To re paint the mast or strip it bare

[m_netherton]

I have a 1978 Endeavour sloop and I am looking at the original paint on the mast having 34 years of halyards slapping against it and general wear. I was looking at stripping it and repainting it next summer. Then someone suggested I strip it and leave it bare. I assume that it was a milled finish originally. Can this be done? or should I just repaint?

[Robbie.g]

Strip it, or sandblast it, spray it with nyalic and go sailing...

Oh and with the money you've saved by not painting it you can change out the wire halyards, that would've damaged the paint, for rope..... And then go sailing
Cheers.

http://www.nyalic.co.nz/