Re: [Cal_Boats] Restoring Mast

If leaving Aluminum unpainted will cause mast failure, then I would take that to mean that ANY aluminum is doomed to quickly corrode and fail if left unpainted (or unanodized). Well, someone better tell the USCG about that VERY quick!! Very few of their new 47' Motor Lifeboats (the workhorse rescue boats that have replaced the old 44' MLB) are painted! Most, if not all of them are bare aluminum hulls and superstructure, and I would very much doubt that the aluminum is fully anodized. A lot of aluminum fishing boat used mostly in salt water are bare aluminum.....and I'm referring to custom-built small COMMERCIAL Fishing boats, not just the typical aluminum fishing skiff! Rowley Skiffs, a company that used to be on the North Shore of Massachusetts, built quite a few (hundreds, perhaps thousands) of welded aluminum boats over the years any very few were painted, I have never heard of any of those boats failing due to massive breakdown of the aluminum. Rod Johnson, "SUNBIRD" 1979 O'DAY DS II (Former Co-owner of "NODROG", 1970 CAL 21) PS: NODROG's mast was not anodized as far as I know, and it was still in great shape after 38 years of saltwater sailing when we sold her last year! On Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:35:06 -0700 Allen Edwards <al… [at] PaloAltoPhoto.com> writes: Just for the record, that is what I would do if it were my boat. Leaving it raw aluminum will probably end in mast failure in the not to distant future plus it will start to turn white from the aluminum oxide within a few days and will look like hell in no time. If you want to do it yourself, then alodine followed by marine paint would be the way to go. The money is no issue solution is to anodize it. Allen On Fri, Jul 17, 2009 at 6:48 AM, biggs dave <im… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: Chris, The previous owner of my boat did all the sanding on my mast but had a professional yard (Svendsons, Alamada, Ca) do the actual final prep and spray painting. It still looks pretty damn good 15 years later. I think this is the way to go. Svend's chandlary (510-521-8454) is also extremely helpful to do-it-yourselfers. Best to call them on weekdays when they have more free time. Dave 80 Cal 35, Runnin Late Coyote Pt, SF Bay From: chris.bowen28 <ck… [at] wavecable.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:09:38 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Restoring Mast Hi All, I have been restoring my little Cal 20, and am just about done. I am now working on the mast and have sanded it with 220 and 320 and then steel wool and it now looks great, however I am wondering if there is something I should be treating it with to protect the aluminum? Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? Thanks Chris Bowen San Francisco Pelican #2298 Cal 20 #65 Camano Island,Wa. Click now and enjoy a fantastic vacation in the wine country. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTHhwhkupG8ieWMn3QIj5HSmVbQxe5X1nxA2GJN9V6b0Y7oBFIur8c/