I have never had a Fuji guide, CC or not CC, show any sign of corrosion. Some of my rods have been used in salt. Before I got heavy into building my own rods I used "factory" rods, and can see some corrosion on some of them (which I don't use any more). I have seen corrosion on hook keepers, which say they are "stainless steel," but what grade of stainless? I no longer use "keepers" but use small guides which I'm confident in as keepers.. Or I use the REC keeper.

There are wrap techniques that can get the wrap going onto a less than ideal foot configuration, a little more trouble than having an ideal foot, but one has to decide whether they want to retain the inherent corrosion resistance of the guide, or possibly compromise it for ease of wrap.

I prep the feet of KL-H 20,16, 10 and 8. Not likely any of my rods will see salt. By the time they show corrosion, send condolences to my family.

In the past, like 12 years ago, I built 5 rods for myself, boys, and a friend using Fuji MN guides, gunsmoke finish, with SiC rings. These were used on long range boats in the Pacific. We were always careful to thoroughly clean all our tackle before storage because of the salt environment. Two years ago I ended up replacing the complete guide trains on three rods due to rusting of the frames around the ring. I know there are various opinions on titanium, not the least of which is the cost, but I replaced the three rusting guide trains with titanium frames, and use titanium on almost all of the saltwater stuff I'm making now. Yeah, it can be expensive, but it's not going to rust and ends up being cheaper in the long haul if you are picky about what you build, want it to go the distance without rust issues, and you factor in the time and effort taken to replace guides. And yes, I still buy a lot of Fuji guides.

Dave

David, IMHO this is exactly the situation to show differences in guides, wraps, preps, and epoxies.

Everyone is all about how if you rinse your rod at the end of the day. Those of us that do long range trips often have our gear soaked in salt water spray for an extended period before we can get to a fresh water rinse. Doesn't help that such trips often result in big enough fish to tax guides wraps to the point where small stress cracks start to happen and go unnoticed. That is until it is often too late.

I'm poor enough, and under value my time/labor enough, that I'll replace guides before I'll spring for titanium. I do buy some 316 SS guides though. FWIW I "used" to feel the black Fuji guides stood up better. They have changed things with the new corrosion control coatings so I don't know.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Russell,

I've used a couple sets of the new Fuji CC guides. They're nice, but time will tell how they hold up. When prospective customers for salt water ask what guides I recommend, I show them pictures of the rusted SS guides, titanium guides, and give them the cost difference between SS and titanium. Most feel that if they have that much invested anyway, the extra for Ti with it's non-corrosive properties is worth the difference.

Dave