Broken P Bracket

[Daverw]

I've just taken boat out due to broken P Bracket, its a single glassed in strut. Removed the broken section today ready to replace it.

Looking at the broken section looks like it's corroded and narrowed around as it entered the hull. It's cast bronze / brass of some sort and otherwise in good condition.

Looking at two options for replacement, cast mag bronze or stainless. Any comments, the failed one is original in the boat from 1986 so survived over 30 years.

 

[Tranona]

You have potentially the same problem with stainless but for different reasons. Where the strut goes into the hull is potential for water to get in if the sealing fails creating perfect conditions for crevice corrosion.

I expect your failure was due to dezincification - you will be able to tell if the section that failed is pink (copper) with a crumbly looking texture. If so then wiring the replacement to a hull anode or attaching a button anode to the strut should minimize the chances of it happening again.

 

[Daverw]

Looking at it the area of break is rough and different colour, not sure if pink.
I do plan to seal and fair in better. The failed strut had no connection to an anode or none fitted, the prop shaft has one but of course the cutlass bearing isolates this from the strut. The prop shaft although nice and bent due to having to get back to mooring following failure shiws no signs of any corrosion at all.

The cast bronze replacement is about 6 weeks and the stainless about 2 weeks so need to decide which option so I can get her back in the water.