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Message
Stainless Steel Boat Hinges Rusting
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:00 pm
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:00 pm
So the hinges in my new boat appear to be rusting. What it looks like happened is that when the hinges were installed, the SS screws marred the plating of the hinges. Water stays in the flush mount hinge pockets and the areas where the plating has been scratched are starting to rush. I noticed it on one hinge and checked the rest. Unfortunately it’s happening in every hinge location. I want to nip this in the bud to prevent the rusty water from bleeding down the deck and walls.
Now, the boat manufacturer tells me that stainless rusts if you scratch it. I’m no metallurgist, but it would seem like stainless steel (unless it’s SS plated (???)) is stainless through and through and doesn’t rust if scratched (I understand 304 will rust and 316 won’t) but this doesn’t look like SS rust.
I’ve also emailed the hinge manufacturer (Gemlux) to get their take.
So, should SS rust like this?
#frustrated
Now, the boat manufacturer tells me that stainless rusts if you scratch it. I’m no metallurgist, but it would seem like stainless steel (unless it’s SS plated (???)) is stainless through and through and doesn’t rust if scratched (I understand 304 will rust and 316 won’t) but this doesn’t look like SS rust.
I’ve also emailed the hinge manufacturer (Gemlux) to get their take.
So, should SS rust like this?
#frustrated
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:04 pm to poochie
It will rust to some degree but it all depends on the quality of the SS. Is it bad rusting or is it just discoloration?
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:09 pm to pakowitz
The hinges mount flush with the deck so there's a shallow pocket they sit in in the fiberglass. When we wash the boat, this area can never be fully dried by hand. So the water sits and the hinge rusts a little and when the water evaporates, the rust residue is left on the fiberglass. You can see it along the edges.
Here's a pic of the hinge. Those tiny scratches cause the issue:
Here's a pic of the hinge. Those tiny scratches cause the issue:
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:13 pm to poochie
have you tried one of the cleaning products, that gets rid of the stains?
FWIW, its probably a low grade SS screw
FWIW, its probably a low grade SS screw
This post was edited on 6/30/14 at 3:15 pm
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:14 pm to poochie
I'm no expert by any means but that looks normal for SS. SS is not impervious to rusting, its just resistant.
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:15 pm to poochie
Sounds like it may be just SS coated
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:26 pm to NYCAuburn
It's not the cleaning that ilm worried about, I know I can get the rust off. It's the fact that it will continue to rust. You can't clean it unless you completely unbolt the hinges.
The screws looked brand new, no issues whatsoever. It's the hinge that looks cheap.
What would you take "stamped stainless" to mean? Stamped out of stainless?
The screws looked brand new, no issues whatsoever. It's the hinge that looks cheap.
What would you take "stamped stainless" to mean? Stamped out of stainless?
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:27 pm to poochie
it could be stainless coated or it could be just a lower grade of stainless that still puts off corrosion. its usually the screws though
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:33 pm to NYCAuburn
Man, I'm telling you, the screw looks fresh out of the pack. Like brand new.
It's just disappointing that for that amount of $, they would use something that they know would rust.
It's just disappointing that for that amount of $, they would use something that they know would rust.
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:48 pm to NYCAuburn
quote:That's my take on it. I'd replace them if it bothered me that much
it could be stainless coated or it could be just a lower grade of stainless that still puts off corrosion. its usually the screws though
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:53 pm to Hammertime
clean it and then put some really good wax on it and keep the wax fresh.
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:57 pm to bbvdd
I'm not sure y'all are understanding this. To clean and wax means to remove every hinge (16 total, 96 screws). This is something that I'll do once to resolve the problem, but never again. If I have to regularly wax the underside of my hinges to prevent rust, that's bs!
Posted on 6/30/14 at 4:06 pm to poochie
Personally I think that it's BS that they say that if the SS is scratched it will rust. Stainless is stainless. There are different grades (I believe it's based on chromium content) but scratching won't effect it.
Maybe dip them in varnish or something if you're going to pull them all?
Maybe dip them in varnish or something if you're going to pull them all?
Posted on 6/30/14 at 4:27 pm to poochie
You could try Corrosion X.
Corrosion X
Corrosion X
Posted on 6/30/14 at 4:35 pm to poochie
Stainless steel= stains-less
Sounds like you have a lower grade of stainless steel. I bet a better grade wouldn't rust/stain. I've notice on my boat that some stainless stains and even rusts and some doesn't.
Sounds like you have a lower grade of stainless steel. I bet a better grade wouldn't rust/stain. I've notice on my boat that some stainless stains and even rusts and some doesn't.
Posted on 6/30/14 at 4:51 pm to FrenchJoe
quote:
Stainless steel= stains-less
leave a cast iron pot in your stainless sink for a few days. You WILL get rust stains on the stainless.
Posted on 6/30/14 at 4:52 pm to Shexter
But there's a difference between spots on stainless and stainless actually rusting and bleeding.
Posted on 6/30/14 at 5:16 pm to poochie
Go buy some high quality stainless from a marine store.
Posted on 6/30/14 at 6:00 pm to eng08
I plan on changing them out with better quality hinges, hopefully on their dime.
The hinges on the boat have the gemlux logo. On the gemlux website, the only flush hinge they have in the size of my hinges is listed as "stamped stainless". I have a call in to gemlux but I assume this means they were stamp formed. It doesn't say anything about plated or coated. Just stamped stainless.
I need to go with the same type hinges because everything is drilled to that bolt pattern.
What's also disappointing is as soon as I mentioned "hinge rusting" on the phone with the boat manufacturer, the rep tells me about crevice corrosion and starts reading from a website about what causes it. I'm talking about within seconds of me mentioning it. Them he says "I don't really know much about it but this article explains it". This leads me to believe that this is a recurring issue and their canned response to customer complaints is to reference some obscure corrosion issue rather than fix the issue with their product.
The hinges on the boat have the gemlux logo. On the gemlux website, the only flush hinge they have in the size of my hinges is listed as "stamped stainless". I have a call in to gemlux but I assume this means they were stamp formed. It doesn't say anything about plated or coated. Just stamped stainless.
I need to go with the same type hinges because everything is drilled to that bolt pattern.
What's also disappointing is as soon as I mentioned "hinge rusting" on the phone with the boat manufacturer, the rep tells me about crevice corrosion and starts reading from a website about what causes it. I'm talking about within seconds of me mentioning it. Them he says "I don't really know much about it but this article explains it". This leads me to believe that this is a recurring issue and their canned response to customer complaints is to reference some obscure corrosion issue rather than fix the issue with their product.
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