Rusty stanchion bases

[oilybilge]

Afternoon all. My stanchion bases -- all of 'em -- begin to look like this after a year or two. Rusty water seeps out from the through-hole and stains the deck beneath. A couple of years ago I replaced all the through-bolts / washers / nylocs with A4 stainless ones but it didn't make any difference. I think the rust is coming from inside. Trapped water perhaps. I don't know what sort of stainless they used, but the welding seems crude. I suspect they might have been a homebrew version made locally when the boat was built in the 1970s.

is there anything to be done (short of getting new stanchions) or do I just have to keep cleaning them with Bar Keepers Friend? Cheers!

 

[greeny]

Welding looks a bit ropy. They look like 304 ss rusts on a boat. Are they homemade of 304? That would explain it.

 

[vyv_cox]

Chemical cleaning is a mild form of corrosion that generates its own small pits. These are active, so are readily corroded themselves. I suggest you use abrasive methods instead, polish mechanically with a commercial s/s compound. We always used Creme Cleaner, mildly abrasive, cheap and very effective

 

[KompetentKrew]

Would be very easy to make identical replacements in 316, which won't rust.

Give it credit - it's a nice simple design to take to a fabricator.

 

[oilybilge]

We always used Creme Cleaner, mildly abrasive, cheap and very effective

Thanks. Do you mean something like Cif?

 

[vyv_cox]

Thanks. Do you mean something like Cif?

Yes, you might need something slightly.more abrasive first. 1000 wet and dry

 

[PCUK]

304 is fine. 316 rusts just as badly if never polished. These bases need machine polishing and they won't rust as quickly. First use 1000 grit as per Vyv, then a mop on a mini grinder and polishing rouge (and eye protection).