In early november, our team faced a hull repair project on an american sailing yacht classic built in 1983. The yacht, built entirely in aluminium by the prestigious house Palmer Johnson; renowned by their luxurious yachts made with technologies and materiales ahead of their time. Beginning with their aluminium boats in 1961 and more recently with their carbon fibre hulls.
[Palmer Johnson sailyacht]
Our yacht, a 26m long (84ft.) sailyacht with an amazing classic interior and a very-well-thought construction. The only issue we could find on board was in the keel. Specifically in the bow of the yacht where almost 4 tons of ballast in lead ingots were laying almost bare on the aluminium plate. This caused what is known as ‘galvanic’ or ‘bimetallic’ corrosion. It happens when two metals of different electrode potentials get in contact with an electrolyte (i.e. salt water) causing one of the metals to become an anode and the other one a catode. Much like sacrificial anodes in yachts, but unintendedly.
It was quite a hard work we took over, and although it took longer than expected, our client was satisfied with the quality of our metalwork.
Here you can find some pictures of how to project went.
[Sections replaced because of corrosion]
[Paint work by our friends at Benymar]