Prop Zinc

[fstbttms]

The extra zinc sounds interesting, does this need to be "wired" to the engine or prop shaft? Seems like a zinc alone will not accomplish much.

Any zinc needs to be in direct electrical contact with the item it is intended to protect. Otherwise it is doing nothing.

 

[Taroona]

Thanks for all the great info. Yes... I installed a galvanic isolator at the beginning of last season (May 2012). The extra zinc sounds interesting, does this need to be "wired" to the engine or prop shaft? Seems like a zinc alone will not accomplish much.

The extra zinc has a hole drilled through the keel and is bolted in place one each side of the keel. The keel was already earthed through the wiring in the boat just as the prop shaft is earthed.

 

[Gunni]

The extra zinc has a hole drilled through the keel and is bolted in place one each side of the keel. The keel was already earthed through the wiring in the boat just as the prop shaft is earthed.

Huh? I've never seen a Beneteau keel that was bonded to the boat ground. The rigging is bonded to a keel bolt, but that won't do you a bit of good for the exposed underwater metal like prop, and shaft. The rig bonding is for lightning protection and high voltage/amperage situations. The keel itself is insulated with an epoxy barrier coat. Keep it in proper shape.