What to Consider When Choosing a Marine Hinge

April 2022

Boats are a common and essential piece of hardware for marine projects of all sizes. From doors and hatches to gates and tables, hinges play a critical role in comfort and safety onboard all marine vessels.

Unlike land based projects, hinges for marine applications have specific requirements around rust and corrosion caused by saltwater exposure. As rust forms, metal becomes weakened and if the hinge or other component is not replaced in time it may fail completely. Marine hinges have been designed with increased strength and durability in mind and manufactured to minimise corrosion damage.

How to Choose Marine Hinges

The best choice of marine hinge will depend on its application, however, there are several key elements to consider for any marine hinge application.

Application/Function

First and foremost, the position and use of the hinge should be considered:

What is the hinge being used for?
Where will it be mounted?

For example, should you wish to fit or replace a floor hatch hinge, consider a flush hinge such as the marine counter flap hinge which lays flat and will not cause discomfort when stepped on.

If you are looking to fit or replace an overhead cabinet or standard cabinet hinge, a standard equal leaves hinge should do the trick, as the raised pin shaft should not cause an issue.

One often overlooked aspect of choosing marine hinges is the opening angle. Be sure to check this as the opening angle on specialist marine hinges varies substantially.

Hinge Type

The type of hinge you choose depends on the shape, size, and location of the unit it will be applied to. Marine hinges are available in a range of shapes and styles to accommodate almost any requirement. Should you be unable to find the exact hinge you are looking for, speak to Cooke Brothers about our custom hinge manufacturing services. You can view our full range of marine hinges below:

Quality

Not all hinges are manufactured to the same level of quality, and a high-quality hinge is essential for marine use. Poor hinges can fail quickly in wet and corrosive environments, quickly becoming an inconvenience or hazard if they fail prematurely. Ensure you buy high-quality hinges for all marine applications to ensure your hinges remain reliable for many years to come.

Material

Most marine hinges are made from stainless steel due to their corrosion-resistant qualities and pleasant aesthetics. Stainless steel hinges look good, are easy to clean and polish, and resist the effects of rust and corrosion from salt and water.

316 stainless steel is sometimes called ‘marine grade’ and is considered the most appropriate grade to use for marine applications. 304-grade stainless steel is another common grade used in marine hinges though 316 is generally considered the most suitable due to its superior corrosion resistance and strength.

All Cooke Brothers marine hinges are 316 stainless steel to ensure only the best quality and across the range.

Finish

There are boat hinges on the market made from other materials, or with finishes such as brass and chrome. While these materials and finishes are attractive to look at, they do not offer the qualities of marine grade stainless steel and may begin to suffer from rust and the effects of corrosion much earlier than a stainless steel hinge.

At Cooke Brothers, we offer stainless steel hinges in a brushed or polished finish to suit a range of marine interiors and exteriors.

Buy Marine Hinges Online with Cooke Brothers

If you are unsure which marine hinge is best for your project, or you require custom hinge manufacturing services, contact our team today.

Only the highest quality and craftsmanship goes into making our specialist marine hinges. We have years of experience developing reliable and innovative designs and are proud of the products we make available.

We offer same day, next day, and 48-hour delivery – shop and order your marine hinges online now.