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Copper Boat Nails and Roves

Copper and copper alloys are typically 99 percent copper and very small amounts of silver, arsenic, antimony, phosphorous and tellurium. The corrosion resistance of copper alloys is very good in seawater and excellent in salt atmospheres. Copper is a soft and ductile metal, and has long been used as fastenings in traditional wooden boats with copper clinched nails or nails riveted over roves. Our flat head copper boat nails are sourced from the manufacturer in the UK and are made from annealed copper wire using the same technique practiced over many years.

We have an extensive range of copper boat nails in flat head that are kept in stock and rose head nails that are available by the KG from our supplier in New Zealand at reasonable lead times. With a complementary range of copper roves to suite. Used with Roves or alone by clenching, copper boat nails are the classic nail used to build classic clinker boats.

The table below shows the Copper Nail sizes which are held in Australia. We will sell from 100 grams to 100 kilograms.

BUYER BEWARE
There are some chinese sourced copper boat nails around. The samples we have been supplied are semi hard and up to 0.2mm undersize.  Shipwrights have told us they have ended up with fine cracks in the peined area due to work hardening.  We source our Copper Boat Nails from the UK and they manufacture them onsite using the same techniques and machinery as used for many decades.  I have been to the factory and the machinery is definitely many decades old.

That is one the reasons we do not stock fasteners from China.  The other reason is not being able to guarantee the quality of the materials being used in the manufacturing process.  The purity of the copper is critical.  Small percentages of impurities can significantly alter the copper making it unsuitable for marine use.

Note:  The 2nd Column for each size indicates the quantity per 100grams.

The table below shows the Rove sizes which are held in Australia.

We also have with all the tools and equipment for traditional boat repair and restoration.  This includes:

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