I put all new stanchions on my boat less than 2 months ago and I'm already starting to get some surface rust on them. What's the best product you've found to take the rust off and then what do you use to protect them from rust in the future? Any suggestions appreciated.
Rust on new stanchions
- Thread starter Morrie
- Start date
- Status
The rust may be from chafeing against low
carbon steel. Sodium hydroxide will remove the rust as will "Naval Jelly". The jelly being safer. As long as the carbon steel is present you will see some rust unless they sold you an inferior grade of stainless steel.
carbon steel. Sodium hydroxide will remove the rust as will "Naval Jelly". The jelly being safer. As long as the carbon steel is present you will see some rust unless they sold you an inferior grade of stainless steel.
Miracle Cloth is best!
Morrie: The Miracle Cloth is the best. I believe that they have them at West Marine. Practical Sailor did a review on them along with some other products and found them to be one of the best solutions. They turn black but will continue to clean. Be sure to store it in the bag.
Morrie: The Miracle Cloth is the best. I believe that they have them at West Marine. Practical Sailor did a review on them along with some other products and found them to be one of the best solutions. They turn black but will continue to clean. Be sure to store it in the bag.
Stainless
Morrie, Don't worry. All stainless steels are a blend of metals the largest component being iron. As you appreciate iron rusts. The microscopic particles of iron which are on the surface soon turn to rust and, once they are removed, there are no more to cause a blemish on the polished surface. Re-polish and thus remove these particles with any proprietary chrome cleaner. Some people then apply a coating of wax. Any car or boat cleaner and polish will do, but most folk never bother to apply the wax. The problem is easily solved and is normally only a one off.
Morrie, Don't worry. All stainless steels are a blend of metals the largest component being iron. As you appreciate iron rusts. The microscopic particles of iron which are on the surface soon turn to rust and, once they are removed, there are no more to cause a blemish on the polished surface. Re-polish and thus remove these particles with any proprietary chrome cleaner. Some people then apply a coating of wax. Any car or boat cleaner and polish will do, but most folk never bother to apply the wax. The problem is easily solved and is normally only a one off.
Polish ...
As Donalex states stainless is vulnerable to rust in the marine environment. The best remedy to prevent or retard the formation of rust is to 'super-polish' the stainless with a high speed buffing wheel to which you apply special 'stainless steel' buffing compounds such as "Tripoli". Tripoli is usually available in hardware stores in 'stick' form. Unless the stainless is perfectly 'mirror-polished' (as described above) it will continually 'bloom' rust. You may have to power-sand the stainless to remove all the scars and surface defects from the steel mill, etc. 180 grit ---> 220 grit ---> 320 grit ---> 400/600 grit ---> 1000 grit, etc. before power buiffing (this is not a job for hand sanding or hand polishing).
As Donalex states stainless is vulnerable to rust in the marine environment. The best remedy to prevent or retard the formation of rust is to 'super-polish' the stainless with a high speed buffing wheel to which you apply special 'stainless steel' buffing compounds such as "Tripoli". Tripoli is usually available in hardware stores in 'stick' form. Unless the stainless is perfectly 'mirror-polished' (as described above) it will continually 'bloom' rust. You may have to power-sand the stainless to remove all the scars and surface defects from the steel mill, etc. 180 grit ---> 220 grit ---> 320 grit ---> 400/600 grit ---> 1000 grit, etc. before power buiffing (this is not a job for hand sanding or hand polishing).
RUST PREVENTION
In the past twenty years of boat ownership, I have found if after you wash or rinse down your boat AFTER EVERY use, you thoroughly dry all stainless, you will prevent most rust formation. Just don't hose it and walk away. Then on a monthly or so basis use a polish to keep up the shine. I also use Barkeeper's Friend on the gelcoat areas adjacent to the stainless to remove rust stains.
In the past twenty years of boat ownership, I have found if after you wash or rinse down your boat AFTER EVERY use, you thoroughly dry all stainless, you will prevent most rust formation. Just don't hose it and walk away. Then on a monthly or so basis use a polish to keep up the shine. I also use Barkeeper's Friend on the gelcoat areas adjacent to the stainless to remove rust stains.
Rust on your stanchions
How in the world (no pun intended) do cruisers not have their trusty craft sink from under them from not being shammied off! Boats were MADE to be in the elements of the sea. I kinda doubt that after every beat, the deck is rinsed, dried, and polished before retiring on the hook. However there is hope... try Collinites. Stainless polish, hull cleaner, fleet wax. Stuff is pretty good and doesnt require a high speed buffer or sand paper. WM or your local marine exchange should have it. Besides, rust is salty looking.. er rusty looking
Cheers Rick s/v Whiskey Chaser
How in the world (no pun intended) do cruisers not have their trusty craft sink from under them from not being shammied off! Boats were MADE to be in the elements of the sea. I kinda doubt that after every beat, the deck is rinsed, dried, and polished before retiring on the hook. However there is hope... try Collinites. Stainless polish, hull cleaner, fleet wax. Stuff is pretty good and doesnt require a high speed buffer or sand paper. WM or your local marine exchange should have it. Besides, rust is salty looking.. er rusty looking
Cheers Rick s/v Whiskey Chaser
Ahoy Rick
Rick...I appreciate your wit, but my frame of reference is typical weekend use. I have made numerous passages, the longest of two weeks non-stop, and yes we didn't wash the boat daily (except for squalls), no polishing, no varnishing, etc. But, when we arrived in port we certainly got to work on the boat. Believe me, when you are a thousand miles from land, you want your vessel as sound as possible. And I,m not just talking eye-wash. Just walk the docks and I'm sure you will see a very poor level of maintenance on many boats, and that is just topside. Wouldn't go to Catalina on most of them, let alone cruise. Peace.
Rick...I appreciate your wit, but my frame of reference is typical weekend use. I have made numerous passages, the longest of two weeks non-stop, and yes we didn't wash the boat daily (except for squalls), no polishing, no varnishing, etc. But, when we arrived in port we certainly got to work on the boat. Believe me, when you are a thousand miles from land, you want your vessel as sound as possible. And I,m not just talking eye-wash. Just walk the docks and I'm sure you will see a very poor level of maintenance on many boats, and that is just topside. Wouldn't go to Catalina on most of them, let alone cruise. Peace.
Bar Keepers Friend
We find that "Bar Keepers Friend" is great for keeping stainless steel spotless... you can find it at many of the larger supermarkets or hardware stores.
We find that "Bar Keepers Friend" is great for keeping stainless steel spotless... you can find it at many of the larger supermarkets or hardware stores.
Another vote for Barkeeper's Friend
Same thing happened to me with a new transom boarding ladder last season. A good scrubbing with Barkeeper's and a plastic scrubber pad during spring prep followed by Collinite when waxing the hull and no rust yet this season. I'm in salt water 24/7.
Same thing happened to me with a new transom boarding ladder last season. A good scrubbing with Barkeeper's and a plastic scrubber pad during spring prep followed by Collinite when waxing the hull and no rust yet this season. I'm in salt water 24/7.
Where are you getting rust?
This sounds like a MFG problem and not a maintenence problem. If you are getting rust on the tube or the plate it is probably residue but if it is the weld joint, Call the manufacture and let them know. r.w.landau
This sounds like a MFG problem and not a maintenence problem. If you are getting rust on the tube or the plate it is probably residue but if it is the weld joint, Call the manufacture and let them know. r.w.landau
Thanks for all the suggestions
I bought the stanchions from TIQ (Tops In Quality) in Michigan. They're a very reputable company and make OEM stuff for a lot of different boats. I don't have any rust on the welds, it's just a really light discoloration on the surface of the stanchion tubes. I don't even have any lifelines on the stanchions yet so there's no chafe involved. I think I just need to clean them real good and get the beginnings of rust off, then protect them with something. You all have given me some great suggestions for products to try. I have some pretty old pulpits and a dodger frame that look much worse than the stanchions, so I may try a few different products and see which ones I like best. Thanks again.
I bought the stanchions from TIQ (Tops In Quality) in Michigan. They're a very reputable company and make OEM stuff for a lot of different boats. I don't have any rust on the welds, it's just a really light discoloration on the surface of the stanchion tubes. I don't even have any lifelines on the stanchions yet so there's no chafe involved. I think I just need to clean them real good and get the beginnings of rust off, then protect them with something. You all have given me some great suggestions for products to try. I have some pretty old pulpits and a dodger frame that look much worse than the stanchions, so I may try a few different products and see which ones I like best. Thanks again.
- Status