Salt water Rust on illusion ix tower

[Rogaytan]

Could you please advise on how to solve the rust that i have on my tower?

and what kind of product can I use to prevent this to happen again?

Please Follow these links for images

Thanks,

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b599/Rogaytan/image_zps7a72c4e4.jpg

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b599/Rogaytan/image_zpscbf6c114.jpg

[brad72]

Being aluminium it is corrosion and appears that he salt water is now wicking under the paint causing the issues and will continue to grow until treated.

Salt being soluble warm water will remove it but you need to scrub down through the pitting to get down to clean aluminium. Usually sand blasting does this the best but not something you would do whilst the tower is still on the boat. Any holes or pitting can be filled with epoxy then sanded to give a nice smooth surface. Next prime with some etch primer then topcoat outboard leg paint as is is designed for salt water use. Colour matching should not be a problem since the tower is black

Remember the better the prep work, the better your final result will be. I would also by some Salt-a-way and spray the boat down when you get home. It is a good product and will save a lot of damage to your boat.

[Rogaytan]

Being aluminium it is corrosion and appears that he salt water is now wicking under the paint causing the issues and will continue to grow until treated.

Salt being soluble warm water will remove it but you need to scrub down through the pitting to get down to clean aluminium. Usually sand blasting does this the best but not something you would do whilst the tower is still on the boat. Any holes or pitting can be filled with epoxy then sanded to give a nice smooth surface. Next prime with some etch primer then topcoat outboard leg paint as is is designed for salt water use. Colour matching should not be a problem since the tower is black

Remember the better the prep work, the better your final result will be. I would also by some Salt-a-way and spray the boat down when you get home. It is a good product and will save a lot of damage to your boat.

Thanks for your prompt response it helps a lot.

Those two spots are the only ones that shows up on the tower, would you consider it feasible to resolve this issue without the need of taking out the tower off the boat or to sandblast it?

I am concerned of hiring someone to do the job well done.

[brad72]

Can't see why you couldn't take to it with a steel brush until the alloy is nice and shiny and work from there. Sand blasting is just faster but only if the tower is removed which doesn't sound feasible.