This is an odd question but I need an answer

[ConchoMan]

Ok I have a fiberglass mast and sail off of a windboard. I am planning on fixing the mast onto a flat bottom aluminum boat (also I am going to build outriggers out of some metal pipeing for the cross bars and most likely large PVC pipe for the pontoons. I feel I am more then capable of doing this as i have already done so with my canoe. Althought that was not very safe and we almost flipped it a few times. Now my question is on the mast it is made of fiberglass (made by bic) but does not have any paint or coating on it. I also know that you can get fiberglass splinters from it as I already did. Nothing large just little dust size pieces the mast is not cracked or damaged in any way. I am wonding if it would be alright to use common walmart spray pant to seal it or should I use some specialty sealer on it. Many thanks

[rwatson]

I assume that the mast is fairly smooth despite the small 'splinters', so maybe a bit of a roughen up with 100 grit paper for a surface coating to hold on to may be in order.
The spray paints are usually a bit cheap and nasty and fall off pretty quickly - I have had better success for less cost by getting a small can of quality gloss house paint, make a sort of long narrow bath out of something cheap (aluminium foil) and tip the paint over the mast and let it 'drip dry' - that way you get a smooth finish like spraying.
If you have to buy the PVC pipe to make outriggers, you may find it cheaper to get a sheet of marine ply, do a triangular prism shape with stitch and glue out of three shaped panels, and get a lot more flotation for a lot less money. I have found the PVC pipe cracks and breaks easily on impact, wears out in UV exposure unless it has a fibreglass coating, so the plywood method usually produces a much more satisfactory and cost effective answer.
You could also use bits out of the same sheet of plywood to make the crossbeams if you are a bit of a woodworker , but steel or aluminium pipe would be fine too.
Have fun