Which risk most significantly increased during transatlantic voyages conducted by wooden sailing ships due to galvanic corrosion?

💡 Explanation

During transatlantic voyages, the electrochemical reaction between dissimilar metals like iron rudder pintles and bronze gudgeons underwater in saltwater accelerates galvanic corrosion because the larger cathode (bronze) preferentially corrodes the smaller anode (iron). Therefore, rudder failure increased, rather than hull breach, sail damage or mast collapse that involved different root causes.

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