Should I Worry About this Mast ?

[Tom1340]

Forum,
I am trying to buy my first salt water boat. I've read the discussions on mast paint and mast repair and am impressed (i mean intimidated) by the issues that may come into play in painting an aluminum spar. There should be an image somewhere in this posting showing one of several small pockets of corrosion on a 63 ft mast. Is this something that can be sanded off and spot painted with good results, without unstepping the mast, or will I need to plan on doing something more? Once the surface is fixed, I know to reset the stainless fittings and isolate them from the aluminum.
Thanks for comments.
Tom
ps. I expect a surveyor will be able to guide me on this, but I'm trying to get an idea of the immediate projects that will come with this boat, to help me decide if I want to go to survey.

[Cotemar]

Tom1340,

This picture just shows a minor scrape, sand and paint.
No big problems shown in that photo.

Mark

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

This picture just shows a minor scrap, sand and paint.
No big problems shown in that photo.

Agreed. All I'm seeing there is a paint problem, not a mast problem. But I'd argue that you don't need to scrap anything. (Kidding. I'm almost certain Mark meant to type "scrape" instead of scrap.)

I my boat this would be a four-step process: scrape, moan, sand and paint.

[CDunc]

Deja-vu, I just put down this months copy of cruising world magazine where I was reading an article by Steve D'Antonio about the same exact thing, he said that water got in under the paint and formed aluminum oxide which lifts the paint and allows more water to intrude eventually getting to the point where no oxygen can reach the area of water aluminum interface and then creates aluminum hydroxide, or poultice corrosion. In short bare alluminum is better but if your going to stay with the paint then you will have to be very very vigilant with the paint and in addition to isolation you will need to insure the paint is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks or any place water can enter.

[Mark1977]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Tom1340,

This picture just shows a minor scrape, sand and paint.
No big problems shown in that photo.

Mark

Nothing to worry about in the pic...

[boatman61]

Wot they said... just normal ageing... remove fittings sand prime and paint... don't foget to 'isolate' fitting when replacing

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Wot they said... just normal ageing... remove fittings sand prime and paint... don't foget to 'isolate' fitting when replacing

"Isolation" can be done simply with a product called "Lan-0-cote" or "Tuf-gel" - both are used by coating the connector - screw or rivet before final attachment.

[senormechanico]

Be glad those fittings are screwed in.
I have seen ones with rivets. Mine for example.
I'm glad I don't have any corrosion, but I check it a couple of times a year.
The Rainy Pacific NorthWET has some advantages.

[barnakiel]

From the picture it looks like only minor aesthetics. Sand, brush, prime, paint.

Use some sort of isolating compound when re-setting the screws. I used DuraLac and it was great but there are other goos one can use.

b.

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by osirissail

"Isolation" can be done simply with a product called "Lan-0-cote" or "Tuf-gel" - both are used by coating the connector - screw or rivet before final attachment.

That's Tef-Gel or Tefgel

[Snore]

Tom

Thanks for posting this. I had the same question and posted I under monhulls, but failed to get photos for the forum to look at!

Bill