Zinc, Galvanized, Aluminum, Brass, or SS ?

[Joe Mullee]

Went to Home Depot today to pick up some spare screws, nuts, and bolts. I remember that stainless steel is what is often recommended on boats. I was hoping to buy some type of variety packs with different sizes. The store only carried them in zinc. If you wanted stainless steel you needed to buy indivdual pieces, so I did. Got me to thinking what's the difference. Looking for advice. Thanks.

 

[John Shullo]

Be careful what you buy for your boat

Joe:Home Depot is not where you want to buy boat materials, especially if you are on salt water. There are several grade of stainless, you need the best, they have the cheapest. I did the same thing a few years ago, purchased some stainless cotter pins to use in my rigging. In less than a year, they turned to powder amd I am on fresh water. Suggest you stay with the Marine Supply Stores.

 

[Joe Mullee]

John, Thanks for the tip.

nm

 

[Bob Cardoza]

Home Depot

Be careful even the Home Depot Stainless is the cheaper 8-18 Stainless. Try to buy 316 stainless fasteners if your in salt. www.Jamestowndistributors.com will sell boxes of fasteners. Outside of self tappers, macs only use 1/4-20 and 3/8" bolts. Last year I must have spent over $800 just in fasteners.

 

[John Dawson]

zinc will melt

zinc and galvanized are basically the same, and will melt away. In fact, thats what sacrificial anodes are, chunks of zinc attached to motor lower-units, props and hulls to dissolve with electrolysis. Not what you want for fasteners. It works on trailers and fences because rain is fresh water and the metal can air dry.