To paint or not to paint
Re: To paint or not to paint
these masts are slowly degraded by heat and uv which causes the cracking, the outer regular fiberglass wrapping was not structural , but put in place to protect the inner carbon fiber layup ,if the cracking is pronounced then the only remedy is to use the sock referbishment method , if there is superficial light cracking or none at all is is a good idea to paint the mast to prevent further exposure. if you use a hard paint you will have cracks because the mast is old and is constantly flexing , there is a paint that will remain flexible and last indefinitely that is laytex elastomeric paint usually used to seal concrete inexpensive and availible at box stores , make sure to clean mast thoroughly and use compatalible primer. it is thick and can be applied with a roller , the only downside is that it only comes in a matt finish and is not "yacht like" hope this helps A
Re: To paint or not to paint
Hi Adam, thanks for the tip but at this stage I have decided against paint and will just give the mast a good waxing before next season. I plan to maintain a regimen of pulling the mast, inspecting and waxing. I am not sure where you live but here in the UK heat and lots of sunshine are not as often a problem and are usually a welcome break from the norm. As I sit here writing this at 8.30am local, after sunup, it is still dark, windy and raining, so not much UV damage today .
The cracks on my mast are superficial and look like the result of stress in the gelcoat due to mast bend, I have noticed gelcoat crazing in stress points in other boats I have owned, usually at the deck/hull join. Also my hull suffers the same oxidisation of the resins and I just polish and wax that. I know the mast gelcoat is not so thick as that on the hull, hence I will not use any abrasive polishing so just an annual waxing.
The cracks on my mast are superficial and look like the result of stress in the gelcoat due to mast bend, I have noticed gelcoat crazing in stress points in other boats I have owned, usually at the deck/hull join. Also my hull suffers the same oxidisation of the resins and I just polish and wax that. I know the mast gelcoat is not so thick as that on the hull, hence I will not use any abrasive polishing so just an annual waxing.
Rockin - F21 twin drop keels - located Whitehaven, Cumbria, UK