What can you do to clean up or touch up a black anodized mast, polish (well not shine polish but something similar), sand and paint?
Winter is coming so I'm looking for a project or two.
Also
Does anyone put any type of decals on their masts?
I'm thinking that some cut vinyl that say 'TheBeachcats.com" in a color to match my sails would look sweet, do these exist yet?
Maybe something that says Captain: C.Santana or represents a sailing club or association. I've seen this on a cat or two but not many, I haven't really been around so I'm wondering what the community feedback on this is.
I had some decals made up for my boat name at http://doityourselflettering.com/ Worked very nicely.
Also plan to put a scale next to the luff track just below the bottom of the my main tack to keep track of downhaul adjustments.
Alumabrite is OK, Penetrol is best. Put on a coat every fall it lasts a year or so.
Stickers need to be UV /outdoor/waterproof vinyl or similar.
Hobie 17, H18, P19 Vermont
Penetrol works great and restoring luster to anodized surfaces is one of it's listed uses. I've more often used regular WD-40 which also cleans and makes the black really pop, doesn't last as long as Penetrol but it's probably already in your toolbox. 🙂
Don't try to paint the mast unless it's to cover up serious damage.
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Damon Linkous
Just put in an order with Jamestown Distributors for some penetrol and mclube. I haven't found anything locally that will clean up residue from black anodized surfaces. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for the info, didn't even think about penetrol.
NO PAINT, got it.
I have a family member that cuts vinyl. Jeff if you want we can do something cool for your down haul scale probably cheaper than that site.
Damon, thoughts on "TheBeachCats.com" vinyl? I just want to make sure that it's cool with the admins if I have it on my mast. I've Also maybe we cut and sell them at a reasonable price to members to help spread the name and raise some cash for site maintenance. I don't have any plans on making money, my kickback comes from my cousin when he buys beer for me for giving him something to do.
Either way you can send me a PM so we can discuss a with a little more privacy if you prefer.
I checked out the do it yourself decal site - cool and cheap. Thanks for the link.
For the future, McLube is Silicon spray and Penetrol is paint thinner both sold at hardware stores and probably HD.
Hobie 17, H18, P19 Vermont
Wow, that was worth the price of admission. I've had my boat for about 8 months now. When I brought it home from Marco Island after a great weekend of sailing, all of the black metal was spotted with stains (salt, etc.). After a good sudsy washdown, I put some penetrol on a rag and coated all of the black metal surfaces, quickly followed by a clean rag to take up the excess. The boat looks like new. Awesome tip!!!
motivated wrote: The boat looks like new.
Are you friggin kidding me? YOUR BOAT IS NEW!
Philip
Penetrol has been around for years. Carried in paint stores for making paint easier to apply. Comes in pints, qts and gallons.. (if you have the Queen Mary).. Orange can in the thinner section.. cheers