Varnishing Carbon Masts, what to use?

Originally posted by Daniel Holman Originally posted by RS400atC Originally posted by Daniel Holman With paint you will have to prime first then flat before paint and UV laquer, so more stages than laquer / varnish. Most masts are made male on mandrels so would look gash painted unless faired - more work. I've had reasonable success with durepox clear on carbon, rolled and tipped. Always goes best with a flat back and a glamour coat, but if sprayed in dust free environment its 2 coats job done Thanks for that. I've used perfection in the past and it's lasted well. I was hoping to avoid buying £45 worth just to do one mast. I think the debate about the merits of white are moot as the class rules are closed and permit only re-varnishing.So, re-varnished it will be. I'm not a huge fan of carbon on show, it was 'modern' when my 1992 motorbike was new. Well, as I see it varnished carbon masts are the quickest honest to goodness way of providing visually acceptable UV protection on a male moulded carbon spar. Not the same as a halfords wheel arch trim on a saxo and all that sillyness. £45 is peanuts when compared to doing it professionally, although most of the cost is in the prep.

Edited by jeffers - 07 Aug 18 at 12:19pm

You don't mention which boat but if class rules mandate clear 'varnish' then, as you say, the white/pink discussion is moot. 

I can see paint has UV advantages, but I'm not convinced white is so much better than another pale colour. Why not a pink mast, or a baby blue one? You could match a yellow hull, say, or maybe contrast a dark blue hull with an orange mast.

Interesting that one reason aluminium masts became so popular compared to wood was the lack of varnishing needed, but we have gone full circle.

Clear coat carbon is just to show off that you have carbon. But it’s mature technology now, so surely no need to boast about it.  Could you vinyl wrap the mast, at least the stiff part below the hounds?