iron floors

[werner]

hello,

has anybody some experience with the use of wrought iron floors .
(length arms 13" siding 7/8 moulding 5/16)
Think I found some low carbon iron bars (soft iron); I know bronze floors would be better (but a lot more expensive)
I plan to have them galvenized ( as original)
Is it worth to try or do will I hear them rusting?
Is it wise to use bronze bolts to fasten them?

regards,
Werner

[JimD]

Werner, I haven't the personal experience you're looking for but my galvanized centerboard shows no sign of rust. I'd think bronze is maybe not the best way to fasten zinc plated anything due to the possiblity of galvanic corrosion as bronze and zinc are not close on the nobility scale. But ususally the problem is fastening bronze parts with galvanized fasteners, not the other way around. The bronze corrodes the zinc exposing the iron underneath that starts to rust as soon as its not protected from water.

[Thad]

What you have found sounds like the right stuff to me. With low carbon real wrought iron you will not hear the rust. ACB speaks of the British practice of removing such pieces every 15 years and replacing them if they have lost 15% of their strength -- or something like that. That sound like good safe practice to me and not unreasonable. In SEA HARMONY the floors are spaced above the keel on teak cleats (short so as to provide limbers), also good I think for keeping the iron/rust off the keel and above a little water in the bilge.