Corrosion-Resistant Wire Mesh for Marine & Coastal Service
From seawater intake screens to railing infill, we cut 316 stainless, Monel, and other marine-grade mesh to your exact size — engineered to hold up in salt spray, tidal zones, and daily washdown.
Salt air, tidal cycles, and constant washdown punish anything metal — and ordinary carbon or galvanized steel doesn't stand a chance. Since 1938, Howard Wire Cloth Co. has supplied marine and coastal operations with corrosion-resistant wire mesh in 316 stainless, Monel, and other salt-tough alloys. As a family-owned manufacturer and distributor in Hayward, CA, we cut every screen, panel, and basket to your exact dimensions — USA-made, quote-based, with free samples so you can prove out the material before it ever touches seawater.
Where Marine Relies On Wire Mesh
Seawater Intake & Strainer Screens
Woven 316 and Monel screens keep marine growth, debris, and sediment out of pump intakes, sea chests, and heat-exchanger strainers without choking flow.
Railings & Infill Panels
Welded and woven mesh infill for dock, pier, and deck railings that stays rigid and rust-free under constant salt spray.
Bait, Shellfish & Aquaculture Cages
Corrosion-resistant woven and welded mesh for bait tanks, oyster and shellfish grow-out cages, and live-well enclosures submerged in brackish or open water.
Corrosion-Prone Filtration
Fine-count 316 and Monel cloth for fuel, hydraulic, ballast-water, and process filtration where chloride attack destroys ordinary steel.
Walkway & Deck Grating
Perforated and woven panels for slip-resistant walkways, catwalks, and access platforms in wet, high-traffic marine environments.
Vent & Spark Screens
Bug- and spark-blocking screens for engine-room vents, fuel-tank breathers, and exhaust outlets that shrug off salt-air corrosion.
Why Wire Mesh For Marine
Built to Beat Salt
316 stainless and Monel resist the chloride pitting and crevice corrosion that turns carbon and galvanized steel to rust in a marine environment.
Flow Without Fouling
Precise mesh counts and open-area ratios strain debris and marine growth while keeping intake, drainage, and filtration flow rates high.
Strength Where Weight Matters
High strength-to-weight lets topside railings, panels, and platforms carry load without adding deadweight to the structure.
Fabrication-Friendly
Marine-grade mesh cuts, rolls, and welds cleanly into custom screens, baskets, and frames that drop straight into existing hardware.
Recommended Mesh & Materials
Spec Marine Mesh That Outlasts the Salt
Send your dimensions, mesh count, and alloy — we'll cut it to size and get free samples in your hands. Quotes from our family-owned Hayward, CA shop, manufacturing since 1938.
Common Questions
Why 316 stainless instead of 304 for marine use?
316 contains roughly 2–3% molybdenum, which sharply improves resistance to the chloride pitting and crevice corrosion caused by seawater and salt-laden air. In coastal or submerged service 304 will streak and pit, so 316 is the marine-grade standard for anything exposed to salt.
When should I step up to Monel instead of stainless?
For continuous seawater immersion, high-chloride or brackish water, and warm intakes, Monel's nickel-copper composition outperforms 316 against pitting and stress-corrosion cracking. It costs more, so it's usually reserved for the most aggressive submerged applications — tell us your service conditions and we'll advise.
Can you cut mesh to size and build frames or baskets?
Yes. We cut to your exact dimensions and fabricate custom screens, strainer baskets, cage panels, and framed infill. Send drawings or a sample and we'll match the mesh count, wire diameter, and alloy.
How do I avoid galvanic corrosion between the mesh and my frame?
Match the mesh alloy to your surrounding hardware where possible — 316 mesh with 316 frames, for example — or isolate dissimilar metals. Tell us the mating materials and we'll recommend a compatible mesh and edge treatment.
Do you offer samples before I commit to an order?
Yes — we provide free samples so you can verify mesh count, wire diameter, and alloy before ordering. Everything is quote-based and made in the USA at our Hayward, CA facility, family-owned since 1938.