Toe rail

[Henry Werner]

My aluminum rail has corrosion around almost every steel screw. I've tried metal polish and wash the boat after each sail. Does any one else have or had this happen to there Oday 302 toe rail? How did you stop this from doing more damage to the rail? What could be doing this? Please help. Thanks, Hank

 

[Dave]

Galvanic Corrosion

Steel and aluminum are incompatible materials. The aluminum is highly reactive and is corroding as a result of galvanic interactions between the materials. You can apply a zinc chromate primer on the screws before installing them and it should help. This is a yellow colored "paint" and is used in aerospace to galvanically isolate steel screws and aluminum housings. Do a search on the internet and you should find where to get some.Best of luckdave