New mast cleats--Which way to go?

[Mario]

Virtually all of Rhapsody's aluminum mast cleats, which are undoubtedly 20 years old, have lost the black finish and are pitted and rough. I am considering replacing or refinishing them. Refinishing sounds like a time-consuming job. Replacing with Scaheffer aluminum cleats will be very expensive; replacing them with nylon much less so. I see other brands listed at Sailnet that are chrome or aluminum over bronze.

Naturally, wanting to do the most for the least amount of money and hassle, I'm hoping that replacing with nylon cleats is justified in terms of strength and durability. However, I don't know whether going with nylon could result in equipment failure in the future. Keep in mind that we don't (voluntarily) do heavy weather sailing here on the Bay.

Are nylon cleats a viable alternative to aluminum? Suggestions?

Thanks--

Mario
s/v Rhapsody
CD30 #252
Regent Point, Virginia



capedory252NOSPAM@aol.com

[Olli Wendelin]

Mario,

Get aluminum cleats, or polish yours with emory cloth. I have both aluminum and plastic (nylon?) cleats for reefing on my CD30. The plastic ones are either cracked or flex greatly. Try finding cleats which match your existing holes in the mast.

Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC



wendelin@spawar.navy.mil

[Mario]

Thanks, Olli--I'm not sure emory cloth would do the job here, as it's pretty rough, but I haven't tried it. Regular sandpaper or something similar if emory cloth doesn't cut it?

Mario

Mario,

Get aluminum cleats, or polish yours with emory cloth. I have both aluminum and plastic (nylon?) cleats for reefing on my CD30. The plastic ones are either cracked or flex greatly. Try finding cleats which match your existing holes in the mast.

Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC

capedory252NOSPAM@aol.com

[John R.]

Olli gave you good advice. The preferable way to clean them up would be to bead blast them. Other than that a more common way for the average person would be to use a bench grinder with a very fine wire wheel or try a 3M abrasive pad disc (like a scotch pad) in a drill. Another alternative is to have them chemically dipped. Then I would have them anodized or powder coated.

You may just want to purchase new ones. You could use stainless but be sure and use a thin rubber or plastic isolator gasket under it.

Other choices would be Almag (aluminum magnesium) or bronze, Marelon (glass filled nylon). Stay away from chrome plating, it will pit and peel in time.

Thanks, Olli--I'm not sure emory cloth would do the job here, as it's pretty rough, but I haven't tried it. Regular sandpaper or something similar if emory cloth doesn't cut it?

Mario

Mario,

Get aluminum cleats, or polish yours with emory cloth. I have both aluminum and plastic (nylon?) cleats for reefing on my CD30. The plastic ones are either cracked or flex greatly. Try finding cleats which match your existing holes in the mast.

Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC

[Scott Ritchey]

Bronze on aluminum has serious galvanic corrosion potential. Advise against it.

Olli gave you good advice. The preferable way to clean them up would be to bead blast them. Other than that a more common way for the average person would be to use a bench grinder with a very fine wire wheel or try a 3M abrasive pad disc (like a scotch pad) in a drill. Another alternative is to have them chemically dipped. Then I would have them anodized or powder coated.

You may just want to purchase new ones. You could use stainless but be sure and use a thin rubber or plastic isolator gasket under it.

Other choices would be Almag (aluminum magnesium) or bronze, Marelon (glass filled nylon). Stay away from chrome plating, it will pit and peel in time.

Thanks, Olli--I'm not sure emory cloth would do the job here, as it's pretty rough, but I haven't tried it. Regular sandpaper or something similar if emory cloth doesn't cut it?

Mario

Mario,

Get aluminum cleats, or polish yours with emory cloth. I have both aluminum and plastic (nylon?) cleats for reefing on my CD30. The plastic ones are either cracked or flex greatly. Try finding cleats which match your existing holes in the mast.

Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC

RitcheyVS@aol.com

[John R.]

Use a gasket like with stainless.

Bronze on aluminum has serious galvanic corrosion potential. Advise against it.

Olli gave you good advice. The preferable way to clean them up would be to bead blast them. Other than that a more common way for the average person would be to use a bench grinder with a very fine wire wheel or try a 3M abrasive pad disc (like a scotch pad) in a drill. Another alternative is to have them chemically dipped. Then I would have them anodized or powder coated.

You may just want to purchase new ones. You could use stainless but be sure and use a thin rubber or plastic isolator gasket under it.

Other choices would be Almag (aluminum magnesium) or bronze, Marelon (glass filled nylon). Stay away from chrome plating, it will pit and peel in time.

Thanks, Olli--I'm not sure emory cloth would do the job here, as it's pretty rough, but I haven't tried it. Regular sandpaper or something similar if emory cloth doesn't cut it?

Mario