Common Ground and zincs

[johnjensen]

I'm losing the sacrificial zinc on my O'Day 28 faster than I think I should. I live in a marina, so my neighbors my have some effect on my situation. I bought one of those large zinc "carps" to hang in the water, but I'm not sure exactly where to attach it. If I attach it directly to the negative pole of my battery will it do the trick? If I attach it to the motor will it connect through the shaft to the propeller?

Thanks.

 

[centerline]

there could very well be an issue with the neighbors boat that is causing you the problems, but let me respectively say, that it could very well be your own boat causing the problem.... or a dock/marina electrical issue... but no matter where is coming from, it is your problem until it is identified and fixed.

there are ways to test this and the procedure can be found by doing a search on the internet.

as im sure you know, hanging more zinc on isnt the cure for the problem, but it will buy some time until you find the problem.

the connecting wire for the anode should attach to the engine... which theoretically should take care of the prop as well.
but even so, it is my belief that with the prop out there all by itself and without any zinc on the shaft, you could still have some residual electrolysis/galvanic corrosion issues there, even though the majority of it is being attracted to the large anode hanging over the side of the boat.

it may actually depend on how bad the problem is.... which can be done by testing with a multimeter.

this is just one of many sites... I just chose it at random, so feel free to find a better, more informative site that you can learn from

 

[fstbttms]

I'm losing the sacrificial zinc on my O'Day 28 faster than I think I should. I live in a marina, so my neighbors my have some effect on my situation.

That is an assumption. Most rapid zinc depletion issues have a cause aboard the boat in question, not a neighboring boat or the shore power system.

II bought one of those large zinc "carps" to hang in the water, but I'm not sure exactly where to attach it. If I attach it directly to the negative pole of my battery will it do the trick? If I attach it to the motor will it connect through the shaft to the propeller?

A zinc must be in direct electrical contact with the part being protected and the longer the path between zinc and part, the less the protection.

 

[johnjensen]

Zinc Problem

Thanks for the reply and suggestions. I didn't mean to dodge my own responsibilities in the issue. I made a typo which turned "..may..." into "...my...".
I'll do some more research.

thanks again.