Severe damage due to stray current or inadequate zinc anode installation.
Pitted Prop Shaft
This sort of pitting can result in shaft failure
Electrolysis Damaged Prop
Prop ruined due to lack of zinc anodes on shaft.
Rudder With Broken Welds
Sea water got into the rudder, the Tang welds rusted and broke during a Gulf crossing causing the rudder shaft to spin inside the rudder, with resulting loss of steering.
Crevice Corrosion
Chainplates often have this sort of corrosion where they pass through the deck and seawater has leaked and saturated the deck core.
Rusted Sailboat Hull
This damage was concealed by exterior paint. Rusted from inside the boat from leaking chain locker.
Crevice Corrosion On Chainplate
Chainplate ruined due to poor bedding allowing water saturate the bulkhead it is bolted to.
Broken Off Keel
This keel broke off a sailboat crossing the Gulf, causing loss of life when the boat capsized due to loss of ballast.
Rusted I-Beam Mast Step
Many sailboats have steel mast steps that do not stand the test of time. Seawater rusts them, causing lack of support for the mast.
Corroded Pod Drive
Dissimilar metal corrosion most likely caused by poor anodic protection.
Cracked Iron Keel
Rusted Water Heater Bottom
Seawater under the water heater rusted the bottom of the case.
Crevice Corrosion
Bolt ruined by crevice corrosion. Stainless steel is subject to this damage when immersed in seawater. Lack of oxygen facilitates the action of chlorides to infiltrate the metal.
Prop Shaft Corrosion
Corrosion under the propeller possibly caused by stray current in the water around the boat.
Cracked Inboard Engine Manifolds
These engine manifolds cracked when the water inside them froze and expanded.
Crevice Corrosion
Sailboat rigging toggle ruined by crevice corrosion.
Trailerable Boats
Transoms of outboard boats can be damaged by water infiltration from cracks, unsealed screw holes or unsealed motor mount bolt holes.
Moisture Meter On Transom
Moisture meters help to detect water infiltration in transoms, decks, bulkheads, and hull cores
Wrapped Line
Out of water inspection is mandatory when purchasing a boat.
Percussion Sounding
Percussion sounding of hulls will sometimes reveal damage.
Rusted Boat Trailer Brake Line
Boat trailer components are adversely affected by salt water.
Broken Keel Bolt
Rust, crevice corrosion and electrolysis cause havoc with metals immersed in seawater.
Rusted Brake Rotor
Many boat trailers used around salt water have brake components made inoperable by salt water.
Rotted Mast Step
This mast step was assumed to be solid fiberglass, but was rotted wood covered by fiberglass.
Rotted Mast Step
Inside the ruined mast step.
Broken Keel Bolt
Rust, crevice corrosion and electrolysis cause havoc with metals immersed in seawater.