Buying a used windvane - worth the risk?

[CarinaPDX]

Stainless versus aluminum is a misleading comparison: the specific alloys and processes really matter. Some aluminum alloys are quite corrosion-resistant while others are not. Stainless type 304 is not nearly as corrosion-resistant as 316 - which is one difference between older and newer Monitors. Personally I have seen old windvanes of both aluminum and stainless fail from corrosion, but have also seen both hold up very well over time.

As for processes, welding to stainless tubing can be vulnerable to corrosion unless the inside of the tubing at the weld is passivated (all SS welds should be passivated, but that can be overlooked on the inside of tubing, and it can be harder to detect corrosion).

The "stainless is better than aluminum" argument is just too simplistic.

BTW the mixture of SS fastenings with aluminum parts is a different issue: heavy corrosion is a result of large differences in galvanic potentials. Those should be protected with LanoCote or something more high-tech.

Greg

[GTom]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

That's 530 pound Sterling mate! And those things I don't think would hold up long term anything like a monitor or windpilot.

That's why you buy used. Should be 50% of boatshow sale new price and in good useable condition.

What makes you think that? The wooden parts? At least that's easy to service on board... 530GBP is $700, and you have a new kit.

My concern is, that the Hebridean doesn't double as emergency rudder.