Help with Carbon Skis and Galvanic Corrosion. How the heck can i keep it in check?

[JKMike]

Hey yaw,

So I just ran into another issue to add to the list before I can get on the water this season. I was getting ready to set up my Raptor trim and I took a look at the tail end of my aluminum thru hull exhaust pipe and what do I find but this tinny spot of corrosion, or at least that's what I thought. I cleaned it up a bit with a brass brush with the plan to fill it in with epoxy. Only the corrosion wasn't ending. Before I knew it was left a nice little hole and it kept on growing. By the time I was done here is what I was left with.



The hull is a 2020 full carbon Rickter XFR. This isn't the first time I have ran into something like this. I had a midshaft housing corrode a hole almost past the first seal last year.

Is there anything that can be done to help keep this type of galvanic corrosion down with carbon hulls? I know zink anodes can help with corrosion on larger vessels that live in the water full time, but I didn't think they would help when the hull is dry.

Also, any advice on how to repair this hole?

 

[kevbo]

Every metal part needs to be painted, sealed, and coated with grease. Its a lot more work and it makes that cool ski look ugly but its the only way to keep metal in a like new condition. That hole can be repaired with epoxy and fiberglass. Its too bad people like the look of carbon cloth.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Knock the tube out. Replace it with a new one. Wrap the outside with rubber tubing to isolate the tube from the carbon. Or switch to a SS tube.

 

[JC-SuperJet]

Think someone suggested using Heat Shrink Insulation.

2.5 Diameter Heat Shrink is available at Grainger.

 

[JKMike]

Am I wrong or did Rickter switch to a carbon fiber tube on the newer XFS models?

 

[JKMike]

Knock the tube out. Replace it with a new one. Wrap the outside with rubber tubing to isolate the tube from the carbon. Or switch to a SS tube.

Removing it and replacing it with something better is deffinately my ultimate plan. But I'll probably leave that untill winter if I can. My question then is going to be how can I go about getting the new tube epoxied and sealed up well enough without having to cut open the tray?

 

[JKMike]

Every metal part needs to be painted, sealed, and coated with grease. Its a lot more work and it makes that cool ski look ugly but its the only way to keep metal in a like new condition. That hole can be repaired with epoxy and fiberglass. Its too bad people like the look of carbon cloth.

Amen to that. I think my over attention to detail when it comes to cleaning my ski may have bit me in the ass here. I probably would have been fine if I didn't occasionally wipe out the end of that tube.

 

[fastgtfairlane]

I'd just use some epoxy putty to temporarily full the hole until you can replace the tube.