Marquipt Boarding Stairs

[Pete]

I have a five step version of the Marquipt articulating boarding stairs that are constructed from anodized aluminum. Over the years of exposure, the anodizing has gone dull, very dull. No pitting of any consequence.

I would like to restore the cosmetic appearance of the stairs and am wondering if it is possible to have old anodized aluminum "re-anodized". This would be the ideal solution, rather than painting or powder coating. Any experience or advice on this would be appreciated.

Pete

 

[MikeP]

Try this before spending any additional money:

Spray the boarding ladder with Corrosion-X http://www.corrosionx.com/marine.html

After a few minutes wipe it off. It did a nice job on my terrible looking AL trim around the flybridge roof and it keeps the anodized trim on the windshields and side windows in excellent shape. It's not going to restore a pitted surface of course but it may surprise you with how well it may improve everything.

I use CorrosionX on the boat as the primary "chemical in a can/bottle" for more uses than I can think of, including electrical gear/connections. Great stuff and I order it in 4-pack cases. It was available at the Marine store I used in Long Island but I have never seen it at any store here around Kent Island/Annapolis, MD.

 

[Pete]

Mike, thanks for the advice. As you hinted, this product can be tough to find. No luck at WM, or any of the internet marine sites. Did locate it and ordered some from a Corvette restoration business. It came in both the standard strength and the HD version, so I got one each to give it a try. Maybe a while before I get to the stairs but I am restoring the original Simpson windlass at this time and decided to give the heavy duty stuff a try on the galvanized ratchet arm. A few spot on the arm have very small areas where the base metal is showing. When I sprayed it on the material bubbled a good bit and I thought that I was making a mess to be cleaned up. But, got a small foam paint brush and leveled it out and it looks great. Waiting to see how it dries and want to give the standard duty version a try soon. Thanks for the lead.

Pete

 

[MikeP]

Pete,

Hope you're happy with it. I've only used the standard (red can) version so I can't comment on the other versions. It's my understanding that the difference is in the amount of solvent but the active ingredient is the same.

The stuff is amazing and, from my personal experience, is able to restore electrical connections just by spraying it on the parts. My oem (1980) Raytheon Neco autopilot would not work when we bought the boat in 2004 - it would head off in random directions. I opened up and sprayed all the autopilot connections in every related "box" and terminal strip on the boat (probably 200 individual spade/screw connections). It has worked perfectly since then.

I use it in restoring old tube audio equipment and it does its magic there as well. Unfortunately, it can't automatically replace aging capacitors so that's still a soldering iron function!

 

[Robby]

Mike, thanks for the advice. As you hinted, this product can be tough to find. No luck at WM, or any of the internet marine sites. Did locate it and ordered some from a Corvette restoration business. It came in both the standard strength and the HD version, so I got one each to give it a try. Maybe a while before I get to the stairs but I am restoring the original Simpson windlass at this time and decided to give the heavy duty stuff a try on the galvanized ratchet arm. A few spot on the arm have very small areas where the base metal is showing. When I sprayed it on the material bubbled a good bit and I thought that I was making a mess to be cleaned up. But, got a small foam paint brush and leveled it out and it looks great. Waiting to see how it dries and want to give the standard duty version a try soon. Thanks for the lead.

Pete

Spruce and Specility.Its an airplane product.We spray entire airplanes with it for corriosion protection.877-477-7823 16 oz spray can pn09-42220 $15.26.Ask for a catalouge also.Bunch of good stuff in it.Robby