Would a "zinc" of some sort be in order? (first cousin to a coat of
galvanize?)

Roger

http://home.insightbb.com/~derbyrm

"Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea Hawk at wow way d0t com wrote in message
news:2sOdnZYGqMjgCNjZnZ2dnUVZ_v6dnZ2d@wideopenwest .com...
"Dane" wrote in message
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Actually, I have a question just like this:
I (will) have a centerboard made from iron/steel (weighing
250kg/550lbs).

It will be on a "dinghy" that will mostly stay in the water.

I had a boat with an iron centerboard that was kept in the water all sumer
on the great lakes (U.S. fresh water).

I actually saw the centerboard exactly twice during the 10 years I owned
it. Once was when I first owned it, it was about 25 years old and I was
re-doing the bottom (peel the gel coat) - the iron was pitted some, there
was no sign of any kind of coating, but there was nothing growing on it.
And once more, about 10 years later, after it had gotten stuck in the
trunk. I didn't see any growth on it then either.

I assume that, in general, plants need light to grow, and it's pretty dark
up in the centerboard trunk.

I would suggest that some epoxy to retard corrosion would be in order. I
used some made by Interlux specifically for iron on the keel - it held up
quite well. (I never put anything on the centerboard)

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
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