Clearly from the discussions I have read most of us look for the "all purpose" metal . . . discussions have centered on metals verses purpose. What the jest of this statement is . . . "A fastener has a purpose and looking closely at the characteristics of the environmental conditions and metal chemistry is what is important." Stainless steel has an environment where it will out perform any other metal . . . brass . . . bronze . . . mild steel . . . aluminum . . . galvanized metal . . . and sometimes more exotic metals like monel, inconel, titanium . . . each has it's engineered purpose. Most importantly is that even within the broad category of each metal or alloy is the variety and variation in the chemical composition. Within stainless alone there are so many types and variations in the alloy that it is mind boggling. So as boat builders what is our answer . . . "consider the critcal characteristics of the fastener" and "critical characteristics of the environment". Do not narrow our perspective down to being a "bronze man" or "stainless steel man" . . . be open minded, select the metal that is the best product for the service.
Learn some basics of corrosion. Gain some understanding that corrosion is an electrical process. Compare the corrosion process to the way a battery works. Metals when mixed with an electrolyte (water) do some really amazing things. Then using these understandings of corrosion and what environment the fasterner is going to be located . . . make a selection that is the "best fit".
Here is a good article on Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion"Get-er Done"
George
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