Corrosion

[R Hicks <rhicks (at) realwired.com>]

I sail in salt water and have 2 questions related to the corrosion of the 
boom at the stainless fittings. I have seen more than a few local booms 
that look like they have been eaten by "aluminum termites" after a few 
years use in the salt. Saw one where the entire area under the vang fitting 
was totally air.


1. Is there any reason I can't drill a large hole in the plastic boom end 
fitting. It would allow much better rinsing of the boom insides than trying 
to force water thru the small opening on the forward end.

2. Has anyone used aluminum "rivet nuts" to secure fittings instead of 
regular rivets or thru-bolting. These would seem ideal as the rivet nut is 
aluminum and hence shouldn't corrode the boom. The machine screw is of 
course stainless, but it is only in contact with the replaceable nut

-----------------------------
Website for all answers: www.laser.org
Public Replies: laser@laser.org
To Unsubscribe: Send "unsubscribe laser" to majordomo@laser.org
Sending "remove" does not work
Questions: will@laser.org