Discoloration on mast?

[hscrugby]

Looking for a boat for the family, found an older Cape Dory that we all like. But I am not sure whether I should be worried about this.
Obviously, I'd get a real surveyor etc, but I'd rather not pay that and waste time if all the brown is a sure sign of corrosion etc.
We've looked at several boats, but hadn't seen discoloration and "stripes" like that before. Including some boats that were NOTHING but corrosion. (And one that managed to sink in a field. )

[Orion Jim]

I’ve never seen anything like that on an anodized aluminum mast. Perhaps it’s a replacement....perhaps it was painted and the paint has failed? My mast is 36 years old and in fine shape, the anodizing is still effective and even in color.

[thinwater]

Notice the pattern, how the stripes all come from in front, even very close to fittings.


I wonder if something dripped on it while the mast was stored on horses. Something like that.

[hscrugby]

Yea, either that or it's real fast and hit a flock of seagulls? [emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]
I'm kinda of leaning towards something stained it at some point. Wish I'd had a better zoom lens with me or used the drone to get closer pictures.
That said, I think the boss is leaning towards more money to hit more check boxes, so we might not be surveying/buying this one too find out there real answer.

Thanks for replies.

[JPA Cate]

How about a 304 topping lift rusting onto it?

[roverhi]

Aluminum corrosion is white. That's most likely a stain from some external source. A bit ugly but may be able to clean off with a little Oxalic acid and scrubbing. If you had a ATN Mast Climber could easily go up and have a look to see if the underlying metal has been etched. Unfortunately, most surveyors don't do any rigging checking above deck level so a survey, unless you got a rigging survey, won't help. You could probably sand it off but that would most likely remove the anodizing leaving the aluminum open to more serious oxidation.

[amarinesurveyor]

I notice that the stain is close to the color of the sun covers on the head sails. Maybe the color is coming from that?