Mast Step

[Petermoh]

My mast is stepped in the bilge. It is currently our doing other work. there is some sign of corrosion. Does anyone have any insight as to coatings that would protect the base from exposure. As it stands now, I plan on cleaning well and painiing.

[Tim]

The key to a successful paint application on something like an aluminum mast step is to ensure that the metal is extremely clean and well-prepared. Otherwise, in a damp and possibly galvanically-charged environment like the bilge, paint is prone to failure, which will return you to where you are now.

One option might be something like POR-15, a corrosion-conversion paint product. The website suggests that the products are applicable for use on aluminum too.

Link: POR-15

If you decide to use another sort of paint, then you should thoroughly clean the step, wire brush and/or sand it clean, and then etch the metal with something like Alumiprep to prepare it for the appropriate primers and paint. A zinc chromate primer coat might help the topcoat stick better.

[Hirilondë]

The Awlgrip cleaners and aluminum primer are a great way to go. You will however find buying the stuff extremely expensive. Especially considering how little of it you need and the sizes of the containers it comes in. I had access to open containers when I redid my boom this winter.

The next best alternative is probably zinc chromate followed by any good paint designed for use on metal. And as always and as Tim has mentioned again:

The key to a successful paint application on something like an aluminum mast step is to ensure that the metal is extremely clean and well-prepared.

Actually, you can insert just about anything in place of 'aluminum mast' and 'metal'. I have yet to incur any ill effects from prep work well done on any project.

[bcooke]

Good drainage under the mast will help too.

Zinc chromate seems to be getting hard to find around me. Something about it being toxic and not suitable for the average consumer. You can still get it through industrial suppliers though. It has been the standard product to use on the aluminum I work with for many years so I would second the recomendation to use it.

Warning!: This product should only be applied by properly trained professionals.

I have often wondered what "properly trained" meant when my boss simply hands me a can/bottle of glowing green fluid with aforementioned label and tells me to apply it liberally to my project at hand.

-Britton

[Ceasar Choppy]

This is what I had to do with mine... the step was corroded beyond all recognition. Still trying to figure out why use a steel step on an aluminum mast in a bilge (read = its gonna get wet).

The step is made from the same stuff I was touting in the "backingplate" tread



Here's more pics of the cruddy maststep although I don't have the final pictures posted:

http://www.pearson39.org/troubadour/mas ... ststep.htm