Sailing Catalpa · video

What this video covers

The crew of the *Catalpa* is stripping, sanding, and refinishing their main mast and mizzen mast while in a boatyard.Watch To address surface corrosion and peeling paint, they are sanding the aluminum masts to bare metal using 80-to-240 grit sandpaper, with plans for a final 400-to-600 grit polish before applying Neuralac, a clear-coat polymer sealer.0:27 The crew opted for manual sanding over local sandblasting services after observing that the coarse media used on fishing boats leaves the aluminum too heavily etched for a smooth finish.4:14 During the process, they are inspecting all welds for cracks and addressing corrosion around mast fittings by oversizing screw holes and tapping new threads.2:58 Additionally, they are removing old incandescent spreader lights to install energy-efficient Lumatec LED units.8:51 The project also involves troubleshooting a seized furler bearing and managing electrolysis issues caused by stainless steel hardware on aluminum surfaces.8:34 Proper surface preparation and sealing are essential for preventing further corrosion on aluminum masts.

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