Through hull care product?

[Peregrine1983]

Hi all,

Our boat had all new bronze through hulls installed in 2016. My through hulls are bonded, but I still have ended up with some light green corrosion on them after a couple years.

I'm a bit obsessive about them and I'm wondering if there's any product/coating people use to keep them completely corrosion-free.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[GordMay]

Good advice here ➥ https://homeguides.sfgate.com/fix-co...nze-41728.html

[wingless]

If long-term "permanent" protection of bronze is desired, then the first step (THE most important step) is preparation. I like to polish the metal to a smooth and glossy surface. Bronze is an excellent metal for polishing. It can be polished to look like brass.

Once the metal is smooth and clean, I use Pettit 6455 / 044 Metal Primer, following all instructions. Then I apply several coats of Pettit 4700 / 4701 Epoxy Primer, following all instructions. Then I give a light sanding for a smooth, smooth, smooth surface.

For most projects like this I use Rustoleum Professional High Performance Spray Enamel.

The marine projects that I've completed over a decade ago, that have been floating 24/7/365 in a salt water environment, still have a glossy plastic appearance.

[Jim Cate]

The marine projects that I've completed over a decade ago, that have been floating 24/7/365 in a salt water environment, still have a glossy plastic appearance.

The desirability of making honest bronze look like plastic is not apparent to me. And polishing through hulls and sea cocks might be kinda hard to accomplish. However, one can purchase actual plastic through hulls and sea cocks... isn't modern life grand???

Jim

[wingless]

The OP doesn't like green bronze.

My finish looks new after a over a decade of salt water usage, no green.

[wingless]

Here are some images.


Typical Before Condition


Cast Bronze Polished


Painted w/ Pettit 6455


After Two Coats of Epoxy, Sanded, then Rustoleum

[dfelsent]

Those are beautifully finished.
Really. But not my taste.

I’ve got two new bronze fairleads on Moonbeam. Can’t wait til the patina is there. I like the bronze green of through hulls and use it as a reference color to help judge the condition.
Each to their own taste.

[Peregrine1983]

Wow. Thanks wingless. I was hoping for something I could apply with the through hulls in place, but there may not be such a magic potion... and application of anything to them will be more difficult installed. That’s super impressive. I’ll bet you get a lot of life out of those.

[wingless]

Thanks very much!

It may provide acceptable results to apply those treatments to hardware in-place in the vessel.

Good luck.

[Pete7]

Or you could just remove water from inside the boat so they don't corrode.

Ours are 30 years old and a dull bronze colour. Green means stuff is happening to the metal.

Why are the sea cocks bonded, that is just an 'merican thing, no one else bothers.

Pete