1. The following story is about corrosion above deck between the aluminium mast/boom and the stainless fittings for the gooseneck, linking them together. 1) Cut the 1/2' off  at the base and add 1/2" G10 plate to ensure the mast section that meets the partners stays at the the same location. I used the Chromate primer and re-painted. From what I gather, there are two repair options. Over the years, the salt air has led to corrosion pitting in the aluminum under the … Is the splice detrimental to the overall strength of the mast? It's easy! W. Evert, Charlotte, NC. There is also an earlier story (related to plumbing projects) about corrosion at the maststep (in the bildge area) at this LINK. Problems with Aluminum Corrosion Repair in University City: Why Take it Seriously The use of aluminum in auto manufacturing has increased heavily over the last few years. Corrosion. Unpainted masts are protected from corrosion through anodizing, an electrochemical process that converts the metal into a shiny, anodic oxide finish. This is just as true of a drop of water on a piece of raw steel, as it is of a … I was polishing the portion that is exposed below decks and a naval architect friend went a bit nuts. The Strongest, Fastest, and Easiest Aluminum Fabrication or Parts Repair. When exposed to air, oxygenated seawater, or fresh water, aluminum quickly develops a tough, transparent oxide film that is resistant to corrosion. Tim Getting it all up a bit would be a good long term fix. Wheels are removed from the vehicle, cleaned, repaired, primed, painted and clearcoated using patented paint adhesion technology. Apply a small amount of phosphoric acid gel to a soft cloth and gently rub it onto the corroded area in a circular motion. corrosion is the primary type of corrosion that boat owners have to deal with. The high corrosion resistance found on aluminum, nevertheless, is due to the presence of a thin, compact film of adherent aluminum oxide on the surface. The areas where the patches are going is flat. I'm also concerned that #2 might not fit in the partners when re-stepping the mast. There is, however, an aesthetic price for this durability. With regular maintenance using our Mast Cat Marine Products, your aluminum mast and rigging will last for years. Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Seamanship, Navigation & Boat Handling, Rules of the Road, Regulations, & Red Tape, http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...t.do?docId=542. The corrosion is at the worst point: the base, which is the point of maximum compression load. I also have scratches on my mast. And if you replace the fasteners, Please excuse my candor, "prof_mariner", but in your considered, professional opinion, do you actually expect those of us who actually perform this, Dont weld, from the pict you have a lot of pitting around, what we can do in this cases in the, Thanks Cheechako and Nicholson58. Examples include anything from a stainless steel bolt threaded directly into an aluminum mast regularly doused in saltwater, to a bronze propeller on a stainless steel shaft immersed in seawater. 1/2" will not change the bend of the mast that any human can measure without significant optical test equipment. Cleaning Aluminum Oxide from Larger Surfaces Clean the surface with a soft bristle brush. Daysailing, local cruising and working on them. I had to trim the spar on my Columbia 43 - a couple of inches IIRC. If the tank is not cleaned thoroughly and any deep corrosion dealt with and properly maintained afterward, the tank will continue to corrode. Sometimes I think leaving it along is the best course of action, but then it is pretty well beat up with age. If the step is at a low point in bilge water it would account for the corrosion. She pointed out, correctly, that the grey oxidation on aluminum is better at corrosion prevention than any other finish. Alodine when applied to the surface will identify any remaining Corrosion by turning it black. If corrosion and fatigue establish a foothold, it’s only a matter of time before something as small as a corroded clevis pin or a cracked turnbuckle could easily cause your … Are you sure that the corrosion stops at 1/2 inch from the base? Instead I created a plug with fiberglass sheets I had leftover from cutting out portholes. Corrosion. *!Looking for experience and/or advice on best way to paint a 34 year old aluminum mast while out of the boat and on horses. aluminum mast and boom that we keep down on the Texas gulf coast. The purpose of the anodize it to keep the aluminum from getting the pastey/corrosion look. Any other options and or suggestions? 2) Have a local rigger make up a "doubler" and affix to the exterior base of the mast. From what I gather, there are two repair options. I would not use SS wire wheel to remove the corrosion; Reason is that the soft Aluminum will fold over and bury the corrosion. Re: Aluminum mast corrosion repair. Location: Southwestern Yacht Club, San Diego, CA. First we need to understand that all corrosion except mechanical erosion is electro-chemical in nature. An option is to do the job in such a manner as it lasts 15-20 years and looks brand new. No welding aluminum needed! Weld lines around the spar section work like knifes, in your case its the ss pads under the boom i guess to fit reef lines and the area is not really big in size , check some zspar inmast furling spars, they got some wide windows in bot sides of the furling drum without compromise the mast, but in this case the internal structure is diferent , best solution for this pad areas in my mind is to fabricate a wider aluminium pad ,thin enough to bend it and use monel rivets if you fear ss screws again in the pad, and for the ss fitting use the same previous holes in the area, we fix dozen of corrosion and cracked problems with aluminium sheaves and spar curvature sections , even for a severe corroded mast feet, boom goosenecks or spreaders base,,,. Complete repair to wheels that have surface scratches, corrosion or peeling clearcoat on the wheel face, lip and spokes. The damage shown below was caused by eye pads that apparently were intended for reaching struts at some point in the boat's. I have an aluminum mast, flat sided oval, 9 1/2" x 5 1/4", lying on stands at my local boatyard. 1. Poultice Corrosion. Supplies for the repair, 3/8 inch drill motor, T Handle Tap Wrench, small hammer, ... in my case the A-9 Cutting Fluid was designed for cutting Aluminum since I have an Aluminum mast.. ... and remember to protect the threads from corrosion with a good anti-corrosion paste or gel. The Aluminum Association last year produced a handy guide to the three dominant corrosion phenomena found in in automotive applications: crevice corrosion, filiform corrosion and galvanic corrosion. Oxidation and corrosion are very similar, and the biggest difference is In both situations — and dozens more on boats — dissimilar metals in a common electrolyte create a battery with an anode and a cathode. You should also consider the grade or series of aluminum you’re using. Will this not change the characteristic and bend of the mast? You guys are a kick in the butt. YES! The differences between the types of corrosion we experience on our boats has to do with how the corrosion occurs and how quickly the metal is compromised. I cut the flanges off the foot, which caused the corrosion in the first place. Painted and repaired mast step I cut a hole and inserted a 1.5″ aluminum tube as conduit for wiring. Nobody has ever replaced a mast on an Oyster!” That’s what we were told over and over again, by rigger after rigger and surveyor after surveyor. Marine Aluminum is chosen to be corrosion resistant, but corrosion can still cause damage. The biggest cause of corrosion is electrolysis. A: Aluminum is a reactive metal (unnoble) which should have a low corrosion resistance, according to thermodynamics. It looks like a 1960s mast, and many of them are like that now. “Of course you don’t need a new mast. I like the G10 base plate. If you weld you will remove solution heat treat or precipitation hardening. I have significant corrosion at the base of my aluminum J105 mast. Paste that Stops Corrosion Between SS and Aluminum . It’s an ex-mast. Electrolysis occurs with two dissimilar metals are in an electrolyte. I just saw a 14 and 15 dodge caravan with aluminum hoods that were corroded already on the outside. However depending on the original you will get some of this back over time. This is a critical point. The question about wood or aluminum, under the mast needing repair … I also had to replace the rotted mast step so I simply made it 2" thicker. Will it work for your job? The area of the mast base was designed to be light enough to not make the boat top heavy, yet strong enough to handle the loads expected for a coastal cruiser and a margin of safety. My 1980's vintage Isomat aluminum mast has areas of corrosion where stainless fittings were mounted without isolating the fitting from galvanic corrosion. Either way, it is better to separate the metals from further corrosion IMHO. That’s dangerous. Sand blast, Sand paper, or 3M Scotch Brite Disks. Corrosion around the gooseneck. 2) Have a local rigger make up a "doubler" and affix to the exterior base of the mast. Unlike steel, aluminum resists corrosion by moisture and air when exposed to the elements, but salt spray and road salts can cause a condition caused oxidation, which discolors the aluminum surface. Mast Extrusions and Fittings Boom Extrusions and Fittings Round Tubing Sailboat Hardware and Accessories Standing Rigging and Rigging Kits Pricing and Terms Abrasive Waterjet Technology Company and Contact Information You guys are a kick in the butt. Aluminum also corrodes just like steel so there isn’t a real advantage there. thought I was going to have to do the same but after blasting the base of the mast on my 105 it cleaned up nicely and nothing was needed, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. OEM-approved paint is color matched to every wheel prior to repair. I am not sure it's that important to re-anodized/alodine the aluminum. By I've had an aluminum mast, un-polished, un-waxed, in a saltwater environment for 20 years. Allow the gel to sit on the area for about 10 minutes. Spray the coating with fresh water to rinse off the excess. Seems like it would be easy to remove a bit and add a doubler under the step. Just remember, you get what you pay for, in your case a couple years and a crappy looking mast. usa1136, October 19, 2020 in Fix It Anarchy. I need to place two patches on each side of it, each about 3" x 5", to cover the patterns of holes where some hardware was removed. Clean off … The bending happens between the deck and the tip of the mast. Part Number. Wipe it off with a dry cloth, but do not continue to rub it in. A number of methods are used to stop the corroding effects of these salts. I expected a one-piece extrusion. If you are taking the rig out anyway, I like the G10 option. It is in excellent condition. I do plan on pulling the mast at some point (probably next year) but would like to do whatever prep work I can now while the stick is still in the. Minimize or mitigate the effect of galvanic corrosion. I have significant corrosion at the base of my aluminum J105 mast. Navigate pages of this story. Aluminum corrosion could however be a serious issue. #1 seems much more simple and less expensive. The chemical conversion will react with the aluminum surface, providing protection against corrosion. Q: Why does corrosion occur between anodized aluminum and steel? It’s like a Laser mast. Aluminum is a metal that is used for many household products, including deck and porch railings, light fixtures and outdoor furniture. RIP. The manufacturers even want us to build special clean rooms for aluminum repair at a cost of about 60-80 grand. This high-strength brazing rod allows you to repair or fabricate aluminum stronger than a TIG welding machine, without the machine. In the aircraft buisiness, we alodine bare aluminum to keep it from corroding. Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1. Spray or brush on two or three thin, light coats of regular primer, primer that binds the substrate and provides mechanical adhesion by settling into scratches on the surface of the mast. If there’s any possibility of it happening you have two options: Apply a protective coating. Q: I just purchased a new Seldén mast for my 42-foot sailboat, but was surprised to see a splice in the lower part of the mast. 1) Cut the 1/2' off at the base and add 1/2" G10 plate to ensure the mast section that meets the partners stays at the the same location. It's the smart choice. Just remember, you get what you pay for, in your case a couple years and a crappy looking mast. Among other attributes, marine-grade aluminum alloys, those in the 5000 and 6000 series, are naturally corrosion resistant. The material is about 3/16" thick. Corrosion in saltwater is a major problem, but even freshwater boats can suffer from corrosion. On a smaller mast, I had a welder heliarc patches on the holes. But here we are, many months later, with our brand new mast gleaming in the sunlight. I used Perfection and painted the entire mast. Sign up for a new account in our community. T he majority of fuel tanks, especially on yachts, are very dirty by the time filters start to clog and a problem is noticed.. Most cities will have an anodizing facility, but anodizing requires that the mast be immersed in an acid-electrolyte bath, and not all of them will have a tank to fit a mast. Specializing in high-quality aluminum spars for your boat. An option is to do the job in such a manner as it lasts 15-20 years and looks brand new. 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