Can I replace Bronze Bolts with Stainless ones?

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mikecontessa26

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The bolts in question are to replace the corroded Bronze bolts that we holding my rudder on. The Pintels (I think thats what they're called) are made of Bronze.

Any thoughts? Thanks Mike
 
Try Anglia stainless:


Shepherds Grove Industrial Estate, Stanton, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 2AR Tel: 01359 251414

I've always found them very helpful (and yes they do Bronze as well as stainless)
 
I'm no expert but something doesn't sound right here. Bronze bolts should not corrode. I recollect reading somewhere that the correct grade of bronze is preferable to stainless steel for underwater applications. I would recommend further research or getting advice from a more knowlegeable source before installing stainless bolts.
 
no, not a good idea. stainless relies on an oxide film and as it is continually rubbed off on the pintles., the stainless will corrode / wear quickly.
 
How big are they, I have a handfull of bronze bolts in the shed, waiting for a job..

They are around 1/2" (guesstimate) and 5" long, partial thread.

If they are of use I might go a hunting..
 
One of the the bronze bolts on my Blakes seacock failed about 15 years ago. I got on to the dealers for a new set, and the guy on the telephone asked how long the old ones had lasted. I said about ten years, and he said " yes, thats about right". This was very upsetting to me, I did not want to worry about vital fittings failing, so I replaced them with stainless steel. Every time I haul out, I pull one to check it, and they are still fine, bedded on a non-hardening sealant.
The trouble with the boat industry is that they "know " that the average boat owner does not keep his or her boat for very long.
 
Why will stainless corrode more quickly if in contact with copper? Copper is less noble than stainless so it should be the copper that is sacrificed.
Will the oxide film be affected by copper more than other metals? Or will the copper be eroded out of the bronze? My metallurgy isn't up to these sort of questions!
 
Use silicon bronze, bolts form angkia stainless steel, the old ones were probaly some kind of bronze with zinc in them, not "real" bronze.
 
Ok, thanks everyone, Dogwatch thanks for the offer of bolts, i've left them with a wooden boat builder on the yeard to see if he can source bronze bolts for me. Failing that as Red Admiral is a CO26 of the same vintage i may just opt for Stainless as I have these readily available, i'll monitor them throughout the season. They're not actually below the waterline so corrosion shouldn't be great.

Thanks

Mike
 
Even below the waterline, stainless & bronze coexist quite well and are galvanically reasonably close to each other (think bronze prop, stainless shaft).

The main problem with stainless underwater is crevice corrosion in a low oxygen environment. But thats an underwater only problem, its hard to have low oxygen above the waterline.

-> Although bronze is the ideal material, I believe 316 stainless bolts will be perfectly fine for many, many seasons (decades) above the waterline.
 
Bronze is readily available from Anglia by return. If the fittings are really bronze, which I think they are, then get the proper bolts. 15 -20 years at least, but probably for ever. The bronze bolts holding my bronze shoe/bottom rudder bearing are 17 years old and are like new - came undone perfectly two years a go.
 
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