Noticed my alloy boom is getting a lot of white (rust?) on it..... I wash my booms after every session, and pull them apart and give them a decent scrub..... still the white comes up....
Any ideas? Should I even be concerned? Or getting some alloy polish perhaps? I don't want it getting stuck down the track... and typically like to take care of my gear....
Thoughts?
I have an ally boom and the extension was totally seized on one side. I managed to give it a few adjustments with the knock-o-meter and some WD40 and that freed it up. Once it was free i sprayed a bit more WD40 on it and the white corrosion/build up disappeared.
I'll be using it more often because the lubricant displaces the water to prevent that from happening again. Regular maintenance will always be need but.
I here this stuff is popular with pro windsurfers for use on masts not sure about booms:
www.mclubemarine.com/sailkote/
Thanks for that. Not 100% sure about WD40 - would that stuff eat away the foam in the core of the boom?
^^^great idea
Also try your local yacht shop. they have a good range of products ideal for this exact purpose
or on a new boom, CRC Dry Glide. A teflon spray that dries clear but protects and stays slippery
Had the same thing on a new boom after first use and fresh water wash. Usually take tail out completely to wash and suspect it is putting them back together wet (a type of crevice corrosion?). Since then I just leave it in two pieces until next session or completely dry - no problems on my other boom (purchased about the same time).
Have also got less a**l about washing gear every time and still no problems.
Also it was a cheap ally boom so coating maybe not the best.
^^^"The long-term active ingredient is a non-volatile, viscous oil which remains on the surface, providing lubrication and protection from moisture. This is diluted with a volatile hydrocarbon to give a low viscosity fluid which can be sprayed and thus penetrate crevices. The volatile hydrocarbon then evaporates, leaving the oil behind. A propellant (originally a low-molecular weight hydrocarbon, now carbon dioxide) provides gas pressure in the can to force the liquid through the spray nozzle, then itself diffuses away."
