Hi Mark - All shrouds are made with stainless, but they can still discolor after exposure to salt water. You especially need to watch for broken strands near the swages at both top and bottom of the shrouds. Boats stored mast-up are especially prone to broken wires due to the fatigue from wind rocking, etc. while the boat is stored. My boats have been stored mast-up at Mission Bay in San Diego, and I have often found broken strands of wire (sometimes several!) after only 1 year on new stays. Keep checking them regularly, and plan to replace as often as anually, never less than each 3 years.
<br>
<br>It is possible your stays were made with a bad batch of wire, or cheap wire sold as high-grade wire. They could even be home-made using the wrong wire type for salt-water boats. I am on my 3'rd Performance Catamaran's boat (P16=>P19->I20) and have not had any problems with factory shrouds I have purchased for the past 7 years.
<br>
<br>Sail fast and have fun,
<br>Alan Thompson
<br>I20 - San Diego
<br>
<br><br><br>