Conference unifix::sailing

    If the anodized aluminum is black, I've got a solution.
    
    SSI in chicago sells a repair kit. it has 3 bottles of about 2 oz
    each. to use it.
    
    1. sand the area with 800 wet dry to get most of the scratches out
       (if the aluminum has been gouged).
    
    2. wash the area with soap and water.
    
    3. spread a bit of the contents of bottle #1 on the area. This is
       a  mild acid wash that clean up any oxidation on the aluminum. after
       10 mins, wash off with clean water.
    
    4. spread a bit of the contents of bottle #2 on the area. this is
       a chemical that bolds the anodize paint to the aluminum. you
       leave this on for about 5 mins until the aluminum turns a 
       golden color. 
    
    5. spread the black paint in bottle #3 on the area. let dry and
       your are all done. The stuff stays on too. the kit sells for
       about $8 and lasts a long time doing repair work.
    
    
     when you are done, the new section will be shiny and your old
    section will look dull. wash and wax the whole thing the next day,
    and everything will look like new.
                 
    john
    
    

    Several years ago I bought a product called Alum-A-Clean and its
    companion product Alum-A-Coat.  It was easy to clean the mast and
    boom and it took most of the discoloration out of my 20 year old
    aluminum.  When I put on the Coating it freshened it up to look
    almost new.  Been a few years and it still looks good.
    
    I believe I bought them through BOAT/US, but could have been Goldberg
    Marine.  I do most of my shopping through discount catalogs.
    
    Good luck.
    
    

    
       For non-anodized spars, I found a cheap way to clean them. 
      
       After stripping the rigging for refit, the mast looked dirty from
    20 years of use. Black streaks, dull finish, scratches abound.
    
       I sprayed on Automobile wheel cleaner for non-clear coated alm. wheels.
    This contains a mild acid in it. They say to let it stand 2 minutes
    before hosing off. I would spray a 10 foot section, and work it in 
    with fine nylon scrub pad. After 5 minutes, I would hose it off
    throughly.
    
       Once done, I put a thin coat of paste wax on it.  The spars look 
    like new. Compared to wet sanding the spars or al. polish, this is the
    quickest method to deal with this chore.
    
         john
    

John, How can I tell if the mast / boom have been anodized?
Do they have a different look? I trust that cleaning
anodized aluminum is a different process than non-anodized
aluminum, true? Also, does one stand up to the salt water
better than the other?

Michael Weber
"Latitude" 

    Michael
    
    Ussually anodized alluimun is black. It is like a low gloss power
    coating. If you scratch it, the normal allumin color will come through.
    Having seen your boat, it looks like a plain aluminum mast to me. I
    don't think you had a clearcoat on it.
    
    john

    Anodizing does not have to be black. The anodizing process provides a
    protective coating, the color is just a dye process used to 'pretty
    it'. So an 'aluminum color' would just be anodized and no dye.
    
    Its an interesting process. The part is dunked in H2SO4, and hooked to
    a power source. A lead plate provides the other electrode- I forget the
    polarity. After a time in the solution the part is removed and can be
    dunked in dye. For home shop use RIT -the stuff used to dye fabric-
    works fine. You dip the part in the dye, then into boiling water to
    seal it. 
    
    Needs a big tank for a mast, but small parts can quite eaisly be done
    in home shops. Many articles on it in various Model engineering
    magazines.

    I believe all aluminum used around boats is anodized. Certailnly all
    that is made into products like cleats, blocks, winches, etc. The only
    exception might be a part made from simple strip or sheet stock, maybe
    a chain plate or such. these will corrode rapidly without anodizing.
    
    

    Assassin got a whole slew of parts anodized a few years ago. All colors
    but one faded.  Gold anodizing on the mast bracket, the tiller hub and
    the spin pole forward fitting look like brand new.  sun can't touch it.
    Black turns to grey and red.....well, it just evaporates completely.