Fixing a pylon scratch

[swc5150]

Does anyone know the best way to fix a pylon scratch from a trick release or boom? I'm actually not sure if these things are powder coated, anodized or painted? Any help would be great!

[oldslalomskier]

RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

They are hard anno. Good luck fixing.

[AirTool]

Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

They are hard anno. Good luck fixing.

I read or heard somewhere they were teflon coated.

[DanielC]

RE: Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

I think the Teflon is just in the rope groove, or grooves if you have the "Air" pylon, formerly known as the "barefoot" pylon.

[skijones]

RE: Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

Black sharpie

[Hollywood]

RE: Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

cover it up with a trick release or boom clamp

[swc5150]

RE: Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

I'm having my rear vents chromed, so I'm thinking about having the pylon chromed at the same time. It would then match the rest of the hardware in the boat, and the scratch would be gone.

[WakeSlayer]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

I'm thinking about having the pylon chromed at the same time. and the scratch would be gone.

Until you scratch the chrome with the boom mount or trick release again. I am not sure this is a good durable solution for you pylon. Plus it would expensive as all get out to have it done in the first place.

[Hollywood]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

I thought chroming aluminum was kind of tough to begin with.

Why not just sand off the finish and buff the pylon, it will look like chrome.

[AirTool]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

I thought chroming aluminum was kind of tough to begin with.

Why not just sand off the finish and buff the pylon, it will look like chrome.

Great minds think alike. My thoughts exactly.

[2gofaster]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

Sanding that hard anodized finish isn't going to be easy. It truly is hard. Someone stuck a trick release on my 05 that didn't fit the pylon and it scratched the backside of the groove. We noticed within a week that it was fraying our ski ropes. I got out there with some emory cloth first to polish the scratches. That was futile. Then some 80 grit paper. That worked better. But not well enough. Then had to go down to 30 grit, followed by 80, followed by 180.

Anodizing finish is aluminum oxide. You can remove this with sodium hydroxide(oven cleaner contains it). Keep in mind, that part of the reason the pylon is as scratch resistant as it is is the fact that it's anodized. You get rid of the anodized coating and ropes will start to wear the groove.

[Hollywood]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

http://www.finishing.com/2000-2199/2076.shtml

For mechanical removal, if you can put it in a lathe that will save tons of time and muscle.

What's the price of a brand new pylon anyway, $300?

[bobchris]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

use the sharpie and call it a day your not going to remove the anodizing with making it look like crap so cover it up and live with it.

[swc5150]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

Good point on the price of a new pylon. For now, I'll take a sharpie to it, and decide from there. It's a tiny scratch, but it just bugs me. It's like an itch I can't scratch!

[bobchris]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fixing a pylon scratch

not sure if this is possible or not, but if the pylon is straight without a bend like the older ones have, I'm not exactly sure on your actuall style pylon, but if it is staight, you might be able to rotate it 180 or some amount, if a cross pin is used then 180 if it is clamped them you can position it at any angle, but rotate the scratch to a less noticable area, just a thought.