The professional Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA) contacted the Institute, via the Northampton office, requesting us to present a one day informative course on corrosion of steel hulled craft in fresh water service. This task fell to past President Trevor Osborne as being the most suitable on the basis that he was after all a small craft owner, albeit one with a plastic non corrodible hull. The presentation took place on March 1st at the Aqueduct Marina, Church Minshull near Nantwich on the Shropshire Union Canal.Â
In spite of the poor weather and driving conditions, the number of attendees exceeded twenty persons, all experienced and active members of the YDSA from around the UK. The ICorr presentation covered multiple subjects all related to corrosion of small craft and narrow boats operating in fresh water, including pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion, galvanic corrosion, coatings and painting, cathodic protection, electrical isolation by decoupling of a.c. grounding and other subjects, some of which emerged on an ad hoc impromptu basis and were an aside to the prepared presentation.Â
The material presented was prepared to provide a greater background understanding of issues related to corrosion in the day to day work that YDSA members do while surveying narrow boats and other craft around the UK, and overseas. The issue of corrosion in pleasure and working boats is an important one and the YDSA are very active in investigative surveying. From post event feed-back it was clear that all who attended found the presentation and group discussion most useful, and that the learning outcomes will be put to good use in carrying out future surveys and preparing reports.
This was a long day, but a very worthwhile one spent in the company of a well experienced and professional audience. Â ICorr look forward to again meeting with the YDSA to further their understanding of corrosion and our understanding of pleasure boats and related surveying practices.
