Re: aluminum oxidation
Sound like you have powered coated aluminum. Like stainless steel, aluminum doesnt really oxidize past the first few molecules in contact with the air. If other minerals come in contact with it there is a problem with galvanic corrosion. I suspect what has happened is the powder coat got a hole in it and water with dissolved minerals was trapped next to the aluminum, the galvanic corrosion just creeps along under the powder coat. Could also be epoxy coated aluminum, youd get the same result.<br /><br />Obviously, clean up the mess. Youll probably find white powder under the bubbles. If you want to paint the bracket, you should clean the aluminum, wash it with a mild acid like vinegar, and apply a zinc chromate primer. The best you can do is remove the bracket, take it to be bead blasted (like sand blasting, but with glass beads), then have the bracket re-baked with a new powder coating. Probably cost you in the neighborhood of $100USD for blasting and coating.<br /><br />If you opt for powder coating, look in the yellow pages under powder coating, call and ask what colors they are running. Companies that do powder coating often have large production runs for other manfing companies. If they are running a color you can live with you can often slip in your piece for next to nothing.<br /><br />Oh, and welcome to iboats!<br />
