Scaramouch kindly donated some mast steps and Ive nearly completed stripping them down back to bare aluminum.
The reason they corrode after being painted is when opened and use it eventually cracks the paint where the step section is supported under weight from the mast mount and then there open to the weather
I ruled out painting them and also powder coating which leave to three left as I see it
1. leave them natural
2. coat them with Nyalic
3 . Anodizing them
I have not looked at the cost
What would every one else use ?
Ive done another 11/2 hours on then since this photo
There about 95% finished
Select to expand quotesouthace said...
Pure gold plated should do the trick Ho2
South Ace
What your postal address so I can send the gold plating bill 
Found out as the steps are cast aluminium they can't be anodized .that's a bit sad
Do you think Tectyl is worth a look?
petroleumservicecompany.com/industrial-long-term-rust-protection/
Select to expand quotesouthace said..
Pure gold plated should do the trick Ho2
thats a good idea .......... paint them gold , as a artistic statement , referring to the cost of boat building !!!!
Would you not paint them the same way as you did your mast?
If you found a coating that was better than the mast coating you had already applied, you will have a crap looking mast - with good looking steps.
OR
If you applied a coating that was worse than the coating on the mast, you will end up with crap looking steps - and a nice mast.
Hopefully the coating will last a good long time....at the very least longer than you, so it won't be your problem?
Select to expand quotenods said..
Would you not paint them the same way as you did your mast?
If you found a coating that was better than the mast coating you had already applied, you will have a crap looking mast - with good looking steps.
OR
If you applied a coating that was worse than the coating on the mast, you will end up with crap looking steps - and a nice mast.
Hopefully the coating will last a good long time....at the very least longer than you, so it won't be your problem?
I dont usually like speaking for somone else , but I will anyway ..... to quote HG "The reason they corrode after being painted is when opened and use it eventually cracks the paint where the step section is supported under weight from the mast mount and then there open to the weather"
so I think he was looking for an alternative to paint .....
Exactly Sands painting would look great until they were used several times then the paint or powder coat cracks and the corrosion begins .
But the problem become worst as then the paint jams the step from being opened.
Some of the steps the paint flakes and jams between the two part.
If I was buying new mast steps Id buy the Nylon ones there exactly the same as these but Nylon .
I used Kill rust epoxy white after a coat of primer on my mast maybe Ill just do it to the steps and worry latter 
Be a lot easier
