Yep, I've had a mast like that, not nice on your hands either.
I threw mine away, but you should be able to paint a coat of resin over it with reasonable results.
It's just a bit difficult to get a finish that is smooth and thick enough.
Not sure what causes it, maybe UV degradation of the resin, or maybe the original lay up was a bit dry, leaving unwet out fibres just below the surface. So I've no idea how structurally sound the mast is, sould just snap on you, without much reason.

Yes Old masts do thata s the gelcoat has worn off.

Resin usually flakes off fairly quickly if you paint in on, as does normal paint.

Get a panel beater (car spraypainter) to paint it with 2 pac clear with lots of flexative additive in it so it won't crack.

However consider that the mast is not worth much if it is that old, so if they are going to charge more than $30 or a carton then it may be worth a new (2nd hand) mast at $100

Thats great, thanks for the responses!

Im not sure it will snap though, as a newbie, anything stronger than a breeze and Im staying on terra firma!

The other mast is a Sportex EPO 4.85m (made in Germany) it is much better condition.

I will try to flush out the glass from the luff sleeves before using it again.

thanks again guys
Jimmy

Greenleader has the answer..

I bought a secondhand mast three years ago and it was NASTY with prickles. I wet and dry sanded it all over with 240 grit, washed it down and let it dry out over night, then gave it three coats from a decent quality clear 'enamel' spray can with a light rub down between coats.

I'm going to have to give it another coat soon, but given the amount of use it's had in the meantime it's been a great solution.

My local repair guru says that the splinters are a combination of UV damage, and water ingress into the outer fibres over time. Salt water is particularly bad as the salt absorbed builds up over time and forces the splinters out.

Another benefit of a dose of spray paint is that a slippery smooth gloss finished mast is really easy to slide out of a wet mast sleeve without crinkling the sail.

It does take a while to stop being stabbed by small shards left in the mast sleeve - you just have to crash more in the meantime!

Sounds like the cheap clear spray then,

I will let you know how I get on.


thanks again

Jimmy

yes but a coat of resin and cement powder is heaps heavier than a coat of acrylic spray in windsurfing terms. think waterstarting, uphauling etc.
but yeah, nothing beats a filler resin and talcum powder coat for smooth insertion if thats really important to you above all else.

Sorry if I misled.
I only add enough talc to lightly thicken or discolour the resin . I still brush it on, preferably onto the still rough surface rather than a sanded one. less than 70gms? of resin would be plenty..
when the fumes vent off it would probably weigh that with the talc.
when sanded you can almost see the old mast surface underneath
If I have a mast that needs doing I just leave it out till Im glassing something else, then mix in a bit of talc to any leftover resin

both resin and acrylic versions are solid methods with possibly either worthy of a gold cup in rescuing a flexy spaggetti stick of a mast to rig a sail like a floppy piece of rag with 6 knots of wind range.