aluminum hull and steel details - hazards?

Hello.

When it comes to aluminum hulls I understand it is a BIG no no to put something of steel where it might come in to contact with salty water (togeather with the alu), due to galvanic corrosion.

But when it comes to rigging stuff. (dont know the name in english) For example the side stay screws. They must be of steel right?

Can I put a steel hinge on a aly hatch in the cockpit?

/kalleo

 

You can use pasivated stainless steel to prevent corrosion. Also, there should be insulating sleeves and pads in between.

 

Stainless Heli-coils keep stainless fasteners from seizing in Aluminium (it doesn't matter if the heli-coil seizes in there)

 

Set the Heli-coil in lots of Loc-Tite. That should keep the oxygen out, and prevent corrosion.

For general corrosion resistance, use medium or low strength loc-tite on the screws you put into metal holes, and on nuts. It does seem to help prevent corrosion, and seems to be clearly better than nothing.

By the way, the Heli-coil requires a larger hole, so should be a little harder to strip out than the original aluminum threads, and clearly it will be harder than aluminum to damage through cross-threading. Heli-Coils are great.