Stainless steel or Bronze screws??

[62 woodie]

Im in the process of replacing the center skeg and chine-splash rails on my boat. I think the original screws are bronze,I was wondering if stainless steel screws can be used in their place? :confused:

[Bruce Hooke]

Stainless steel, when embedded in wet wood below the waterline where they is not that much oxygen around, has a bad habit of developing something called "crevice corrosion", which can cause rapid deterioration of the metal. So, in general, bronze is the better way to go. That said, if the screws will be exposed to the air (i.e., not covered by bungs) and especially if the boat is largely kept on a trailer, than realistically high-quality stainless steel screws would probably last quite a while. I emphasize high-quality because I would shy away from hardware store grade stainless steel screws because they would likely be of a less than ideal alloy.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

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Yes, I think Bruce has the right of it.

The general rule seems to be bronze below the waterline, stainless or bronze above it, with brass as a possible option for non-structural internal joinery.

Mike

[62 woodie]

Thanks Guys.. I think Im goimg to order the bronze. I thought I heard something wasnt good about the stainless.