C-Forum

Any downside to replacing stainless screws in my gunwales with brass? Brass are more readily available a the big box stores....
Thanks!

stainless steel is a lot stronger than brass. Where stainless steel screws are ok, brass screws may fail over time.
This is not based on personal experience, just on my engineering knowledge about materials.

martin a.k.a. the great gonzo!

I'm a little concerned that I'm having to redrill a bit deeper and tighten the screws a bit harder each time after sessions of rockin n rollin downriver as the outwales seperate just a tad. There's just a limited width of wood til I drill right through.

Does anyone use any adhesive to keep the gunwales sandwiched tight, or is that a no-no?

SS is way stronger, but Brass is stronger than you need.

Can't say I remember using brass on a whitewater boat. When I've broken brass hardware in other applications it has been from overtorquing it.

I always thought yours were brass

On the serious side - I've busted many a brass screw by over tightening, never a stainless one.

Al I use SS - even though its more expensive.
As Scott noted Brass has a tendency to break (although SS does too if you crank on it) and I agree with Louie that brass is strong enough.
The reason I us SS is that the hardware store 5 minutes from my house carries a large selection. Bottom line what did the manufacture use? Just let me know if you need any fasteners and I'll get them for youn - Brass or SS.
Paul C.

I used brass when redoing a friend's wooden gunwales. Worked fine and looks sharp.

both of the wood railed boats i bought (courier/sunburstII) were done with stainless. i would'nt go any other way. brass is much softer. i say do stainless, the wood will rot before the fastner fails. (my case both boats) and keep the watco teak oil handy!

I haven't bought new stainless screws in a long time, I just reuse them... Out with the old, back in with the old. TOG!

Brass look a lot better than SS and has a naticual history, It will tarinish and dull but can be cleaned. If I knew how to post a picture of my new boat you could see what I am talkin about. Everyone use SS so a boat with Brass is different, for us people who don't want to fit the mold. You can for sure over torque it, but there ain't much on a WW boat that needs to be that tight.

However here is the best reason to use brass, break off a SS bolt and a brass bolt in a piece of wood and then try to drill out the broke off part. Do it one time and tell me which one is easier to get the broke part out