I would like to get input and/or recommendations on types of primer and paint to re-due my mast. I will be stripping it down to bare aluminum. It will have to be primed and painted from top to bottom. I have been to West Marine, but I was not comfortable with the advice. There are so many brands and types of paints for metals, but I want to find what works best for an aluminum mast. I remember seeing an article in BoatWorks magazine on this subject, but I cannot find my issue with that article. Any suggestions from this forum would be helpful in my planning. Thanks in advance! Marty
Prep & Paint Aluminum Mast
- Thread starter mjd Seafarer
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Mast refinish
I refinished my mast last year. It had been painted from the factory, but not since then from what I could tell. I gave it a thorough washing and degreasing after removing as much hardware as possible. Then I wet sanded it with 220 grit. I used Interlux Brightside and the white primer that goes with it. Two coats of primer to level everything, then two topcoats - wet sanding between coats. I used the roll and tip method to apply the finish. It has held up very well for me. My mast and boom are Kenyon, but I would think that this could be done on any mast that has been previously painted. Good Luck! Ellis
I refinished my mast last year. It had been painted from the factory, but not since then from what I could tell. I gave it a thorough washing and degreasing after removing as much hardware as possible. Then I wet sanded it with 220 grit. I used Interlux Brightside and the white primer that goes with it. Two coats of primer to level everything, then two topcoats - wet sanding between coats. I used the roll and tip method to apply the finish. It has held up very well for me. My mast and boom are Kenyon, but I would think that this could be done on any mast that has been previously painted. Good Luck! Ellis
Awlgrip
I would use the below mtheod but instead use Awlgrip (roll and tip). I just redid my mast this past Spring and the boat looks great - nice upgrade!
I would use the below mtheod but instead use Awlgrip (roll and tip). I just redid my mast this past Spring and the boat looks great - nice upgrade!
I did my boom over the winter.
I sanded the old black paint down to bare aluminum with 100, 150, then 220 grit with a random orbit sander. That went quickly enough and cleaned up all the imperfections. My mast and boom are also Kenyon. I also used Interlux but I went with the 2-part primer and 2-part finish coats called Perfection (I think). First, I used one coat of bare metal primer by rustoleum (make sure it is for oil based paint). I put two coats of the 2-part primer and 4 coats of the 2-part Perfection. I used a 1" brush. I wet sanded lightly between coats with 300 grit. The 2-part paints are expensive and a real PIA to work with and clean. I had to clean the brush with acetone between coats. When I got down to the last 2 coats I did only one side at a time to eliminate any kind of imperfection where the boom was resting. If you could hang it up with dowels at the ends I suppose that would help. I think one pint of primer and Perfection is enough to do the mast and boom. The boom turned out so well that I am looking forward to doing the mast this winter (I didn't want to drop it last winter, but I will this year for sure). I did the boom indoors and I can get the mast in my basement also, so I will do it indoors as well.
I sanded the old black paint down to bare aluminum with 100, 150, then 220 grit with a random orbit sander. That went quickly enough and cleaned up all the imperfections. My mast and boom are also Kenyon. I also used Interlux but I went with the 2-part primer and 2-part finish coats called Perfection (I think). First, I used one coat of bare metal primer by rustoleum (make sure it is for oil based paint). I put two coats of the 2-part primer and 4 coats of the 2-part Perfection. I used a 1" brush. I wet sanded lightly between coats with 300 grit. The 2-part paints are expensive and a real PIA to work with and clean. I had to clean the brush with acetone between coats. When I got down to the last 2 coats I did only one side at a time to eliminate any kind of imperfection where the boom was resting. If you could hang it up with dowels at the ends I suppose that would help. I think one pint of primer and Perfection is enough to do the mast and boom. The boom turned out so well that I am looking forward to doing the mast this winter (I didn't want to drop it last winter, but I will this year for sure). I did the boom indoors and I can get the mast in my basement also, so I will do it indoors as well.
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