Warning, West Marine Dangerous Cotter Pins

[first wind]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

I rather think that they were hollow to start with and so just corroded through. Hard to believe that they would corrode out in the middle like that.

hard to believe if water caused corrosion was the actual problem. electricity caused, now, that's a duck with a different quack.

[first wind]

Originally Posted by Lepke

Stainless 304/316 do not conduct electricity as well as bronze, brass, steel and about 30 times less than copper, 8 times less than zinc. I doubt we're seeing stray voltage or the prop should be pitted.
When commercial fishing, a friend improperly installed an older 12v marine radio on his boat. (+ and - were reversed) The boat had been hauled at about the same time. After relaunching and sitting at the dock for 3 weeks on a charger, the propeller blades were eaten away to the extent the boat wouldn't move. 36" propeller on a monel shaft.

not all stainless steel is 304/316. 304/316 are both very hard. i wouldn't make a cotter pin from either. do we have any idea what type of stainless they are supposed to be made of?

[CSY Man]

. I doubt we're seeing stray voltage or the prop should be pitted.

The prop is plastic, hence no anode needed. (In the past anyway)
Same with the rudder, no metal.
The only metal is the prop shaft, probably high grade SS. The other underwater metal piece is the skeg, or prop guard. It is low grade steel, pitted in several areas. To protect it and to prevent growth, I sprayed zink all over it.
Seems to work against barnacles and slime, but perhaps some underwater imbalance occurred.
Ideally I should use a plastic clip or plastic cotter pin to secure the washers behind the prop-nuts, but not sure what to use. (Thought about small cable ties but they would not last long rubbing in the hole against metal in the turbulence behind the prop)

[neilpride]

Those WM cotter pins are a hollow joke, for info we have in the shop 5 containers full of hig quality cotter pins, they are solid and hard to bend even with regular pliers, and they dont fail over the years, i cant say if they are 316 or 304, we never see any bad rust spot on those pins , what i see in this prop pic is the way the pind is bend it, not the ideal way, the pin need to squeeze tight in the nut or bolt hole , proper size , and the right way is a anchor form where the ends tips meet together around the bolt , with a plier is easy after open the pin a bit... you cant believe what i see over the years in hundreds of rigs , rings cotter pins in top forestays furlers, tap screws , zip plastic ties etc.... for those things like a prop washer nut pin or rigging screws buy the best and expensive cotter pin you can found, is a matter of peace of mind......

[CSY Man]

. for those things like a prop washer nut pin or rigging screws buy the best and expensive cotter pin you can found, is a matter of peace of mind

Absolutely, but how can you tell the difference? Cotter pins in the marine stores have no specs, no nothing.
The only thing one can do is go from one store to another and pick the place with the most expensive cotter pins?

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

...Second time this happened: After the first time I went back to West Marine, brought the same corroded pieces and warned them about horrible quality...

Originally Posted by CSY Man

Yup, on the charger quite a bit, it takes 8-10 hrs to re-charge after a 4 hr cruise...

That cotter pin looks like plated steel. But don't be surprised to hear you have a boat electrical problem.

[neilpride]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

Absolutely, but how can you tell the difference? Cotter pins in the marine stores have no specs, no nothing.
The only thing one can do is go from one store to another and pick the place with the most expensive cotter pins?

Easy, next time you are close to a reputable rigging shop , ask for some samples, or buy a bunch , then compare with those West Marine pins..


The cheapest and bad quality ones bend with the fingers, good quality cotter pins are tough to bend with fingers, they have a longer end tip than the other to help open with the pliers, they are solid..