Are titanium plated over stainless guides ( Alps) a decent substitute for solid titanium guides (ie. Fuji) for saltwater?

Not in my opinion.They will still rust. Can't beat titanium!!

When is the last time your forks and spoons rusted?
Both titanium and stainless are non-corrosive and should be fine for use in saltwater.
The only caveat would be a poor grade of stainless. I doubt you have to worry about that with Alps.

Always learning with
Ohio Rod Builders


Joe Azar

All stainless is not alike in corrosive properties, not even close, and there are plenty of stainless guides on the market that are not capable of reasonable performance in salt water exposures. The stainless that Alps uses is probably the best stainless. There is at least one other guide maker that uses that grade of stainless. I have no extended experience with Alps in salt, but I have limited experience with some other guides on OEM rods, and it's proven impossible to prevent at least some corrosion even thugh I've washed them after every use. I hope we get more responses from builders with extensive salt experience.

See posting "saltwater guide questions" farther down the page.

If you prep the feet you take off the titanium plating. I understand you prep the tips of the feet to help wrap the thread, esp on larger guides. When covered with thread and coats of epoxy does this protect the tips sufficiently?

The epoxy, until it cracks, should prevent salt water from contacting the foot. No contact, no corrosion. I almost expect someone to tell me I am wrong. :)

If you want a guarrantee against rust or corrosion, Titanium is your answer. You get the lightness as a benefit but my main reason for using them is the anti corrosive properties. I always inpsect all rods I come into contact with and even the ultra high end stuff without titanium guides has some tea staining and/or corrision occurriing at the feet where water obviously collects.

All the titanium "coated" guides I have ever used from the different manufacturers have rusted/corroded over time IF not taken care of. They usually start rusting after 1-2 years. I purposely didn't rinse off several rods that I use all the time just to see if one companies guides survived better than another. They were all the same,,,,usually cracking near the ring area. I am not sure if there were Alps guides, but I am positive of at least 2 other major manufacturers. Pay now or pay later to repair the guides. Or.....scrub them good EVERY TIME.