Corrosion in a wooden boat
 

Hi,

I looked at a 1963 Chris Craft Constellation this weekend and I saw
something interesting. Where the rudders and shaft logs are through
bolted, there was a dry foamy substance around the bolt heads. Upon
closer examination, I saw that it was white with rust colored streaks.
I assumed that this was the result of salt water and the corrosion of
the bolts.

I am new to wooden and power boats and I was looking for comments on
this. Since the boat is for sale, is this a serious condition that any
surveyer would instantly cite and conclude its fix was more than the
boat's value, or is this a relatively common and reparable occurance?
Thanks.

It could be a rusty bolt head, but the white foamy material seems to
suggest there's more going on here.

There is a type of "electrolysis" that can occur in wood, particulary
when wet.

It isn't unusual to find this in a boat, and the areas around the
rudder posts, shaft log, through hull fittings, etc, are prime
offenders. The process initially removes the soft, pithy portions of
the wood.

If it hasn't advanced too far, the process can be arrested with dilued
vinegar. Get an on-site professional to render an opinion about the
severity of the problem.