Mast Paint

sselinger · January 24, 2009, 08:22:06 AM

I have the mast down for the first time in several years, and noticed some of the white finish coming off on the spreaders. The mast had the factory white finish. Can someone recommend a good product to touch up the sections with the peeling paint?

Jon Schneider · January 24, 2009, 10:36:48 AM

I think Stu is having some computer problems, otherwise I wouldn't be beating him to the punch.... Have you tried searching this message board? There are lots of good threads already on the topic. There are also articles in Tech Notes if you're a C34IA member (and why wouldn't you be?) Plus, the wiki has an archival thread from the old FAQ section here: http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Boom_Refinishing

Ron Hill · January 24, 2009, 05:56:01 PM

Steve : Look in Projects. I even took a picture of my can of mast touch up paint and posted it when another C34 owner said that Interlux never made that color!!

Mert Gollaher · January 24, 2009, 06:48:57 PM

A guy at our club with a Tartan 3700 had his mast pulled the same day I did last fall. His mast looked great, and I asked what paint and process he used. He said the PO had done it with rustoleum. Hard to believe, but that's what he said. Anyone ever heard of that?

Stu Jackson · January 25, 2009, 03:50:56 PM

Yes, RUSTOLEUM satin or gloss white mtaches our spar white. I'd been using the satin, but the gloss would be better, specially on the boom. Once about two feet away, you can't see the difference.

Mert Gollaher · January 25, 2009, 07:19:29 PM

Thanks, Stu. Sounds like I'll be giving Rustoleum a try in a few spots this Spring. Any special prep for it?

Stu Jackson · January 25, 2009, 10:30:13 PM

We prep with acetone and generally tape off areas to paint. Spray on non-windy day, of course.

Jon Schneider · January 26, 2009, 03:59:02 AM

If the spreaders are made of aluminum (I'm not sure), you need to prep aluminum with an "etching" solution after you bring the area you're going to paint down to the metal. You can get this solution at any quality hardware or paint store. It's important to etch the aluminum shortly (within an hour or less) before you're going to apply the paint; otherwise the aluminum will oxidize and provide a bad surface to hold the paint.