Mast Cleaner

1970Columbia34 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

anyone ever used a product like this to clean there aluminum mast Product Detail they say its just like what truckers use to clean there tankers or aluminum dump boxes with, other than its more envrimentaly friendly...which to me sounds like it won't works as well...

Scott

Giulietta · #2 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

I don't know but your mast should be anodized, and I don't know if this attacks that or not..I just use water and soap..

Sodium Hydroxide will destroy the anodizing layer, so make sure any product is Sodium Hydroxide free

1970Columbia34 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

I am not sure it is anodized how could I tell. the mast is 38 years old, there was a spot where I had to sand off some glue type substance and where I sanded looks great even a year later, but the rest of the mast is really dark and dirty looking.

Giulietta · #4 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

If it is anodized it looks dull grey and if you take a pencil its easy to write on it..if it only alu, the pencil will not writte good enough...sometimes you can get blue and red anodized parts...

Like I said above be carfull with Sodium Hydroxide based products like plumber cleaning and such...

One thing about aluminim is that when it oxidizes, unlike iron and steel whose oxidation falls off, (rust), its oxide stays attached and in fact does protect the layers of aluminium underneath it, from further oxidation...I never clean the salty stuff that forms in my alu parts...for that reason

The PROBLEM, is that salt, destroys this layer of oxidizied aluminuim, that actually acts as a barrier to oxygen and this prevents further oxidation, and allows it to flake away promoting more corrosin.

What about a detailed photo of the mast to see?

Giulietta · #5 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

Plesase look again at post 1, as I edited it.

petegingras · #6 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

I sailed for one season on Lake Erie (remember fresh water), out of Buffalo NY, there were a great number of racing clubs there. I noticed that spring that most of their mast were sparkling clean and with a very high shine. When i got around to asking they said their secert was Sodium Hydroxide, and a lot of elbow greese.

most of them took their masts down to perform the cleaning, and it did look like lots of work.

As for Giu's warning, he seems to know what he's talking about. So this is just 2 cents worth of my experience.

Giulietta · #7 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by petegingras

I sailed for one season on Lake Erie (remember fresh water), out of Buffalo NY, there were a great number of racing clubs there. I noticed that spring that most of their mast were sparkling clean and with a very high shine. When i got around to asking they said their secert was Sodium Hydroxide, and a lot of elbow greese.

most of them took their masts down to perform the cleaning, and it did look like lots of work.

As for Giu's warning, he seems to know what he's talking about. So this is just 2 cents worth of my experience.

Yes...if I was sailing fresh water I would polish my mast too....and yes NaOH, aka Caustic soda, does remove the anodized layer, and then a little 1000 grit sandpaper and automotive polish will make alu look like sainless steel finish....

I likes it a lot too...but salt water....

Giulietta · #8 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

Columbia, are you in fresh water?

1970Columbia34 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

yeah we are in lake huron (great lakes).

Giulietta · #10 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

Then you can polish your mast if you want and become a slave of it, or just use water and mild soap, brush it good and live with it...

Also, if you have the possibility, have it removed and send it to be re-anodized (I would do this option)...or simply painted white...look sexy white masts...my previous boat had a white mast...adds the weight of the paint, but looks really good.