Salt water corrosion

[Horton]

My boat driver / Ski partner is going off to college in San Diego next fall. I have no idea how to keep her gear from corroding. What is the right goop to put on her screws and fin bolts?

[dave2ball]

Anti seize works great for fin box screws. The other hardware is stainless so t should not be an issue. As long as he rinses off with fresh water ski and all gear he should be fine. I skied at Berkeley aquatic park for over 25 years. if you rinse your gear and ski after each set you will be fine.

[ALPJr]

At Berkeley Acquatic Park skiers rinse everything in the fresh water shower as soon as they come in off the dock. I didn't use any goop and never had any corrosion problems with my gear after skiing there every weekend for two seasons.

[aussiemc]

I have skied in salt water for the last 10 seasons. I use inox grease on all screws (almost any grease will do) and re apply that every 8 weeks or so. I also wash down my gear with a hose then fill a tub with freshwater, "soak" my fin and let my binding release hang into the water as well. (obviously not at the same time), plus throw my shell, liner, gloves etc. in the tub.

I have had screws stuck in the fin block and inserts in the past, no problems since implementing the above.

[aupatking]

Mobil Mobilith SHC 100, same stuff I use for the trailer hubs. Fin box set screw, clamp screws, and mounting screws get coated. All binding mounting screws get coated, and if she uses a Reflex style release, coat the entire spring, and internals, as well as as much of the arms as you can. That’s the piece I spend the most time rinsing. If she uses hard shell boots, don’t forget the threaded adjustment piece and springs in the buckles. Salt water is a killer, but that much prevention and a good bit of rinsing should be no problem.

[eleeski]

I anti seize every nut and bolt. Make sure they are all stainless.

 

Rinsing wastes water. My San Diego ski never gets rinsed. The hardshell clips need more frequent maintenance but everything else is completely resistant to salt water. Don't stress over the equipment, just ski.

 

Too often when I was in college, we didn't have time to rinse or flush the boat. The boat survived. I graduated. We got to ski. Priorities.

 

We are looking forward to having her on the team!

 

Eric

[Glydon]

I had a post on here last year if anyone remembers and @MarcusBrown came through with a replacement fin ... it too is corroding , I religiously rinse my gear with fresh water and as a previous poster mentioned I now soak the entire bottom of ski in a 5 gallon bucket of fresh after every session AFTER rinsing with hose. It does not seem to help. I think the issue is some salt sediment gets trapped in the grooves between ski, plates, fin, fin box , clamps as they all have a tell tale sign of white residue when the ski comes out in the late spring. Is there a product that "creeps" that anyone can recommend ? I am afraid of affecting the actually top sheet of the ski by using a petroleum based product (not to mention I don't want to put into the environment) Nice post @Horton