Tiger Tiger and anyone else interested
When you are building a model of a working vessel - especially fishing vessels - bear in mind the real vessels are very hard working vessels, especially fishing boats. They have to earn their keep so, shall we say, any fishing vessel that is tied up against the quayside, isn't earning its keep.
The decks on these vessels, being hard worked, are 9 times out of 10 repaired in a hurry, so, when the deck fittings are replaced - they are normally repaired and replaced in the time that the vessel is discharging its cargo. Most of the time, its a case of make do and mend. This is much the case with decking on fishing vessels - from say 20 foot up to the factory fishing vessels. So, you may often see fishing boats with decks which have pitch on top of the plank holding bolts.
Modern larger fishing vessels now are all steel constructed along with their decks. If you have a close look at them, where the actual area for trawling gear is operated on the decks, you will often find welded patches. There are often also multicolour patches of paint where it has been repaired.
To get some facts right:
You never use brass or bronze fastening bolts through steel on decks to hold deck planks down. They are made of galvanised steel.
Reason: Electrolytic salt water corrosion between the two metals.
This is also the reason that on some steel ships and boats you have the zinc anodes welded around the stern of a ship when she has a bronze propeller.
aye
John E
BLUEBIRD