Tap in the heads - ££=lasts longer?

[MoodySabre]

A couple of seasons ago I replaced the old leaking shower pull out tap with a normal tap like this. The chrome has pitted presumably due to salt corrosion. Now, it was a cheapy off ebay so will one that costs three times as much fair any better?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

you need a stainless steel one.... chrome is far too vulnerable to corrosion.

 

[nigelmercier]

I bought a real one about 4 years ago, now to be replaced with cheap one from eBay.

 

[MoodySabre]

you need a stainless steel one.... chrome is far too vulnerable to corrosion.

Expensive or what

 

[northwind]

Expensive or what

Plastic tap?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Expensive or what

yep....

 

[Vara]

Bought one of these from eBay about 4 years ago, £20 IIRC, not a sign of corrosion on it.

Probably unlucky.

 

[GrahamM376]

Fitted 2 of these around 8-9 years ago, still working well. http://www.ecs-marine-equipment.co.uk/marine-equipment/retractable-shower-unit-item-3596.html

 

[charles_reed]

chrome plating is quite porous - that's why decent plating always used to have a 1st strike of Ni on mild steel before the chrome.

RR used to chrome 304 stainless for bumpers at one time and a few Jags did the same.

 

[MoodySabre]

Fitted 2 of these around 8-9 years ago, still working well. http://www.ecs-marine-equipment.co.uk/marine-equipment/retractable-shower-unit-item-3596.html

Not much more than a mixer tap. What is the relevance of the hose ID - presumably the base and the tails are the same size

Tap are still only chromed though

 

[FullCircle]

Just wipe it down after use? Can't see that you have a really toxic atosphere in your fine craft?

Or just cheapy unlucky this time?

 

[Cantata]

I fitted a regular household unit from B&Q after the original s/s job failed with no availability of spares. After 4 years or so it is still in perfect condition.

 

[Gordonmc]

I got one very similar from Lidl for very few Pounds.
I have yet to fit it, but at the price it would be worth the risk of failure.

 

[TiggerToo]

Can't see that you have a really toxic atosphere in your fine craft?

someone pointed out that the smell (of rotten eggs) which most of us are familiar with when the boat is unattended for long (>3 day) periods, is caused by sulphides produced by bacterial activity in the head's pipes. These sulphides are very corrosive and are probably responsible for the degradation of chromed finishes on taps, etc.

Makes sense to me.

We may have to resort to SS-fittings (or gold, if you are a mobo).