Posted by mitya fonin (mitbok1@…>)
There were a few posts on the freedom forum about painting CF masts.
Bet you can use any two part jell coats on it. I went with a rather cheesy and cheep way.
When the mast was down last summer, I wiped it with acetone to clean and degrease it. Masked out the sail track and halyard blocks. Than spray painted with a paint for plastic from Home Depot. About two coats, or basically until I couldn’t see black anymore. Mast was rather hot from the sun when I was painting it witch might have played a role in sticking to the jelcoat. I applied some clear heavy duty plastic tape in locations where lazy jacks rub on the mast. Also painted a last 12 inches of the mast with signal orange.
So far the paint stayed on without much wear accept for the part around goose neck. There it got somewhat dirty where sail cover goes around the mast. All the cracks I had on the mast are picked through the paint, that was expected. Flexing did not have any affect on the paint, I guess its thin and flexible enough to stay on. The orange tip had faded within a month from the sun even though I sprayed it with a UV protective spray ! To me it looks much better that when it was black. Contemplating painting the boom now.
If it moves - oil it, if it does not - paint it !
----- Original Message ----From: Doug Chace <ch47_av8r@…>To: freedom21@yahoogroups.comSent: Sunday, January 28, 2007 2:44:06 PMSubject: [freedom21] Re: Factory CF tabernacle mast
How did the paint hold up with the inherent flexing of the mast? What kind of paint did you use and would you recommend it to others? (my wife is pleased that we have a mast, but doesn’t want it to be black/faded) .Doug— In freedom21@yahoogrou ps.com, mitya fonin <mitbok1@… > wrote:>> I have a shoal draft, and the tabernacle caused me some grief last summer. From what I gather boat was sailed in New York harbor and was hitting some ocean swell and waves. I was out in the waves often as well. From all that rocking tabernacle wore off. The mast was noticeably moving back and forth and by the beginning of last years sailing season situation did not seem safe. I have tried to use shims to stiffen the set up but to no avail. Basically the aluminum pipe insert and tube both worn out developing a lot of play. In the middle
of the summer I have fused permanently both parts of the mast with fiberglass and epoxy. making it a solid mast again. There seems no other way for me to fix it since tolerances were different in upper and bottom parts of the tabernacle. I am not the first one to do this fix either. So, if you going to sail in some rocky waters beware of this problem. Also check for play when buying. As far as UV damage, cracks, etc. its all cosmetic. Outer> cote of epoxy is not structural. Corbon fiber is hiden safe under it. I painted mine wite last summer. Mostly for looks but this will probably take some sun heat off.> > > ----- Original Message ----> From: Richard <cookieseaman@ …>> To: freedom21@yahoogrou ps.com> Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 10:11:38 PM> Subject: [freedom21] Factory CF tabernacle mast>
I’m considering a shoal draft version with factory tabernacle mast and have a few > questions. Does the tabernacle joint form a solid fit once it’s stepped? Are there any > known structural failure risks with this mast? Is the CF mast treated to resist UV damage > to the resin? I notice that the black CF masts often appear dull as if heavily weathered, and > some have been painted. Does such weathering lead to mast failure? Given the cost of > replacement, should a prospective buyer be concerned about a > 20 yr. old mast > failing under normal use? Finally, any advice on assessing the condition of these masts? > Many thanks for any information you might have. Richard> > > > > > > ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _____________ __> Now that’s room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels>
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