First off, you didn't say if the length of the stay was rusty or if just at the swaged ends. If the whole lenght is rusty then you didn't have stainless steel wire. If the swaged ends are rusted where the wire goes into the swage then you have corrosion from salt water getting into the swage. Solutions: 1.) get stainless steel stays. (if you buy from a good source then possibly get better grade but not guarranteed) 2.) try to rinse with plain water as much as possible to get the salt off. 3.) pray
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<br>Good luck, I hope this helps.
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<br>Clayton<br><br>