Re: Beam replacement ( John)

John wrote: >.but since she has always been in fresh water the beam looks perfect. I would suggest that the salt content of the water is not a major factor. Pentaquod's beem was rusted into large flakes, and I believe that this was because it was left in a yard for years, and rainwater accumulated in the bilges (from various leaks on deck), leaving the beam submerged in "fresh" water. I think that it's the prolonged exposure to moisture that leads to the rusting, though I agree that the presence of salt ions probably hastens the process. So I would be careful about assuming that a fresh water boat will necessarily have an intact beam. I'd be sure to verify in any case. Alfred Poor 1969 Cal 29 #132, "Pentaquod"