Corroded thru-hill fittings

[watashii]

I have a 2005, 330 Express, and the chromed-over bronze thru-hulls are all corroding as shown. Short of replacing them all, is there an established method of making them look better than this without removing them? Thanks.

 

[Ky Grady]

Have you tried Flitz or any type of chrome polish? When I bought my '04, mine looked like that but I didn't even try to polish them, went straight to new ones.

 

[watashii]

Those look great!

Unfortunatly, Flitz wouldn't work on mine. They're too far gone. I'd like to replace them, but there are fifteen of them and access is a major problem.

 

[Fishtales]

or try any of the commercially sold metal cleaners. they will make it somewhat better, but those are a bit too far gone. either replace or live with.

 

[SkunkBoat]

You can make them look better with polish but the chrome has peeled so you'll have some shiny bronze/chrome camouflage!
Mine are exactly like yours. Have not had the time or energy to tackle that. I can say that my faucets were nearly as bad and they came out reasonably well with Brasso liquid metal polish.
If I did them I would mask the hull and start with polish and a toothbrush.
I'm certainly not going to replace them any time soon.

 

[DennisG01]

You can use the Flitz or some other polish on them and it will certainly make them look better. Obviously, the best remedy is maintenance... but at this point, you will have pitting no matter what type of cleaner/polish you use. Polish them up best you can and live with it, or replace.

 

[everwhom]

This thread on THT recommends sanding down to the bronze and clear coating, though of course they will no longer be silver. https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/312669-can-i-restore-through-hull-fittings-2.html

I have an '03 and mine are looking a bit better than yours, but still showing signs of age. I wonder if it would be better to replace anyways, so they are rebedded to protect the side coring though...

 

[Ky Grady]

These were mine when I bought the boat. To far gone for my liking, that's why I went with new.

 

[Doc Stressor]

Chromed over brass really doesn't belong in the marine environment. Once the chrome layer starts to pit there isn't much that you can do to restore them. Straight brass that you can clean up or stainless steel is the way to go. My 11-year-old stainless steel fittings get Flitz once a year and they are still perfect.

 

[Fishtales]

If you hit them every year with Borx, Noxon or some other metal cleaner and then wax, they will hold up. They will pit a little but won't look that bad at all. I've been doing this for 13 years and they look great for their age.