Stancions

[Dale E. Baker]

My wife and I pulled the lifeline stancions off this weekend in order to straighten, and rebed them. Suprise! 24 years of aluminum, stainless, and salt water = electrolysis. See the attached photo, and this wasn't the worse one. Deep pitting into the aluminum toe rail at every stancion base.My plan is to straighten the stancions, then re-bed them in lifecaulk and replace all the bolts. Also note, the bolts through the deck have pulled up on the deck and buckled the fiberglass, I plan on larger backing washers, or backing plates.Does anyone have any better ideas?

 

[Ernie]

I had the buckling too

A few years back, I had to replace a couple of stanchions myself. I didn't find the electrolysis you did, but I did notice that same buckling problem. I used the method of larger backing washers and seated them in caulk as you propose. So far so good. No leaks, and they seem good and secure.

 

[Dale E. Baker]

Thanks Ernie

I ordered replacement SS bolts and washers, including fender washers through McMaster-Carr (I'm glad they don't know they're in the Marine industry, or prices would sky-rocket).I figure bedding the stancions in Lifecaulk or even epoxy would slow down any futher electrolysis.