Aluminum Corrosion

My mast has a few spots where the metal has started to corrode. It looks like in most places, this has been caused by stainless steel items mounted on the mast (for example, the mounting bracket for the VHF antenna).

My job for this weekend is to remove these items and clean up the mast.

1. sand down with paper and brush
2. apply etching paint and wash
   
3. apply expoy primer
4. paint with aluminum spar paint
   

I've bought a new antenna (the old one looks like it has had it). All of the stainless steel needs to bedded with a layer of silicone to provide an electrically insulated layer between the aluminum and the steel (electrolosis between the metals is what causes the corrosion).

Some of the fittings are riveted to the mast. I need to find a way of removing these. I think if I try and drill them out, the rivets will just spin in place.

I'm also installing new lights at the top of the mast. I need to find a way of securing the electrical cables and the VHF cable at the top of the mast so that they're not secured by the equipment alone.