It looks like the previous owner of my boat hand painted the aluminum hatches. The job might have looked better years ago, but now, lots of the paint is chipping off and it looks pretty bad. I'm thinking I can take most of the remaining paint off with a drill/dremel and a wire brush. Once I get the paint off and expose the aluminum, I'm thinking that I have two choices... I could start with an acid etching primer and add several coats of paint. Or, I'm sure it would be far easier to coat & periodically recoat the metal surfaces with a wax. I'd prefer the latter, (since I'd rather be sailing than painting!), but would the periodic waxing provide sufficient protection for aluminum? BTW, I'm in the northeast and dockside, so any salt spray gets washed off regularly. Larry
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I'm with Larry. Aluminum will form an oxide in about 15 minutes of being exposed to the air. The oxide is (duhaaa) aluminum oxide which is the stuff they make sand paper out of. Pretty tough. I have noted that my aluminum mast holds up pretty well without paint. You may not like the color however. Wax will be a waste of time as sooner or later the wax will be off for 15 minutes and then the oxide will form. Roosa Family TRITIUM
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