|
06-28-2013, 01:14 PM
|
#1
|
Veteran Member
City: Seabrook
Vessel Name: Knot Enuff
Vessel Model: Atlantic 47'
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 30
|
Replacing Zincs Too Frequently
I have had a problem on my boat with having to replace the zincs in just four months. Done this twice since January. I don't believe it is just my boat because my neighbors are also complaining. Some say it's because the marina has electrical issues, and some say it is water conditions. My question is that one neighbor braggs because his boat does not have any zincs. It is equipted with some sort of grounding or isolation system so as not to need zincs. Is anyone familiar with what they are speaking of and is anyone using this. Sounds like it could be a good thing. Thanks for your comments.
|
|
|
06-28-2013, 04:14 PM
|
#2
|
Valued Technical Contributor
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,785
|
There are three things that come to mind that cause more rapid than (whatever is) normal zinc useage:
1. Internal DC fault on your boat to ground. Often bilge pump wiring.
2. External DC fault on another boat that affects you through the shore power ground. A galvanic isolator (good) or an isolation transformer (best) can prevent this.
3. Your neighbor with no zincs turning up his protection system too high which then corrodes your zincs!!! As you can imaging I don't think much of those systems.
David
|
|
|
06-29-2013, 05:16 AM
|
#3
|
Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
|
If you travel from marina to marina an isolation transformer , and a quality marine battery charger are good insurance.
IF the marina has electrical problems , there are many methods of measuring and isolating the problem.
|
|
|
06-30-2013, 01:19 AM
|
#4
|
Guru
City: Under a boat, in a marina in the San Francisco Bay
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 615
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Knot-Enuff
I have had a problem on my boat with having to replace the zincs in just four months. Done this twice since January. ...some say it is water conditions.
|
I'd like to know what "water conditions" these geniuses are referring to.
__________________
Clean bottoms are FastBottoms!
|
|
|
07-01-2013, 10:34 AM
|
#5
|
Guru
City: SF Bay Area
Vessel Model: Tollycraft 34' Tri Cabin
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 12,569
|
Howdy - I've nothing special to add at this time; simply tagging in here so I can be appraised when posts occur to this thread. Always interested to follow discussions re anode/diode/corrosion/galvanization/electrical-transfer/hot-cool harbors... etc, etc.
My current boat's lucky - she sits in fresh water in a very "cool" harbor. That said: I've got an offer on a boat that if purchased will be docked in a saltwater harbor off SF Bay. The boat currently in fresh water used to be in same Bay harbor and I needed to replace zincs in 6 to 9 month increments. When I again dock a boat near SF Bay I’ll be interested to learn any new ways to best extend anode life in salt water while still providing the diodes good protection.
Carry On!
Happy Boating Daze!! - Art
|
|
|
07-01-2013, 12:40 PM
|
#6
|
Guru
City: Everett Wa
Vessel Name: Eagle
Vessel Model: Roughwater 58 pilot house
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,919
|
So have you inquired how often other boats in the marina, but NOT around you change their zincs. Is it a local or marina wide? Your marina should have a good idea how long zincs should last, and if your are not ask them to check the dock and the water for stray electricity. I have a diver check/clean the hull ever three months just of make sure nothing has change.
Also the boat with out zincs maybe using you zincs for protection? Causing the zincs on surrounding boat zincs to be used faster. I would assume the other boats and yours has a galvanic isolator protects the boat when plug into shore power. An isolator allows current to flow out of the boat, but NOT in using the green ground AC electrical wire which is connect to the green zinc loop wire. If not you should install one, and if you do have one make sure its working properly.
The Galvonic Isolator and the zinc protect loop is one of the important systems on the boat but the least understaood. I test for stray electricity most months, especially if there is a new boat close to us.
If the zincs re going to fast you could added additional/bigger zincs and/or change to aluminum. The last time we pulled I had a big Divers Dream zinc added in the bow to protect the bow thruster as the small clam shell had to be replace every 6 months. Also some boat hang a big grouper zinc over the side for additonal protection.
Anyway ask around and see what the marina norm is!
|
|
|
07-01-2013, 12:53 PM
|
#7
|
Guru
City: Under a boat, in a marina in the San Francisco Bay
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 615
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Art
I've got an offer on a boat that if purchased will be docked in a saltwater harbor off SF Bay.
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Fill
Anyway ask around and see what the marina norm is!
|
Art- what marina does the boat live in?
__________________
Clean bottoms are FastBottoms!
|
|
|
07-01-2013, 01:27 PM
|
#8
|
Guru
City: SF Bay Area
Vessel Model: Tollycraft 34' Tri Cabin
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 12,569
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by fstbttms
Art- what marina does the boat live in?
|
fb - When I keep a boat near SF Bay it's in Lowries or Loch Lomond.
|
|
|
07-01-2013, 01:32 PM
|
#9
|
Guru
City: Under a boat, in a marina in the San Francisco Bay
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 615
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Art
fb - When I keep a boat near SF Bay it's in Lowries or Loch Lomond.
|
Oh. I don't work in either marina, so I can't offer an opinion on zinc usage in either.
__________________
Clean bottoms are FastBottoms!
|
|
|
07-01-2013, 01:37 PM
|
#10
|
Guru
City: SF Bay Area
Vessel Model: Tollycraft 34' Tri Cabin
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 12,569
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by fstbttms
Oh. I don't work in either marina, so I can't offer an opinion on zinc usage in either.
|
fb... lots o' boats! Marina officials easy to deal with. Ya ever try marketing in either?
|
|
|
07-01-2013, 01:44 PM
|
#11
|
Guru
City: Under a boat, in a marina in the San Francisco Bay
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 615
|
Oh, I have worked in both, on occasion. And would do now if it was a job like a feathering prop install (something I specialize in.) But I don't do hull cleaning in Marin. Too far to go. Strictly East Bay now.
__________________
Clean bottoms are FastBottoms!
|
|
|
07-06-2013, 07:01 PM
|
#12
|
Guru
City: Walnut Grove Ca
Vessel Name: Cary'D Away
Vessel Model: Hatteras 48 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 887
|
Fresh Water Anodes
Quote:
Originally Posted by Art
Howdy - I've nothing special to add at this time; simply tagging in here so I can be appraised when posts occur to this thread. Always interested to follow discussions re anode/diode/corrosion/galvanization/electrical-transfer/hot-cool harbors... etc, etc.
My current boat's lucky - she sits in fresh water in a very "cool" harbor. That said: I've got an offer on a boat that if purchased will be docked in a saltwater harbor off SF Bay. The boat currently in fresh water used to be in same Bay harbor and I needed to replace zincs in 6 to 9 month increments. When I again dock a boat near SF Bay I’ll be interested to learn any new ways to best extend anode life in salt water while still providing the diodes good protection.
Carry On!
Happy Boating Daze!! - Art
|
Fresh water anodes should be aluminum or preferably magnesium. Zink anodes will not work as well and in fact may give you a false sense of security as often they don't work at all. In brackish water the nod goes to aluminum. The West Marine Catalog has a good explanation.
|
|
|
07-06-2013, 08:10 PM
|
#13
|
Guru
City: Under a boat, in a marina in the San Francisco Bay
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 615
|
__________________
Clean bottoms are FastBottoms!
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Trawler Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|