In helping you make a decision on how to enhance the appearance of your mast; may I direct your attention to doing what aircraft owners and Airstream travel trailers do:

Polishing - Vintage Airstream

Dick

 

aircraft and airstream aluminum is alclad and has a layer of pure aluminum clad to the surface and will prevent corrosion and polish to a shine. the untreated aluminum mast will not polish up like alclad and after many years of exposure is coated with a thick layer of aluminum oxide which prevents further corrosion. sanding it off is not a good choice unless you are going to paint. if you don't want to paint than wash it and keep it clean and go sailing

 

With all due respect 1985 and newer Airstreams are not clad and they do polish up just fine, just not to a mirror finish.
The more it is polished the easier it gets next time, and the longer it lasts.
Usually the first polish shine lasts about a year. The second lasts longer and so on, because you are reforming the surface, making micro fissures smaller and smaller.
Dick

 

The most common finish for non-painted masts and spars is an anodized one. This is a hard aluminium oxide coating, applied electrolytically.

If you have no corrosion and it looks decent, I'd leave it alone, apart from normal washing with a no-more-than-mildly abrasive sponge, and detergent (ie, dishwashing liquid, an environmentally friendly one if you are that way inclined)

You can wax it if you like, but it won't do the slightest bit of good.

 

You can wax it if you like, but it won't do the slightest bit of good.

I agree.

 

Can't speak directly to your C27, but some spars are not anodized, especially early production. Some were alodined for clean and etch then clear lacquered. At least that is what we did in the 70's. The option was matt black awlgrip, occasionally satin or gloss white, but mostly lacquered.

 

In the case of alodine and lacquer, isn't the no sanding instruction even more applicable?

Just wash it.

 

In the case of alodine and lacquer, isn't the no sanding instruction even more applicable?

You could completely strip rigging and hardware down to a bare spar, strip with lacquer remover, alodine wash with Scotchbrite pads, re lacquer. If your going that route new wiring and rigging would polish it off, and maybe some cool new lights.

Or you could wash it, and go sailing

 

I have Charleston Spars and my maintenance schedule calls for waxing the mast annually. Can't remember if I picked this up from the spar literature or the boat owner's manual. I've never waxed the mast, but first I heard that it makes no difference. Is that based on the anodization or some other factor?

 

If your about here you wash it and leave well enough alone or undertake a massive project

There is NO easy button on this one :laugher

I am not getting the impression your looking to get in this deep

 

If your mast is anodized try WD-40. It's very easy to apply, removes dirt and leaves a little shine. Simple.

Ronbo