Classic Australian Wooden Power Boat Association

One of our new members has asked a question about boat building nails. The design calls for bronze coated ribbed nails, is there any reason these can't be substituted with ribbed stainless steel nails? The bronze nails are apparently hard to get unless someone can suggest a supplier

These are the nails the plan calls for

My Seacraft was full of monel ribbed nails from original. I think stainless suffers from electrolysis if trapped with moisture.

Call Boatcraft Pacific. He sells silicon bronze nails

than you sir

Hi folks. This is a really late reply, but I recommend using the RAPTOR polymer nails/brads from the US as an alternative to Silicone Bronze or SS ring nails. Their local agent is in NSW. They'll fit in most brands of pneumatic nail/brad gun, (come in sizes from 3/8" to 2") twice the tensile strength of steel, half the shear strength, they don't rot, can be sanded plus they accept stain, can't be pulled out and can be cut without damaging tools. I've used over 2000 on each side of my 16 foot Crackerbox hull to hold 6 metre strips of mahogany along the hull while the BoteCote epoxy was drying. They finish up so well that they don't need filling and are invisible after staining and sanding.

Regards, Gary

Good find Gary, have you got some pics of how they finish?
Alan.

Hi Alan. I have lots of pictures I can post, but don't have the facility to do it with my current view of this Bulletin Board. I did lots of experiments before I found a technique that enabled the nail heads to sit proud so I could sand them off prior to sanding, staining and varnishing of my mahogany laminations. As previously mentioned, the nails almost melt along the outside edge of the nail shaft (from friction being shot in), so bond with the surrounding wood - not leaving any gaps or needing the nail head to retain mechanical fixing. The nail heads are small, but I wanted the nail shafts to be invisible, so removed them. They're great to use and also come in polymer staple shapes - great to use for upholstery or fixing marine carpet to trailer bunks - they don't corrode. If you have an email address, I'll send some pictures through. Regards, Gary Hastie

Garry,
have sent email,
Alan.

Hi Alan.

Thank you, but I haven't received any info yet. My email address is hastieg@gmail.com and mobile 0437 514 145. Regards, Gary.