Rust is any metal’s biggest enemy – that’s a universal rule. Over time, it “eats away” at the surface, essentially ruining the metal and making it useless. Today, I want to talk about the best ways to protect boat hooks from corrosion. Now, essentially, a hook is a long “stick”, but it does have a metallic end, much like a pike pole. And water is one of the most common causes of rust.
Plus, since folks use hooks not only for docking/undocking but also “fetching” debris and even people, it’s no secret why they get all rusty in a couple of years. And let’s not forget that humidity can also lead to metal decay. So, let’s go ahead and see what we can do to keep our hooks from harm’s way!
What are your Options?
How can you secure your hook(s) from corrosion? How do you make sure they don’t rust while stored somewhere in the garage or the boat? I’ve got good news for you: there are some tried-and-true ways of fighting rust and keeping the hooks corrosion-free. Removers can be pretty efficient as well, but our focus in this guide will be on solutions that prevent rust from forming in the first place, not getting rid of it once it’s already there.
First, we’ll talk about proper storage, because you can’t just put the hooks wherever you please and expect them to stay in perfect shape, even if it’s a set of boat hooks for rope. Next, I’ll introduce you to the most effective formulas that have proven to be instrumental in holding rust back. Let’s get to it!
#1: Storing Hooks the Right Way
Say, you’ve got a set of expensive boat hooks for docking and the sailing season is over. You’re probably going to put them somewhere in a corner in the garage and forget about them. Well, that’s not recommended. As I mentioned in the intro, moisture and humidity accelerate rusting. That’s why it’s important to make sure the surface is completely dry. If you can’t guarantee 100% dryness, try using desiccant agents.
Activated charcoal, calcium sulfate, and silica gel are some of the most popular options. These are available for very cheap (a decent pack of silica gel will be yours +/- 10 US dollars). So, first, try to keep the boat as dry as possible; secondly, treat the hooks (the metallic parts) with a drying agent. Since it’s quite challenging to create a water- and air-tight seal, desiccant formulas are your best bet.
#2: Applying Oil
This next solution is very popular among gun owners. First of all, it lubes metal, keeping it nice and smooth. Secondly, oil is naturally resistant to rust. You could say that it serves as a protective layer against it. The bad news is – you need to apply it repeatedly to achieve the desired effect. Plus, oil is slippery, dirty, and not very fun to work with. On the bright side, it is one of the cheapest remedies against corrosion.
#3: Painting + Adding Dry Coating
If you’ve got some extra bucks to spare, go with dry coating. It comes in the form of a spray and is a lot more pleasant to deal with. Besides, it’s more effective than regular oil. Again, a dry coating is essentially a barrier, a layer that keeps rust at bay. But, it doesn’t change the metal’s characteristics in any way. You can get a decent-size canister for $20-30. One more thing: dry coating is 100% safe to apply over paint. That way, you’ll get double-layer protection.
Speaking of paint, it’s pretty resistant to moisture/humidity buildup as well. Acrylic paint is the best option for metallic parts. So, if you’ve got a couple of premium-quality mooring hooks for boats and want to kill two birds with one stone – prevent corrosion and make the hooks look better – paint is the way to go.
#4: What about Galvanizing?
Did you know that zinc is 30 times more resistant to rust than regular steel? That’s right, and galvanizing describes the process of covering the metal with a thin layer. The zinc-rich coating will, indeed, be quite effective, and a 20-ounce bottle/can will cost you 10 US dollars max. As for the downsides – zinc tends to change the color of the metal a bit, which isn’t something that most boat owners want. The hooks will start to look a bit “cheap”.
However, it will be much better than leaving your equipment one-on-one with rust, especially if the boat isn’t particularly moisture-free. In my opinion, dry coating and silica gel are the best offers on the table right now. They are very easy to apply and have an excellent and long-lasting effect.
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