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

 

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.

 

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?

 

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

 

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.

 

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....

 

Columbia, are you in fresh water?

 

yeah we are in lake huron (great lakes).

 

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.

 

This is the mast I had painted white...(the Mickey in the Spi was for Fred)

 

Yeah, sure..."for Fred"

If it were me, I'd have made the last boat to finish in the regatta fly that spinnaker just to let everyone know what kind of boat & crew it is...

Now I think I understand what the REAL reason is for getting that sea-skimming torpedo.

 

That cleaner worked great, its a local company so I stopped and picked up a gallon for $25. We used it over the weekend took almost no work at all spray on the we scrubed the whole mast with a scotch brite pad and washed off. Took about 1.5 hrs to do the mast and boom. I will post some pictures soon but it looks like new, and its 38 years old.

Scott

 

Ah Shucks! I was going to suggest that you get one of those pole dancers at the local club and have her clean your mast. The one on your boat! You have a naughty mind! And I don't think your wife would appreciate it either...