How to Reduce the Risk of Rust on Your Boat
Most of us already know that constant exposure to water (especially saltwater), humidity, and salt air causes rust to form, which is why marine environments are (ironically) so bad for boats. Water is acting as a sort of conduit for oxygen while, at the same time, speeding up electron transfer. This is why water is worse than plain old CO2 is for metal.
Oxidation happens to ferrous metals (metals with large iron levels) and galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals.
These chemical reactions begin as soon as water makes contact with metal, although rust formation is (relatively) slow. Still, every point of exposure is technically a step in the wrong direction.
Fortunately, there are ways to limit that chemical reaction and protect your boat from the dreaded invasion of rust.
Protective Coatings
The right protective coating will give your metalwork (and the rest of your boat) an additional layer of defense against destructive conditions and weather. When you buy marine paint online, make sure it specifically protects against factors like rust, UV damage, and saltwater damage. The right protective coating will also create an anti-slip layer on the boat's surface, making it a lot safer for you, too.
Regular Cleaning with Freshwater Rinses
Yes, fighting water with water sounds like fighting fire with fire, but a freshwater rinse on a regular basis is a vital step in boat maintenance. Freshwater will help to remove any build-up of salt, which is highly corrosive and, over time, will wear away your boat’s protective finish to expose metalwork to the water.
Ideally, a freshwater rinse will be completed after every use – and definitely before the boat is moved into storage for the end of the season. At that point, it should be fully swabbed, drained, and dried, too.
Zinc Anodes
Also referred to as ‘sacrificial anodes’, zinc anodes are a decoy that attracts corrosion away from your engine, propeller, and other metallic components. Ideally, these sacrificial anodes will represent about 2% of the underwater metal surface area of your boat, so you don’t need to plaster the hull in them – but you do need to make sure there’s enough to make a difference.
You’ll also need to regularly inspect the anodes and replace them as necessary. If the zinc has worn away substantially to reveal the copper inside, or if they’ve been in use for a few years, it’s time to replace them with a brand new anode that will do a more efficient job.
Good Storage
It’s not just when the boat is sitting in the water that it’s at risk. As we mentioned above, any excess water left in the boat at the end of the season will continue to damage the boat in your absence.
The only solution here is proper drying, and a storage facility that is dry and well ventilated (without letting rain in).
Rust is arguably the most important factor to focus on when it comes to preventative boat maintenance. Removing rust from a boat is a difficult and frustrating process, so a little knowledge really does go a long way here.
