Powder Coat Question

[Matt sachs]

How well does powder coat fare on deck? I'm building the pilot house port lights and other do-dads. I'm using bronze for the smaller parts, however the larger parts need to be steel. Any thoughts? Or should I just go with amercoat 240 or the like?

[Capn Dan]

I powder coated some cleats, boom and a few other parts 6 years ago and all are doing well.

[Vyndance]

No firsthand experience on the boat but there are a lot of items, radar mounts, rocket launchers, furniture etc. that are powder coated.

[roverhi]

I don't like powder coat on steel. If you get a nick in the coating that goes down to the underlying metal, corrosion will set in under the powder coating. Eventually, the powder coat finish lifts off in large sections. In our salty humid environment, everything I've bought that has a powder coat finish looks like crap after a couple of years of use. Stuff that's just been painted still looks pretty good.

Haven't tried powder coat on Aluminum or SS so don't know if it will work better with that material.

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by Matt sachs

How well does powder coat fare on deck? I'm building the pilot house port lights and other do-dads. I'm using bronze for the smaller parts, however the larger parts need to be steel. Any thoughts? Or should I just go with amercoat 240 or the like?

Can't you use stainless steel?

[Matt sachs]

Thanks guys.

[Matt sachs]

SS is looking like a better material. thanks again.

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by roverhi

I don't like powder coat on steel. If you get a nick in the coating that goes down to the underlying metal, corrosion will set in under the powder coating. Eventually, the powder coat finish lifts off in large sections. In our salty humid environment, everything I've bought that has a powder coat finish looks like crap after a couple of years of use. Stuff that's just been painted still looks pretty good.

Haven't tried powder coat on Aluminum or SS so don't know if it will work better with that material.

SS is usually best left uncoated so it can "breathe". Free flow of air (well, it's the oxygen in air that does it) encourages the formation of the chromium oxide layer, which is what makes it shiny and covers over the iron crystals so you don't get unsightly rust.