On 05 Dec 2003 02:41 PM, Ed Bryant posted the following:
Hello All.

I'm contemplating building a float plane - west coast of Canada. I've
flown mostly C-180 and C-185 on floats, so I have a pre-conception
that aluminum is a good material for the salt water environment.
Murphy's a good choice and local too. I like Zenair's 801 as well.

Been intrigued for years with the Bearhawk - now in kit form. Seems to
be a good balance of cost, utility and mission. Am I prejudiced to
think that steel frame and fabric is just bad around salt water?

If it is not properly protected, aluminum will be destroyed in a
corrosive environment just as certainly as tube and fabric will. Your
Cessnas most likely had the factory seaplane option which included
corrosion proofing not found on the standard models.

At least with a tube fuselage, if it rusts you can cut out the bad parts
and weld in new tubing. With an all aluminum bird getting rid of
corrosion might be a real headache.

I'm building my Bearhawk for exactly the use you propose: Flying the
Alaska coast with landings in the salt water. The all-aluminum wings
will be alodined and primed prior to assembly, and the steel tube parts
will be either powder coated or epoxy primed and then covered with
modern polyester fabric. I don't anticipate any problems over and above
what you would expect from an all-aluminum airplane. I will most likely
be in my mid to late 30s when I finish it, and I expect to pass it down
to my kids someday.

----------------------------------------------------
Del Rawlins-
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