Rust never sleeps, especially when it comes to metal components on a saltwater fishing boat. Yet, you can keep salt-borne corrosion at bay. Start with the correct metals.Marine MetalsFor rails and T-top frames, there are two choices: aluminum or stainless steel in alloys developed for marine applications such as 5086 aluminum and 316 stainless steel. For through-hull fittings below the waterline, use marine-grade bronze. Avoid brass or aluminum for fittings underwater — they just don’t have enough corrosion resistance.All bolts, screws, washers and nuts should be marine stainless, but take care to isolate fasteners from dissimilar metals such as aluminum. If direct contact takes place in a salty, moist environment, the less “noble” of the two metals (in this case, aluminum) tends to corrode quickly due to galvanic ...![outboard lower unit]()
