Turmite -
Righto - You need to be "relatively" cautious where you use carbon fiber. Example - if you put it in close contact with stainless steel, and subject them both to salt water immersion - you'll wind up with a good opportunity to create a battery. The current flow is small, and the potential not enough to run your cd player. BUT you will slowly reduce the stainless steel as a result of "electrolysis" or "galvanic reaction" resulting from the presence of disimilar metals in a saline solution.
The challenge in boat building (racing in particular) is getting the weights down and the strengths up while keeping the "normal" metals in one piece. Electrolysis not only works in direct contact - but also THROUGH seawater - so if you expose an un protected piece of stainless to CF underwater - the same thing happens to the prop - the shaft, etc. Bronze is used underwater as a sacraficial anode to prevent the ss from melting away.
Long winded - but a passion of mine - especially since there are soooo many good places to gain the savings and strength with CF - but gotta do it smart! Hope that helps - I can send some more on the electrolysis if you need - PM is OK.
Cheers - JIm
Experience is the BEST Teacher. Is that why it usually arrives in a shower of sparks, flash of light, loud bang, a cloud of smoke, AND -- a BILL to pay? You usually get it -- just after you need it.