Hi Nerys, this might help explain the corrosion types (including causing rotting of timber) better than I can.

https://www.practical-sailor.com/blog/can-you-have-too-many-zincs

JB

I must admit that I didn't think about corrosion damage beyond thinking that a good wash down and running the motor in fresh water for a few minutes would remove any salt, but I bow to those with greater knowledge and accept that there could be problems. In all my years with real boats in salt water I never had any significant problems and in the craft that had propellors and shafts I never remember there ever being any anodes fitted, though I know some people made a lot of fuss about them and I have seen how they can be eaten away and need replacing.

Nerys

lol, you beat me to it Martin😂

JB

Hi Martin, see my reply to Nerys regarding the unseen damage which can occur. When I ran my Hartley in the salt (once) to try a launching vid, I washed it down immediately after with 4l of water I took with me, but by the time I got home, some small screws on the jet unit already were showing rust signs! Think about outboards, and how they corrode, even though they are flushed out every time (if you care about them).

If you had a shaft connected to your motor in your model by a metal universal, you would risk making a nice battery with the salt (and the electricity in the boat) which would slowly eat your shaft away, (will even cause wood nearby to rot in big boats as well (over many years, especially if dissimilar metals are used) Hence the use of sacrificial anodes on rudders, shafts etc. (you'll know all this anyhow, but most modellers probably wouldn't think about it)

JB

Jb,
You will have to fit scale cathodic protection anodes LOL!!

Martin555.

Hi Nerys, I found that the salt tends to get into places you can't wash out, and even oil won't stop the corrosion happening. When I rebuilt my Graupner Optimist yacht recently, I had to destroy the rudder shaft and tube to remove them from the boat, as it had blended with its tube. I used to sail it in the salt mainly, and religiously washed it and oiled the rudder shaft, but it didn't stop it corroding. The head of the 12mm keel bolt was also seriously rusted, due to a small amount of un noticed salt leakage sitting in the bottom of the hull under the floor. Now rust proofed and seriously glassed in.

Don't think it would be such a problem if you used stainless tube etc, but the problem is sticking the bits together, (need to be TIG welded),- not something most people can do at home. With non stainless mini shaft ball bearings there is also the same problem.

Probably need to have rudder shafts etc easily removable as a precaution, for long term storage if used in salt.

JB

Nerys The boats do look good on the water.So great to see things slowly opening up.
Rick

Yes Colin, it was a very nice day out, we only went for the Sunday due to Dialysis logistics. We went up to North Wales on Sunday night and spent the night on the Horseshoe Pass above Llangollen. Came back to a campsite near Eardsley in Hereford Monday night and at some stage or other saw a turning to your village, but did not call as I had not contacted you and didn't have your address.

Cheers, Nerys

Super Day ! Glad you were able to see your vessels on the water again, which always better than on the shelf. 😊

Hi Jb,
Thank you for saying nice things about my boats. I cannot see that sailing your boats in salt water is any different to fresh, but a wash down in fresh water afterwards would prevent any build up of salt on the paint. The only snag is if you have a radio mishap, your boats may go sailing across the Southern Ocean. (Rescue boat optional extra).

Cheers, Nerys

Hi Jb,

Re :- Was thinking of making my boats salt proof,

What would you have to do for that ?

I would of thought as long as you give them a good wash in fresh water after use that would do.

Or do you mean adding ballast as i know that salt water and fresh water have different densities.

Martin555.

Hi Nerys,
It looks like you had a great day out.
And as the other guys have said your boats look really good on the water.

Martin555.

Nerys ,you lucky lady, it looks fantastic, and your boats really set the scene alight.
The last time I visited an open day there the pool was totally overgrown with weed.
My weekend was taken up with distant family problems .
I had originally planned to meet you there and hand over the awning.
Cheers Colin.

Looks like a perfect day for motoring Nerys, your boats look great on the water. Nice looking facility. I wish we had the modellers enthusiasm here that you have there. Apart from modern yacht racing at the local 'pond', there's not a lot going on. Very few model boat clubs left, and you are mostly on your own. Was thinking of making my boats salt proof, so I can sail on the estuary which is only 500m down the road, as it seems a waste of petrol doing a 30km round trip to play by yourself. Might get a bit more of an audience down there, and maybe get a few kids interested in the hobby.

We have a similar facility here, with the model engineers society (large trains) with a great track, and a purpose built boat pond (small) next to it, but the boat club has disappeared now and the pond seems abandoned (has shelters and seats etc)

JB