"Shelf hardening" is a term we use to describe the natural hardening of aluminum extrusions over time. It doesn't take that long to become a problem. Another issue is corrosion. We have to bend and machine, harden and anodize before they harden or corrode.
Still looking at my 20 and trying to figure which extrusion you bent? Skip the black and clear anodize it, black anodized aluminum doesn't age gracefully and I can paint the comp tip. Black will be "way cool" on your plastic boats, it was cool in the 80's, today I don't care.
