Skin fittings

[ii337]

How often should skin fittings be replaced?

My boat is out of the water now and I have no idea how old the fittings are, should I replace as a matter of course or should I use my judgement as to level of corrosion? Is there a good method of ascertaining this ? Thanks ..... Nic 32 owner .....

[neilpride]

Asuming there is no leaks? outside of the hull, the thruhulls are intact? any pitting or eveidence of corrosion, scrape old antifouling or better sand back to bare metal and see if the metal is clean.

We talk about bronze, brass, marelon, plastic?
Inside, the first indication of a bronze valve or thruhull leaking or seepage is sometimes a green trace running from the base around.

Green clean bronze fittings are a indication of a healty fitting, scrape the metal with a knife and see if the bronze is pink in color or something like a gold in color, pink is bad..

Open and close and the valve and see if is smooth , any hard spot indicate barnacles inside, or lack of grease.

Salt deposits, a white thick goo outside of threads or around joints indicate corrosion and leaks.

In doubt? replace it...Just few sugestions sure others are going to give you some hints... Cheers.

[ii337]

So assess the corrosion? They are brass I think, . I shall have a scrape and a poke ......