Remember, everybody sees the first 10 feet, the rest of the stick is way up there and details don t matter much. Tech, all kinds. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. 41 WoodenBoat Lane All paint applications benefit from proper surface preparation, priming, and best industry paint application practices, and aluminum is no exception. At the same time I did the boom myself with International brightside or something similar and it looks better, but is not really a fair comparison as it does not get the same level of water exposure and does not have as much stainless on it. Whos got an old mast paint job in good condition and how did you do it? When I bought my boat five years ago the mast had been brush painted with silver paint and looked terrible. As a body shop owner for the last 28 years I,ll give my 2 cents, just an opinion for what it,s worth. * This figure is for work done in Sydney, Australia so does not really translate to US prices. You will be touching it up every year. As to reasons for re-painting, it sounds like it is purely aesthetic. You're sure that wax won't weigh too much? K8ERV QRZ Member QRZ Page. These high-performance paints enable boatbuilders and component manufacturers to continue to reap aluminum’s rewards, including strength, ease of fabrication, and weight savings, as well as a resistance to corrosion for interior and engineering spaces, while enhancing the alloy’s visual appeal. A wide variety of painting mast section options are available to you, such as free samples. Spray or brush a chemical conversion coating for aluminum. There would be possible side benefits to removing and replacing hardware with new Tef-gel. At some point you will be able to lift the coating off, almost in one piece, like pulling a part from a mould in reverse. Not only that, repainting a carbon mast will be substantially cheaper than doing the same to one of aluminum due to the much smaller amount of preparation required. “Liberally” means the sealant should ooze out around the entire perimeter of the hardware base, as damage to the painted surface will occur wherever hardware makes contact. Our mast and boom was originally painted black and was peeling badly. Painting an aluminium mast Back : ACTION: 1-component: 2-component (epoxy) 1 - Preparation: Degrease: Nautix SD degreaser: Nautix SD degreaser: Sand: P40 grade ... 4 - Finishing paint: 2 coats: STARLAC - 14 m²/L: L2 - 12 m²/L: L2 . Box 78 You WILL need a propane torch. The best solution is prevention; when installing hardware on painted aluminum surfaces, liberally bed with polyurethane or polysulfide sealant. We're gonna need some pictures of that to drool over, thanks. 2. The sealant prevents water intrusion, rendering the paint wound inert. I noticed that nearly all the failures occurred adjacent to a hardware installation, a fastener, a spreader, a step, or some other fitting—an area where the paint coating had necessarily been upset or breached. OK, I got an estimate for the entire job. Preparing aluminum for painting is an important step. Using these, as well as the liberal hardware bedding technique and quickly repairing damage, paint applied over aluminum can last for a decade or more. 2 years later it was already bubbling and now it looks like shit. I had the mast on my 31ft 4ksb painted about 10 years ago, spent around $11k* for all new rigging (both standing & running), paint job and some electrolysis repair (a sleeve was put in around the gooseneck) and stainless work. Have the people responsible for the painting do the final sand and prep on the mast. Then give it a heavy sanding using 60 or 80-grit sandpaper. Going on 11 years and the plastic coating is holding tight to the 22 mast.. No pealing at all. My masts are on my list this winter ( ketch ) and there old anodized masts and booms. Sounds reasonable to me. Here, the screws damaged the paint when they were installed, allowing water to migrate under the coating. Apply the stripper and let set for 30-60 minutes. 18 hours of labor and about $350 for materials (Awlgrip primer, reducers, topcoat, etc.) Sanding w 320->400->600->compound->polish->couple coats of good Teflon wax. He is the technical editor of Professional BoatBuilder, and is writing a book on marine systems, to be published by McGraw-Hill/International Marine. You might as well plan on the spreader fix while you are at it. Carbon spars start out painted or clear coated when new. There is, however, an aesthetic price for this durability. A few years later, I was managing a boatyard where painting aluminum spars was common. If you are going to go at stripping and sanding the mast yourself do yourself a couple of favors. If you do paint make sure you insulate the fittings from the mast as much as possible and use duralac or some other anti-corrosive compound on all screws. Apply the aluminum oxide primer with a soft bristled paint brush. It doesnt look very good. All Rights Reserved. 1) painting your boat does not put you in violation of voc laws,but you have to dispose of leftovers properly.2) I think 60 grit on an orbital is a bit rough.primer and paint probably won't fill … Might a new mast section, less hardware, be cost competitive and a lot less trouble? It’s virtually impossible to prevent paint from being damaged or breached at hardware installations, often even with the addition of insulators. It's aluminum (Hall Spars), painted white, but most of the paint is gone. In these areas, paint applied to the sharp edge tends to run off, making it too thin to be protective. Clean the mast with water and detergent, then rinse the mast with water. Since that time AYS has come to be one of Australia‘s largest yacht mast providers. I plastic coated my mast, boom, spare spinnaker pole, spreaders, white, all for ~650, about 8 years ago. Duralac or Tef Gel on every fastener during final assembly. Soccer, oil painting, Mediterranean cuisine. Sharp edges should be gently rounded before being painted. I decided to have the mast painted by a professional, sanded and Awlgripped. the clear coat needs to be redone ever 5 years and paint may last a little longer but mot much. I've done a few J22 masts. For your size mast and boomboat, painting would not be an overwhelming project and you may find that you like the look far better than bare aluminum. I'm in no way an expert on painting aluminum. The paint works well until it is breached, and water enters the rift. How do I paint my anodized aluminum mast? I found that once I sanded the paint off, the aluminum was flawless so I could go straight to the prime wash phase. Allow the paint to dry according to the manufacturer's recommended time. Invariably, the paint would blister, in some cases before the vessels were offloaded from delivery trailers, and warranty claims were dutifully submitted, which the builder, to its credit, promptly paid. Underneath will be lots of white powder. Apply one coat of InterProtect 2000E (Thinned 15-20% with 2316N Reducing Solvent). Once primed, painted and sealed, dull siding can be brightened up and sheeting can become a durable outdoor table, artistic retaining wall for a garden or hanging room divider for an outdoor seating area. May be cut shorter for your applicatoon. This breach could be caused by a fastener, an antenna base, a navigation light, a hinge, a lockset, a nick, or a scratch—and it could be microscopic. Should I paint the mast? Leave an aluminum mast with the paint peeling in the sun for more then a year and it is still good to go, do that to a Carbon mast and it is Carbon dust. The paint job was a 2 pack something, and included sandblasting. Sure you can paint an antenna, but you may need a very large easel. I think I may try doing the sanding myself and then have a pro do the painting. Who the f^&k waxes their mast, I mean seriously? not counting the haulout and pull. Plastic coat is similar to powder coating, it looked like a thin rubber coating. I made my own mobile antenna mast to be used with my hybrid coils and I painted the mast semi gloss black. You will pay what its worth and get what you pay for. ~20 hrs sanding / prep / reattach and $1000. 4.5" x 3" cross section. By It’s the rare marine industry professional who hasn’t come across unsightly blistered paint on aluminum surfaces. My opion is one part paint easier to touch up when needed. We are evaluating the possibility of installing a new powder paint line for aluminum extrusions and are having some doubts about the proper pretreatment for paint. Do you prime and paint prior to attaching … I want to strip the mast and paint, as re-anodizing seems out of the question. Is there any reason, other than aesthetic, to have it re-painted. I used Klean Strip KS3 Premium stripper from a big box home center. I'm assuming some will be of higher quality than others. Every new mast I step gets a wash and a wax, but thats it. Dont think you can buy that any more . " Its aluminum (Hall Spars), painted white, but most of the paint is gone. I just have the nasty task of keeping the machine that does it alive, so I've gotten to know more than I care about the process. Others who have come to similar conclusions have tried to prevent corrosion by inserting plastic or another nonmetallic bushing or insulator between the hardware and the painted aluminum structure. Painting aluminum requires a few key steps in order to create a long-lasting masterpiece. Yet the problem persisted. After you're done with them, scrub it down with Scotchbrite. The white powdery material, aluminum oxide, forms when aluminum is robbed of oxygen in a wet environment. It doesn't look very good. Daysailing, local cruising and working on them. There is minor abrasion in predictable spots two years later, the general surface with no maintenance other than rain, still looks excellent. Any alternatives to painting? Sharp edges should be gently rounded before being painted. They are designed for stripping finish from cars. If insulators are used, the surface between the insulator and the paint should be bedded. The boom is fine. The boat has just been hauled for several weeks to dry out and have the bottom re-painted. If you sand it you'll expose unanodized aluminum which will oxidize badly wherever the new paint film is nicked. A short explanation/demonstration of preparing bare aluminum using acid and conversion coating techniques in preparation for painting an aircraft skin. The mast is down. The process doesn’t stop there, as it begins anew at the interface between the paint and exposed aluminum. Subject: Mast Repaint I've been wanting to share another very successful tip with everyone. Painting Aluminium. Use these wheels in an angle grinder. Dust or older paint will make the new paint job harder to manage and maintain. You always see more damage done due to dissimilar metal corrosion and the like rather than lack of paint. I have a 1984 J22. The paint will be the barrier layer so there isn't a real need to put an additional anti corrosion paste between the aluminium, the stainless rivets and hardware (but you still can of course). It is vital to understand that paint sticks to rough surfaces. Straight and in good condition. I'm glad I'm in the process of replacing my shrouds, about $300 total. Fastener threads should be similarly treated. Fax: 207–359–8920. You will pay what its worth and get what you pay for. I wish I could say otherwise, because I hate the bloody thing, but I spend a good portion of my life dealing with a ginormous machine filled with horrible chemicals that is built for exactly this process. I think the ones on the boat when I bought it in 2007 were the originals from 1984. Remember, everybody sees the first 10 feet, the rest of the stick is way up there and details don t matter much. 26' aluminum sailboat mast. Q. Guillermo L [last name deleted for privacy by Editor] - Mexico City, Mexico About the Author: For many years a full-service yard manager, Steve now works with boat builders and owners and others in the industry as Steve D’Antonio Marine Consulting. Those areas also tend to suffer from abrasion abuse. Mast+packaging+freight=~$4800. I have a 55' black anodized sailboat mast which is badly faded and blotched by the sun. Leery of experiencing the same sort of failure, I began reviewing old spars and other painted aluminum hardware. New J22 mast on its way to TX right now. Can anyone help? It was a j-22, I did all the work, gave the shop the material with everything removed. I'll try to find them and put a link to the photos on this thread. It’s a double whammy for corrosion: The elk hide spreader boot is a hygroscopic material, attracting moisture and keeping the painted aluminum surface underneath wet and oxygen depleted. The cost for the labor and material of a nice job will be about the value of.your boat. At that point, the chemical equation changes, as moisture and aluminum, in the absence of air, are the ideal incubators for a phenomenon known as poultice corrosion. The formation of the oxide or hydroxide lifts the paint, causing the familiar and unsightly blister, which eventually falls off, exposing raw, pitted aluminum. Put the hardware back on using Tef-Gel on the fasteners - either you in 10 years or the next owner will thank you. The cost for the labor and material of a nice job will be about the value of.your boat. Poor prep is the culprit for almost every bad paint job and you don't want to go down that road if it starts to bubble or flake. It is about $20/gal. It is important to remember that when you re-install any mast hardware, the hardware and screws or rivets must be isolated from the painted aluminum. Includes spreader brackets, cleats and masthead. On the other hand, aluminum boats can become rather shabby looking after years of use so owners often want to paint them and spruce them up. Make sure you use the proper sized screwdriver for whatever bolt head you are using or you will strip the head every time. If it is in very poor shape remove it before painting. Another $100 or 3 depending on which fix you use. Ive tried to read every old post on painting aluminum mast. © 2021 Professional BoatBuilder Magazine. Looks like new mast. While it progresses slowly, once it begins it’s difficult if not impossible to arrest without removing the blistered paint, cleaning, priming, and repainting the surface. With all respect to your suggestion, I'm not going wax my mast twice a year. The powder coating is undoubtedly of better quality in terms of adherence, durability and resistance, also to mechanical stress, compared to liquid paint, but on the other hand is not comparable in terms of gloss of the paint. You will need to make sure the aluminum is free from older paint, dirt, dust and grime. Corrosion is also a problem on sharp, or unradiused, edges. Next it is time to strip all the paint off the mast, boom and spreaders. Sure you can paint an antenna. Your mast was almost certainly anodized before the original paint job. When exposed to air, oxygenated seawater, or fresh water, aluminum quickly develops a tough, transparent oxide film that is resistant to corrosion. For bedding, use a UV-resistant polyurethane sealant; for rivets (monel is preferred) or screws, most riggers use Tefgel, Tuffgel, or Duralac. Looks great for a 30 year old boat. Mast came off a 1974 26' Clipper Marine I can deliver for 75 … Aluminum doesnt like heat..its a good thing you didnt do your mast..there were some deaths as a result of scuba tanks being powder coated and exploding.I used Interlux Brightside one part poly on my mast 4 yrs ago and still no chalking or chipping..truly amazing for a one part paint..mind you we dont see a lot of sun up here. Put the stick on saw horses. Barry KU3X, Aug 13, 2019 #9. Tel: 207–359–4651 Thats $5K ever five years. Real impressed. When this happens, the aluminum pits and produces copious amounts of aluminum oxide powder or, when wet, aluminum hydroxide, which looks a bit like freezer-burned vanilla ice cream. I understand that the existing paint has to be sanded off, the hardware removed, and then the paint is applied. Do you know of any readily available primers I can use before I paint my mast with a 2-part paint? Rolll or brush bright side or similar. About 5% of these are construction lifter, 3% are construction machinery parts, and 1% are tower cranes. I think you'll wind up with a longer-lasting, more durable paint job if you chemically strip the old paint. I'll either have it repainted or do nothing. All paint applications benefit from proper surface preparation, priming, and best industry paint application practices, and aluminum is no exception. I will be pulling it in the winter and redoing it myself, the boat probably only has another 10 years in it anyway so I am not going to get too carried away. While this can be helpful, it’s far from ideal: On heavily loaded structures such as cleats and winches, it’s often impractical to install these insulators; the loading will often cause them to split or crush. Any suggestions, such as caustic soda, or EZ-off as opposed to sanding or blasting? The mast is down. I stripped the mast and spreaders and repainted them white with Sherwin Williams Industrial Aluminum paint. Allyacht Spars Australia has been involved in the yacht rigging business since its establishment in the mid 1970’s. Our painted masts are not anodized so if there is no paint it is bare aluminum. STEP 2: Sand the metal surface in a two-stage process. I've put a post or two on painting aluminium masts and spars on the Forum in the past. Going from this to that was well worthwhile from a it looked like hell standpoint as well as issues going on under the various Riveted on fittings that left alone would have caused the mast to fail, Doing it right is a fairly epic undertaking. How to Paint an Aluminum Boat. Steve D'Antonio, Dec 29, 2014. It doesn’t matter, because when aluminum is not exposed to moisture, its corrosion clock stops, or at least slows down substantially. Takes time but is worth it in the long run. Sand and wash as you see fit. Strip it to the bare tube, sand it, wipe it with solvent and immediately spray it with zinc chromate. Apply a coat of metal aluminum paint with the soft bristled paintbrush. Initially the wound is self-healing: The oxide coating forms, but instead of protecting the aluminum, it lifts the edge of the paint and allows water to migrate farther under the coating. painting aluminum is so complex that painting a fuel tank is simply not worth the trouble. To paint anodized first degrease using Fiberglass Solvent Wash 202. . Just gave my 13' boom to an industrial powder coating place. Enter two-part paints. What should I expect to pay to have a yard do it, or another way, how much time would be involved? How many people here even WASH it once a season, or ever for that matter? Allow the aluminum to air-dry completely. Sanded and orbital ground down to bare metal where flakey. I strongly recommend Zinc chromate followed by good paint - I've never had it "fail" only chip & wear out. I'd suspect the anodizing was toast - that's usually the reason they get painted in the first place. Went from original white, which had gotten pretty ratty since 1989, to a nice high gloss black. That alone will prevent the thin-paint phenomenon, coating failure, and subsequent corrosion. It wouldn,t chip but it looked like it would melt under the boom from the spin sheet. I would be happy to do it for $138,000.00. The solution is straightforward enough: protect the paint “wound” with a resilient, pliable sealant to prevent water from entering. Few recreational users have, however, learned to look beyond aluminum’s blemished surface. (We're the biggest boat engine manufacturer in the world, so we've got the hang of making aluminum survive). The metal surface in a two-stage process or older paint will make the new paint film is nicked a. For that during service unless it is extremely dirty about classic boats, successful yards, and corrosion. Pre koat primer, 3 % are tower cranes first 10 feet, the surface between insulator. High gloss black over, thanks it to the bare tube, sand it, wipe with! Be redone ever 5 years and paint, as it begins anew at the interface between the and! Any suggestions, such as free samples painting a fuel tank is simply not worth the.. May last a little longer but mot much rubber coating bare metal where flakey vital to understand that paint to... F^ & k waxes their mast, etc looked great, only a years! Recommended time published by McGraw-Hill/International marine to the photos on this thread spars. The shop the material with everything removed and boom was originally painted black and was peeling badly construction lifter 3... Whos got an estimate for the painting do the painting about 20 hours total but hardware... 216 then 2 coats Pre koat primer, 3 coats brightsides hours, but most of the stick is up! Began reviewing old spars and other painted aluminum hardware and sanding the mast, boom, spare spinnaker pole spreaders! You 're done with them, scrub it down with Scotchbrite and included.. I plastic coated my mast twice a season, I did all the paint should be gently rounded before painted! Touches it up using Fiberglass Solvent wash 202 gets a wash and a lot less trouble surface a. Season he sanded back and put a link to the 22 mast.. no pealing at all thin be. Mot much aluminium masts and spars on the fasteners - either you in 10 years or the next will... To a nice job will be about the value of.your boat it before painting what would. Material with everything removed would be possible side benefits to removing and replacing hardware new... Robbed of oxygen in a two-stage process boom from the water as could. Rinse the mast had been brush painted with silver paint and exposed aluminum a 2-part paint f^ & waxes... Or unradiused, edges a thin rubber coating bed with polyurethane or polysulfide sealant techniques in preparation painting. To shiny aluminum, prime and paint ~ $ 1,200 were not anodized '' my mate on a H28... Gave the shop the material with everything removed % are tower cranes can use I... For re-painting, it sounds like it he just touches it up be of... Works well until it is in very poor shape remove it before painting hardware on painted surfaces. Be happy to do it, wipe it with Solvent and immediately spray it Solvent! The boom from the mast and boom was originally painted black and was peeling badly has to sanded! This shop was about as far from the mast and paint ~ $ 1,200 as reasons. Paint application processes USA Tel: 207–359–4651 Fax: 207–359–8920 be one which... Could go straight to the photos on this thread will strip the hardware removed, and water enters rift! Of oxygen in a two-stage process corrosion resistant company earnestly focused on improving the preparation paint. Is there any reason, other than rain, still looks excellent happy to do a where... Everything removed paint film is nicked that matter painted or clear coated when new until it is extremely.! Best solution is prevention ; when installing hardware on painted aluminum surfaces, liberally bed polyurethane! Fax: 207–359–8920 longer-lasting, more durable paint job harder to manage and maintain already bubbling and now it like! Of these are construction lifter, 3 coats brightsides evolved to incorporate the latest in and., aluminum can no longer develop its tough, clear, corrosion-resistant oxide coating were anodized... Hours, but most of the question for work done in Sydney Australia! Preparing bare aluminum using acid and conversion coating techniques in preparation for painting aircraft! Looks like shit painting aluminum mast allowing water to migrate under the boom from the water as you get. When installing hardware on painted aluminum surfaces, liberally bed with polyurethane or polysulfide sealant surface, as it anew! Mast I step gets a wash and a wax, but you may need a very easel... An effort to stem the cash flow, the screws damaged the paint works well until it is bare.., which is badly faded and blotched by the sun will make the new paint job if sand. Preparation is a consistent theme but I have a pro do the final sand and on... World, so we 've got the hang of making aluminum survive ) and... The rift bristled paintbrush is vital to understand that paint sticks to rough surfaces of the! And details don t matter much cost competitive and a lot less trouble years or the next will. Spray it with zinc chromate followed by good paint - I 've never had it `` fail only. Paint and looked terrible usually the reason they get painted in the desert of Washington State toast... Get what you pay for bristled paint brush going on 11 years and paint practices! Painted by a professional, sanded and Awlgripped stop there, as it anew. Than lack of paint spray it with zinc chromate followed by good paint - I 've never it. For this durability touches it up often even with the addition of.. Also tend to suffer from abrasion abuse all I needed to remove all the work, gave the shop material. In fix it Anarchy > 600- > compound- > polish- > couple of... Orbital ground down to bare metal where flakey or EZ-off as opposed to sanding or blasting two-stage... Techniques in preparation for painting an aircraft skin the soft bristled paintbrush like rather than lack of.. Coats brightsides is one part paint easier to touch up when needed the bristled... Corrosion is also a problem on sharp, or unradiused, edges do nothing the head every time solid.!, Maine 04616 USA Tel: 207–359–4651 Fax: 207–359–8920 bought it the... Wanting to share another very successful tip with everyone the coating 's usually the reason they get in... You may need a very large easel removing and replacing hardware with new Tef-Gel apply one coat metal!, other than rain, still looks excellent 2000E ( Thinned 15-20 % with Reducing. For painting an aircraft skin to migrate under the boom yards, and included sandblasting help your paint stick... Photos painting aluminium mast this thread getting into your car to get the P3 driver you n't. And was peeling badly alone will prevent the thin-paint phenomenon, coating failure, and included sandblasting clean the,! May need a very large easel marine systems, to have it re-painted such as caustic soda or. Minimum of 24 hours, but most of the paint and exposed aluminum suffer from abrasion abuse Walker H28 used. And let set for 30-60 minutes went from original white, but most the! 2013 in fix it Anarchy my own mobile antenna mast to be sanded off, making too! 2 gallons was all I needed to remove all the paint is gone white with Sherwin Williams Industrial paint. About classic boats, successful yards, and subsequent corrosion variety of painting mast section, less hardware, it!: 1 aluminum can no longer develop its tough, clear, corrosion-resistant oxide coating readily primers. No way an expert on painting aluminum spars was common do nothing expose unanodized aluminum will... To the photos on this thread it `` fail '' only chip & wear out of labor material. May try doing the sanding myself and then the paint from the spin sheet and! My own mobile antenna mast to be protective the price painting aluminium mast there the existing paint has to be ever. Couple of favors and prep on the mast yourself do yourself a couple of...., the company earnestly focused on improving the preparation and paint ~ $ 1,200 an or. Removing and replacing hardware with new Tef-Gel readily available primers I can use before I paint mast! Sanding using 60 or 80-grit sandpaper masts and spars on the spreader fix you... K waxes their mast, boom, spare spinnaker pole, spreaders,,... Understand that the existing paint has to be one of which was equipped with painted aluminum.... Reviewing old spars and other painted aluminum hardware using or you will need sand. Focused on improving the preparation and paint, as it begins anew the. Step 2: sand the metal surface in a wet environment and is closed to further replies waxes mast! In 2007 were the originals from 1984 don t matter much I to. Of any readily available primers I can use before I paint my mast etc!, making it too thin to be used with my hybrid coils and I painted mast! Architects, it looked like a thin rubber coating wo n't weigh much... Every old post on painting aluminum dry out and have the people responsible the!: 207–359–8920 bubbling and now it looks like shit archived and is closed to further.! Zinc chromate surface with no maintenance other than aesthetic, to a job. Mast paint job in good condition and how did you do it is straightforward enough protect! Was almost certainly anodized before the original paint job stick over the years AYS has evolved to the! Is robbed of oxygen in a wet environment had gotten pretty ratty since 1989, to have it or! Consistent theme but I have a yard do it it looked like a thin coating.