09 May 2018 22:30
    Reply # 6146169 on 5881827

    Oooh - exciting, David.  Please put your mast in the bridgedeck: I've been dying to see a cat rigged in this way.  You'd possibly be looking at a split junk rig, in this case.  What fun.  Another builder!

  • 09 May 2018 21:36
    Reply # 6146089 on 6144983
    Deleted user
    Annie Hill wrote:

    Your new boat project, David? Are you keeping something from us? ;-)

    Have just purchased plans for a Bernd Kohler Eco 6 catamaran and hopefully picking up a load of plywood in the next couple of weeks. This is not necessarily a replacement for Footprints, but more of a creative project for myself, and something at the opposite end of the spectrum of what Footprints is.

    So, thinking about rig options, mast materials etc. The design is for a conventional sloop rig but it would be nice to go to some sort of junk, or alternative rig. There would be enough bury for a freestanding mast in the bridge deck. Or maybe a mast in each hull? Whatever I do I need to keep the weight to a minimum, and I want to retain the performance that the boat will be capable of.

  • 09 May 2018 11:39
    Reply # 6144991 on 6144958
    David Thatcher wrote:

    In New Zealand we have a product called Nyalic, which I imagine is an international product. 

    That's interesting. A quick search shows that it's a US product, with distributors in other countries. In the UK, that would be http://www.safeproductsltd.co.uk/nyalic/

    Er, yes ... new boat project??

  • 09 May 2018 11:00
    Reply # 6144983 on 5881827

    Your new boat project, David? Are you keeping something from us? ;-)

  • 09 May 2018 10:40
    Reply # 6144958 on 5881827
    Deleted user

    Oddly enough I was thinking about this topic today in terms of coating an aluminium mast for my new boat project. In New Zealand we have a product called Nyalic, which I imagine is an international product. It is a single pot clear coating designed for use on aluminium. It is widely used here for coating small aluminum boats, which are very popular in New Zealand. In my previous job we had a 7 meter aluminum workboat which was coated with this product and over the 7 years I had use of the boat the coating proved to be very durable. So it would be a good DIY alternative to anodising. I am not sure though just how well it would stand up to constant friction from hard surface battens if used as a mast coating.

    Last modified: 09 May 2018 10:43 | Deleted user
  • 08 May 2018 18:56
    Reply # 6143722 on 5881827
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    I have my lower aluminium mast unpainted. It does show some dark spots on my sail, but that doesn't bother me. However, I wonder if it could be an idea to prime and paint with 2-pot paint, to reduce friction. The painted top section appears to be slippier than the lower, unpainted section.

    Arne

    Last modified: 08 May 2018 18:57 | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • 08 May 2018 16:35
    Reply # 6143256 on 5881827
    Anonymous

    My aluminum mainmast is stepped in a foredeck well, where the lower end of it is routinely doused in salt water. Although it did not get a chance to progress to enough corrosion to weaken it, we were getting significant white coatings, inside and out. We painted the outside of the bottom 3 feet of the mast, and as far inside as it was possible to reach, leaving the rest of the mast bare, which has seemed fine. I also have a tanbark mainsail, so things getting black has not been a problem. We painted the top 2 feet of the mast white also, but that was mainly just for fun.

    Shemaya

  • 08 May 2018 16:18
    Reply # 6143207 on 5883453
    Deleted user
    David Tyler wrote:

    I have a dark tan sail, so the inevitable black marks don't show up too much, and don't bother me.

    Which would be better lasting to what better effect; anodizing, painting or powdercoating?

    I'm presuming the battens where they touch were covered in a softer, sacrifical material.

    Thanks

  • 01 Mar 2018 23:00
    Reply # 5884454 on 5881827

    Thanks for the feedback, I was planning on a tan or darker blue sail so will probably go with no treatment for the time being. I'll compromise though and make sure I get  battens pre-anodized to keep the staining down to a minimum.

  • 01 Mar 2018 12:29
    Reply # 5883453 on 5881827

    My untreated tapered aluminium mast was new in June 2016. Corrosion is not a problem, but there will be more discolouration or salt staining than with an anodised mast, the best option.

    I have a dark tan sail, so the inevitable black marks don't show up too much, and don't bother me. I wouldn't leave the mast untreated if the sail is going to be light coloured.

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