MOB pole getting "furry"

[Davidhoy]

I have a long fiberglass MOB pole, with attached horseshoe buoy and strobe. It's down below right now as we're buttoned up for Hurricane Dorian (though thankfully we are on the extreme edge and shouldn't see more than TS strength gusts), and I noticed it's getting very UV worn, and the FG is getting "furry". Any suggestions on how to restore it? A few thin coats of some kind of UV stable coating like polyester resin or shellac?

Regards,
David

[tkeithlu]

Certainly worth a try before paying for a replacement. First coaat needs to glue down the fur, and second then gives you a nice new surface. Have you got a pretty color in mind?

[Davidhoy]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

Certainly worth a try before paying for a replacement. First coat needs to glue down the fur, and second then gives you a nice new surface.

Figured I'd sand lightly to remove the fur, then a few thin coats or resin/shellac to fully encapsulate the pole and protect it for a few more years...

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

Have you got a pretty color in mind?

I was thinking pink, with perhaps some pastel green and blue polka dots ;-)

-David

[keepondancin]

Shellac isn't water proof. Light sanding, a coat of epoxy, and some paint. Probably a West Epoxy repair kit would be enough, but epoxy has no UV protection. Even a spray can of enamel paint.

[Sailmonkey]

I’ve had good luck with that type of fiberglass fuzzy by lightly sanding, then spray painting with rustoleum color of choice. Following the first spray, sand lightly and spray again. You may need to sand and spray 4-5 times before you’ve got a smooth UV stable pole again.

[boatman61]

Lightly sand then paint with epoxy mixed with florescent yellow dye/powder.

[Cheechako]

Epoxy is highly UV effected. It will come off in big flakes or bubbles soon. Paint it with gel coat, or LPU. I wouldn't use shellac either. Lightly sand the fur off, then coat.

[boatman61]

Thats why one uses a dye, its an inhibitor, I did my Tiki 21 hulls using 3 coats off West mixed with their black dye and in the 3yrs I owned the boat it suffered none of what you describe.

[JPA Cate]

We had one get furry like that, painted it with yellow enamel paint. Worked okay. If I were to do it again, I think I'd sprinkle it with glass beads after, so it would really catch the light if used at night and you shine a flashlight on it.

Ann

[guyrj33]

I wrapped my pole in 3M yellow electrical tape.

[Nicholson58]

Brush on thin epoxy resin. Use any topside paint to protect the epoxy. Wrap with SOLAS tape.

[dennismenace111]

Powdered aluminum mixed in the Epoxy will provide the best UV protection. You can paint over it afterwards and it will maintain its UV inhibitor qualities.

In another lifetime, I used to recover fabric covered airplanes. We used aluminum powder mixed in the dope that we brushed on polyester fabric or sometimes even cotton fabric.

Care must be taken though as its extremely flammable in powder form. When mixed in the air can be explosive. ...but then again, so was the Nitrate dope we used on the airplanes.

[a64pilot]

Many times, I’d say most often silver spray paint is clear paint with aluminum powder.

[dennismenace111]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Many times, I’d say most often silver spray paint is clear paint with aluminum powder.

Id bet that you are correct.

[Scubaseas]

I used "Flex Seal" on my mooring pick up fiberglass pole just 'cause I had some left. Very though stuff, flexible, UV proof, easy to grip and has lasted over five years now. Sanded with 400 grit and sprayed two coats.