Hot Marina

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Kim

Oday 26 w/ Johnson 9.9 O/B I'm having to move my boat due to a relocation. The only place where I can slip my boat is a "hot marina". So, I have a zinc on my outboard and I assume I need to get a galvanic isolator. What else do I need to consider. Please refrain from "go somewhere else" as I cannot, I have to adapt.
 
Sep 25, 2008
7,689
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
isolator won't change the marina

Not clear from what you are trying to isolate the boat. Adding an isolator or isolation transformer will only protect your boat from shore power; neither would protect the boat from electrolysis caused by the marina water (which I infer is "hot"). Assuming you can lift the outboard out of the water, what else are you concerned about?
 
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Warren Milberg

If you can raise your OB

out of the water when in the slip, you may not have much to worry about. If your through-hulls are bronze, you may want to keep an eye on them. Perhaps hanging an appropriately grounded guppy over the side may be helpful until you get a better understanding of the situation. What other underwater metal do you have? In the end, if you are sure there is ambient electricity in the water around your slip, you may want to discuss this with the marina management. Such a situation, if known beforehand and if left unchecked, could lead to legal issues for the marina if, for example, someone fell into the water in his slip (this happens more than you would guess!) and claimed harm from the electricity in the water. Just mentioning a situation like this often generates action on the part of the marina.... We live in litigious times. Good luck with this.
 
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Kim

More info

Thanks for both of your answers. Others, please give your input as well. I failed to say that I'm not sure why the marina says they're HOT. It's a US Navy MWR Marina, and an aircraft carrier and other ships are parked close by. I have a lead ballased shoal keel, should I worry about that?
 
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Benny

Yes that carrier alone is probably running more

power than a small city. Talk to the marina people and to other boaters there and find out what they are doing and how often. Do raise the OB out of the water.
 
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