One of the advantages in leaving near the Chesapeake Bay is the availability of marine hardware of all sorts and types. I probably spend more time buying marine type supplies for my 4/4 than I do for my sailboat. I replaced the running board treads using stainless bolts with nylock nuts which should last for the life of the car. Marine hardware of good quality is essential rather than hardware store quality which is inferior.
PS The War of 1812 was effectively ended on the Chesapeake Bay at Baltimore's Fort McHenry with the defeat of the British fleet, September 13&14, 1814.
