Mast care
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- Rank: Lubber
- Registered: Jul 21, 2016
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Posted: Nov 05, 2016 - 11:26 PM
So I'm starting to get the usual pits on the aluminum of my hobie getaway mast. Is there something you guys do to keep your mast from getting crappy? I thought about carnuba wax but I'm wondering if there is a good reason not to do that? I'm in the process of making a cover so hope that will help -
- Rank: Master Chief
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Posted: Nov 07, 2016 - 10:20 AM
i normally wouldn't suggest waxing any area where you stand (deck lids and under tramp where you stand during a capsize/righting), nor a mast due to the grip you need on it.. but i am not sure about your mast weight... may not be as big of an issue
I would simply clean after use, and if it gets real bad... repaint -
- Rank: Mate
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Posted: Nov 07, 2016 - 09:20 PM
What exactly are the "usual pits" on a mast? I don't think excessive pitting on a mast is a normal condition.
You may get some corrosion around stainless fittings and you may get dings where the jib blocks slap against the mast during a tack, but if the mast as a whole is getting pitted, then I would say there's probably a problem with anodize. I doubt a coat of wax would be a lasting solution.
sm -
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Posted: Nov 08, 2016 - 10:37 AM
That was my thought exactly.
Pure aluminum oxidizes, ("rusts"), even faster than iron. In fact so quickly that it would be useless for most applications. Oxygen, naturally is short 1 electron, and it wants it back, not tomorrow, or next week, but right now. O2 is the biggest bully in the 'Hood, & AL is a 98lb weakling, it gives it up right away.
The saving grace is that the resulting aluminum oxide is impervious to oxygen, preventing any further transfer, hence preventing corrosion.
Most extrusions are further protected by anodizing, which also allows coloring of the part, & prevents the nasty habit of bare aluminum to stain your hands.
There are literally thousands of masts/beams etc that have been sitting outside for 30+ years now, with no pitting. The color on the anodizing will fade, but you should not see pitting.
Dogboy referred to galvanic corrosion, where 2 dissimilar metals become a low voltage battery,(saltwater being the driver), forcing the less noble metal to slowly dissolve. That can only be stopped/prevented by separating the 2 metals via a physical barrier, ie tape, grease etc.
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Posted: Nov 10, 2016 - 10:35 AM
MN3, no idea why waxing a mast is a problem. You never grip it. If you are, you are doing something wrong, or at the least I hope SHE is doing something very, very wrong!!!
I wax my masts but this is a better choice on a painted mast vs. anodized. I can't say doing so on an anodized mast has provided any benefit!
My suggestion is to scotchbright the pits and use a black paint pen. I've had good luck with a $20 can of rustoleum appliance enamel black for use in filling minor scratches in the anodization etc. Most folks just use a sharpie to help restore color.
I've considered using a metal polish (we have some at work we use for polishing aluminum molds surfaces) on the mast but not sure how that would mix with an anodized part. -
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Posted: Nov 10, 2016 - 01:09 PM
I believe he was referring to when you grip the mast during raising & lowering it. A waxed mast would be slippery and therefore hard to hold on to which could cause it to be dropped.
sm
