I have a fiberglass Mad River Explorer with factory replacement gunwales. They were installed somewhere around 2010. They are attached with aluminum rivets, with aluminum mandibles. Like most people I used stainless steel fasteners for the handles and seats.
Because the gunnels have a goofy round profile I used aluminum rivets for the portage yoke and thwart. So a little less stainless.
The canoe has been used in saltwater marshes and in the ocean.
The gunwales have corrosion. The worse is at the ends, where thankfully it's covered up by the caps. But there are also spots along the sides where the corrosion has caused the factory coating to peel off.
The first picture shows a spot were the corrosion is bubbling under the factory coating.
Has anyone else seen corrosion on aluminum gunwales?
Because the gunnels have a goofy round profile I used aluminum rivets for the portage yoke and thwart. So a little less stainless.
The canoe has been used in saltwater marshes and in the ocean.
The gunwales have corrosion. The worse is at the ends, where thankfully it's covered up by the caps. But there are also spots along the sides where the corrosion has caused the factory coating to peel off.
The first picture shows a spot were the corrosion is bubbling under the factory coating.
Has anyone else seen corrosion on aluminum gunwales?
