Steve
I sanded my mast about 6 years ago with 320 grit wet paper, lots of water from a garden hose to remove ugly oxide layer that the abrasive will remove.the mast got real nice, aluminium self anodizes in a matter of seconds, you can't really prevent that, and that oxide layer grows thicker with time.after mine was dry I applied 1 coat of Aurora Kwik Shine.looks good to this day, not new but a lot better than before I started and it has stayed up in a marine environment all year long for the last 6 years. I could have polished it better, say to 600 grit, and maybe got a better job but that would have taken more time.the way I did the mast for my 35 which is 57 feet long and I also did the boom and spreaders took only about 3 hours. Don't be afraid to polish an aluminium mast, so long as it has not been painted. I got a feeling that my mast had never been touched before I cleaned it and I must say that I am glad that I did that job.I will do it again with 600 grit next time I unstep for winter storgae _____ From: CnC-List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Stevan Plavsa Sent: March 11, 2014 9:50 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Stus-List tarp chafing mast Hi All. I've got my mast laying over my deck supported by the pulpit forward and a 2x4 frame aft. I slung a tarp over the mast for the winter and called it done. I was examining the mast and noticed that the entire side of the mast that is in contact with the tarp is chafed, or buffed, from the tarp rubbing on it in the wind. I wouldn't call it shiny, just 'rubbed' looking. Will this oxidize back to normal or should I be thinking about cleaning up the mast? I've read to leave aluminum alone and not buff and shine it. The mast is going to be ugly in the spring. Thanks, Steve Suhana, C&C 32 Toronto
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