Copper fittings in seawater

[charles_reed]

In our club we have the only fleet of Victories outside the UK.
These clinker boats are copper riveted throughout.
Their age range is over 65 years each.
The rivets only need replacing if a plank pops, but the integrity of the rivet itself does not seem to be affected....meaning...they don't corrode or crumble.

Kept afloat?

 

[charles_reed]

You'd be right if it was carbon fibre, but the one I found lying in a corner of our club yard was plain old GRP, so I don't think galvanic couples will be a problem. I'm guessing that what killed the old copper one was a connection to a stainless rudder shaft.

I'd assumed it was a aluminium extrusion - of course, in a board it's most likely GRPolyester.

 

[charles_reed]

I have come across some that were electroless nickel plated but some could well be chromium. As far as I can ascertain even bronze and DZR valves have brass balls. During the YM campaign we came across several valves that appeared to be perfect externally but the ball had corroded completely away.

That's why I finally went for glass reinforced nylon. I was offered a massive unit in alleged 316 stainless, but the boat already has a list to port...