Yeah, I’ve seen the same thing—fasteners are always the weak link, especially on anything metal near salt air. I agree, most of those “marine” sprays are more hype than help. The zinc or stainless coatings on screws do last way longer, but even those start to pit after a few years. I’ve had some luck with regular rinsing, but honestly, it’s just buying time. Nothing’s really maintenance-free out here... you just pick your battles and try to stretch out the replacements.
That’s been my experience too—no matter what the marketing says, most of those sprays just don’t hold up in real coastal weather. I’ve started using a dab of anti-seize on fasteners when I install them, especially in spots that take a beating from wind-driven salt. It’s not perfect, but I’ve noticed less rust and they come out easier down the road. Stainless is good, but like you said, even that gets ugly after a while. At this point, I just plan on swapping hardware every few years... seems like the only real way to stay ahead of it.
I hear you on the anti-seize—I've used it too, especially on exposed fasteners, and it does seem to help a bit with removal later. Still, I’m not convinced it really stops corrosion in the long run, just slows it down. Stainless is supposed to be the answer, but like you said, even that gets pitted and stained after a few seasons out here. I’ve seen some folks try those ceramic-coated screws, but honestly, I haven’t noticed much difference once the coating chips or wears off.
One thing I’ve wondered about is whether anyone’s had luck with hot-dip galvanized hardware in these conditions. It’s cheaper than stainless and supposedly holds up better than standard zinc-plated stuff, but I haven’t used it much myself near salt air. Has anyone actually seen it last more than a couple years on a roof or deck? Or is it just another case of “better than nothing, but not by much”?
Hot-dip galv is kind of a mixed bag in my experience. I’ve seen it hold up okay on some decks, but anything right on the coast seems to get that white rust creeping in after a year or two. Maybe it’s better than the cheap zinc stuff, but I wouldn’t call it a long-term fix. Has anyone tried doubling up with sealant or paint over the fasteners? Wondering if that actually buys you more time or just makes a mess down the road.
I’ve had similar luck—hot-dip galv never seems to last as long as I hope, especially right on the water. We tried painting over the heads with a rust-inhibiting enamel once, but honestly, it just started peeling after a year and trapped moisture underneath. Made things worse in the end. Anyone else had better luck with those epoxy sealants? I always wonder if that’s worth the effort or just another maintenance headache.
