iron ballast

[rrn]

i am wondering about iron ballast is it problematic in salt water ?

[Orion Jim]

Exposed iron rusts. Encapsulated iron will not, unless the sheathing has been compromised. External iron keels rust if their barrier coatings have been compromised.

[B_Hunter45]

In order for iron to rust it must have access to oxygen. Since the keel is in the water there is no oxygen therefore no rust.

[psk125]

Many European boats (Beneteau, etc.) have cast iron keels standard. Seems to work for most of them.

[MicHughV]

My Beneteau, like all of them, has a cast iron keel...no problems with it whatsoever....

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by B_Hunter45

In order for iron to rust it must have access to oxygen. Since the keel is in the water there is no oxygen therefore no rust.

No oxygen in water? Bwhahahaha!

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by rrn

i am wondering about iron ballast is it problematic in salt water ?

Externally ballasted iron keels will absolutely rust. It is very common.

[hugosalt]

Iron keels can rust, there are many good old solid boats with iron keels.
Eventually mostly all will have some rust to some degree.
Minor surface rust can be kept in check with timely, proper attention.
Does not have to be a big job if addressed.
There is much written on CF and other places how to handle.
If you are looking to buy a boat with iron keel, do your research and make your decision.
Would'nt be my 1st choice but would'nt stop me from buying.
If rust is extensive, expanding, bubbling...and you don't own it, walk away.
I am very happy to own a boat with an encapsulated lead keel.

[Rohan]

Originally Posted by hugosalt

Minor surface rust can be kept in check with timely, proper attention.

Surface rust? Are there any sailboats out there with fully exposed iron keels? If so, I've never seen one. Normally they are inside of a watertight enclosure, and only become exposed to the water if the boat has been severely damaged.

[Rohan]

Originally Posted by B_Hunter45

In order for iron to rust it must have access to oxygen. Since the keel is in the water there is no oxygen therefore no rust.

What? That's not true. Look at photos of sunken wrecks. The iron is always complety rusted.

[gonesail]

iron ballast is the main reason you see so many boats with lead ballast.

[Davidasailor]

Originally Posted by Rohan

Surface rust? Are there any sailboats out there with fully exposed iron keels? If so, I've never seen one. Normally they are inside of a watertight enclosure, and only become exposed to the water if the boat has been severely damaged.

Many boats have the iron encapsulated only by barrier coat. The coating can get scratched exposing the iron. My Beneteau is built this way, and it just takes a little while each off-season to sand a couple bad spots and coat them in new barrier coat before painting.

The other downside of iron is that it’s not as dense as lead, so it takes a larger wetted surface to get the same righting moment.

[psk125]

Originally Posted by B_Hunter45

In order for iron to rust it must have access to oxygen. Since the keel is in the water there is no oxygen therefore no rust.

No one told the fish?

[AKA-None]

Originally Posted by B_Hunter45

In order for iron to rust it must have access to oxygen. Since the keel is in the water there is no oxygen therefore no rust.

So how do fish breathe?
Opps looks like this is a duplicate question

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by rrn

i am wondering about iron ballast is it problematic in salt water ?

Not really. Iron lasts a long time in salt water. A few years back they found a chunk of iron from the rudder off an exploring ship that was lost in Canada 150+ years ago. It's the most evidence they have ever found really, but they were able to identify it to one of the lost expedition's boat somehow. This was unprotected.
If you have an iron keel and protect it properly, it will be fine. At least for 150 years or so!
Iron stains dont mean much really, but yeah can be ugly. Lack of proper protection.