Help identifying this sort of metal

[Tranona]

Would be OK and about half the price of stainless. However stainless is better 40*3mm stainless is about £20 a metre for 304 and a fiver more for 316. bit more difficult to drill, but a supplier like metals4you will cut it to length for you.

 

[Macka1706]

Just buy some "Anodised Ally" or 316 Stainless flatbar. sized to suit.
304 rust spots like hell in a marine environment
Me, I prefer the "feel" of nice Teak. on my 1985 32ft Steel cutter. (Pugh Moonwind). She went round single Hander in '90 by herself.Aussie to Aussie.
I've single handed for near 65yrs myself, ONLY way to go. No responsibility for others and nobody to blame but yourself.

 

[burgundyben]

For metal polishing and chrome try this guy.

 

[Iliade]

View attachment 156219
Mine look like this! I guess they were shiny 50 years ago. Does the team think I could get them chromed or something?

That 'crystalline' patina looks like galvanised steel to me...

 

[Iliade]

Would aluminium be a bad choice for this sort of thing?

Pure Al would be hopeless, but an apppropriate alloy, anodised, would last as long as the rest of the boat.