Stainless to Aluminum Corrosion

[Therapy]

I cannot seem to find using multiple searches.

A long time ago I read of a fluid/cream to coat stainless bolts through aluminuum to prevent the galvanic corrosion.

I can't seem to find what it is called or source it.

Thanks for the help in advance.

Oh yea. I have stainless bolts holding rail through aluminum gunnel. corrosion is creeping under the paint.

[Therapy]

OK
to answer myself I found Tef-Gel. I think that is what I heard of before.

What about ECK aluminium and stainless steel corrosion inhibitor?
https://store.marinebeam.com/galvani...-squeeze-tube/

[Ferrity]

I use either LanoCote or Tef-gel. Tef-gel smells better but LanoCote is less expensive.

[neilpride]

This is what I have been using for years and it is magic, it is very doughy, wear gloves if you use it, the remains clean up very well with acetone.

[double u]

Originally Posted by neilpride

This is what I have been using for years and it is magic, it is very doughy, wear gloves if you use it, the remains clean up very well with acetone.

I second that. Tef gel is very expensive & seems to wash out.

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by Therapy

I have stainless bolts holding rail through aluminum gunnel. corrosion is creeping under the paint.

When you say "rail" do you mean like the mounts for lifeline stanchions?
What is painted?
The auminum perforated toe rail, ie. "gunnel", or what's fastened/bolted to it?
We're getting all kinds of answers without knowing what is bolted to what and what is painted that the corrosion is getting under.

[Therapy]

The rails are on top of the gunnels.
Both are bolted together with SS bolts to nylock nuts. Around each bolt there is bubbling under the white paint. Under the gunnell the paint has flaked off and corroded aluminum is exposed.
Too bad I did not specify something when I had the rails fabricated.


Thanks all.
I figured there ought to be some newer tech since I started on this forum. Not that all newer is necessarily better.... I do know the older butyl tape for bedding is better than polysulfides and polyurethanes for the most part.

[Bowdrie]

Ah-ha, now things are becoming clearer.
It appears that the "rails" have mounting bases that are sitting on top of the "gunnel" you speak of, with the stainless bolts passing thru the gunnel with washers/nuts underneath.
Yes, that situation is a good candidate for using the butyl tape under the rail mounting pads, (and under the washers).
You'll want to clean-up the bubbled paint/bare spots and coat with something, (I'm not sure just what for a "good enough" job).
Then you can re-install the bolts with one of the products that others have already recommended, (I do agree that Tef-Gel isn't the best for that application), something that has some "body" to it is better.
Those mounting pads were probably trapping water underneath them.
The water eventually goes away and leaves the salt behind to work its evil deeds.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Bowdrie

Ah-ha, now things are becoming clearer.
It appears that the "rails" have mounting bases that are sitting on top of the "gunnel" you speak of, with the stainless bolts passing thru the gunnel with washers/nuts underneath.
Yes, that situation is a good candidate for using the butyl tape under the rail mounting pads, (and under the washers).
You'll want to clean-up the bubbled paint/bare spots and coat with something, (I'm not sure just what for a "good enough" job).
Then you can re-install the bolts with one of the products that others have already recommended, (I do agree that Tef-Gel isn't the best for that application), something that has some "body" to it is better.
Those mounting pads were probably trapping water underneath them.
The water eventually goes away and leaves the salt behind to work its evil deeds.

Yep. Install myself would have been easy. Now it is a project.