Corrosion Aluminum Boats

Hogwater · 02-25-2004, 06:58 PM

There must be more than a few people familar with this topic. Thought I would share my latest info and maybe get some feed back. I have a 2002 Thunder Jet and noticed corrision around the areas where major hardware is installed(fuel vents, anchor light, top fittings, tunnel brackets etc... I immediately stripped the Hardware and sanded the areas then spot primmed. Thunder Jet was nice enough to send me the paint for no cost but, because it is metallic, color matching can be difficult and expensive. Lucky for me Mark from Motion Marine suggested covering the areas with a 3M grip tape (soft plastic backing medium resillent) and because the corrosion is only in the areas of hardware the tape can be trimmed out, applied with adhesive backing and actually looks very nice. No painting required only spot prime with Zinc Chromate. Cutting nice radii in your patterns improves the appearence. Plus If I do repaint corrsion will return in just a few years. So I ordered the tape from a place in Ohio becuse I couldn't find it anywhere on the west coast, just got it today and it looks great. I am filling all the holes with marine grade silicone followed by the tape then the hardware. Saltwater is not the only contributing factor, electralisis? between the stainless steel and aluminum apparently is a big one also. The tape serves as a barrier between the metals and using common metals such as aluminum rivets also helps. Once I found the corrosion under just some of the hardware I pulled it all and found more that was unnoticable.

Most boat manufacturers we're not applying silicone or teflon washers in previous years, and its better to catch it early as this stuff spreads daily. If left alone total painting is required $$$$$$$$.

Comments, Questions and past experience is appreciated.
If you purchased a Thunder Jet recently this may be helpful.

Hog Water

Silver Hilton · 02-25-2004, 07:03 PM

My NR has nice little plastic washers under all the fittings. No corrosion yet after almost three years.

Hogwater · 02-25-2004, 07:10 PM

A buddy of mine has a NR also and He's having it painted for a second time. A good way to find out is to pull off the seat backing along the gunwal. Not saying you have a problem but it can lurk in other areas, if your boat is 2003 and you havn't benn in the salt much, could be ok.

02-25-2004, 07:12 PM

"My NR has nice little plastic washers under all the fittings"

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] A BIG ATABOY FOR NR [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Stainless reacts with aluminum and causes all kinds of problems.

blacktail519 · 02-25-2004, 07:19 PM

I was wondering why ThunderJet had such low reasonable prices at the Boat show :shocked: Evidently they're forgetting to put some components and parts on there boats :tongue:

Salmonator · 02-25-2004, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by blacktail519:
I was wondering why ThunderJet had such low reasonable prices at the Boat show :shocked: Evidently they're forgetting to put some components and parts on there boats :tongue:

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Yea, but think of how many plastic washers you could buy for another 5 grand :shocked: :grin:

Hogwater · 02-25-2004, 07:30 PM

Must be another NR owner, can't start a topic without getting into a manufacture debate. Actually the guy who told me where to check for corrosion has a NR thats being repainted. So since you don't have issues why reply.

Water Ready · 02-25-2004, 08:35 PM

Might want to put an ohm meter on your boat. As fast as it started(2002 model), could be a ground going through the boat. :depressed: Simple to do the test, just very hard to find them problem. Just my .02 Happy Fishn'

WaterDog · 02-26-2004, 05:19 AM

Motion Marine uses plastic washers on everything as well. You get what you pay for.

Electrolysis is a big issue on alumnium boats. Adding zincs will help.

[ 02-26-2004, 06:22 AM: Message edited by: WaterDog ]

02-26-2004, 07:55 AM

There should be zero contact between dissimilar metals on a boat, including different grades of aluminum. I even go as far as isolating any bolt that goes through my hill with these