Went to West Marine yesterday to buy shaft zincs.

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Jul 1, 1998
3,062
Hunter Legend 35 Poulsbo/Semiahmoo WA
Fred - your diver may be a little late!!!

From what you said it sounds like your diver is the same as mine - Ward Gray? If so, for info, he might be a little late getting here. Looks like he took a little detour coming up the coast. The email I just received said he arrived in Pago Pago (from the Galapagos) on April 23. ".... arrived on wednesday 10 am after no sleep for 2 days. i was on my last legs. dropped the hook and went down for a nap and woke up not knowing what day it was-didnt figure it out till dawn broke-slept for 21 hours. the auto pilot couldnt hold a good course with just the main, so it was a hand steer job. Engine was giving me problems as did the gen set when it shut down. this town is a pleasant surprise but will find out more after seeing the yard boss and hope what he told me before is still correct. Yep still alive and kicking barely and still am spooked about ruthie and her problems-it was an ordeal the last two days. Will try to tell more when more info comes in but i like it here so far but need to get back and work. Best to all Ward" Oh, and "Ruthie" is the autopilot.
 
Mar 31, 2007
59
- - SF Bay
Save your prop zinc with a fish

I lost 3 prop zincs one after the other right after I got my new boat. The diver was great about it and found a way of attaching them that works. So instead of going thru that hassle every 6 months I made some zinc fish and hang them over the side. They are connected to a ground wire in the cockpit. I'm hoping it will make my prop zinc last 3 times as long.
 
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Rick

Rip Off

WM is a rip off, more so now. Our local WM however will match prices if you happen to know to ask. Don;t know if that is a company-wide policy but I'll bet it is. So I just walk in with my Defender catalogue for something I need immediately and they match the price.
 
Jun 1, 2005
772
Pearson 303 Robinhood, ME
I have found...

West Marine to be expensive across the board. I purchased some Collinite fiberglass cleaner at Hamiltons... stopped at West Marine on the way home as I forgot an item on my list. Checked the pricing of the cleaner I purchased while I was in there... it was about twice as much.
 

Rick I

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Jan 6, 2007
414
CS36Merlin and Beneteau 393 - Toronto
Fred, it's a rip

Same thing happened with me with my Beneteau zincs, used to be $10, $20 this year!! After I bought five someone steered me to BoatZincs.com. Still $10!!
 
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Bruce Cutcliffe

Expensive Zincs

You are correct regarding prices at West Marine. Unfortunately, West Marine has a corner on the market in most locations. Unless one goes mail order (i.e., Defender, etc.)it is doubtful we will see any competition soon with respect to local marine shops.
 
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Rich

anyone try boatzincs.com?

I got a postcard from them...they seemed expensive (counting shipping) if you want to buy just a couple zincs...maybe if a group of folks got together...? Rich
 
Jan 22, 2008
193
Hunter 34 Seabeck WA
Whew! Sorry I'm late, Don't mean to ignor but

The work I did to Epitome' inspired my wife. She is out of town partying with several friends 'till mid week and my assignment, should I choose to accept it OR NOT, is to rip out the kitchen counters. ALL of them, because the 'template' people will be here Friday to measure for our new black granite counter tops. Did I say Whew? You guys should see the cast iron sink! It's leaning against a cabinet ON TOP of the counter it came out of. Whew. I called my brother to help. I'm not man enough to move it further. Well, actually I'm not man enough to risk the scorn of my wife if I drop it on the hardwood floor. Whew. Hope he takes his time getting here so I can catch my breath. OK, Caleb. I found that cutting it with a hacksaw works well. The reason I want it against the prop is the prop was showing pink last haul out. My buddy was hauled at the same time, same shaft, hell, same boat and prop (one more blade) and in the water longer (two slips away) with NO PINK. His zinc touches the hub of his prop. So what have I got to lose? I also keep one forward of the strut. Zincs are a lot cheaper than props,,,, unless you're stuck getting them from WM. Mainsail, I hope that addressed your question too. John! Ward is my diver. He's WHERE?! The message on my phone said he'll be back near the end of this month. :( Hope I answered a question or two. Can't tell because I'm composing on the first page of the thread. I'll read and edit,,,, read-read-read,,,,, Tim, is zinc dangerous when breathed? It's an essential mineral in our bodies like calcium. Larry, our WM will price match too. But by no longer carring the good Canada zincs, price matching still leaves the customer with swill. Cheaper swill, but still swill. A sad thought; I outfitted Epitome' with WM 20 years ago. Then Randy Repass took the company public. Stock Market = greed! Prices doubled. Mail order took second place behind brick & mortar. And just TRY to send anything back without a reciept now. Used to be they took anything back and gave you a full refund (thier selling price) NO MATTER WHERE YOU BOUGHT IT! Sad! Sorry, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.
 
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Chuck McGowan

Boat Zincs .com

I am in brackish water and after consulting with Boat Zincs .com by E-Mail I was able to purchase an aluminum guppy for my Beneteau 323. They were a pleasure to deal with!
 

AXEL

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Mar 12, 2008
359
Catalina C30 MKIII WEST ISLIP, NY
Buy online

I too was at WM this weekend and was shocked and angered to see the huge price hike on 1" zincs. I always keep the Defender catalog in my car. It's worth over $100 per year to me in price matching. Funny, because when I asked the girl at the counter to do a price match she had to call someone on the phone to check the "cost price". Like they thought selling to me for Defenders price of $10 was below their cost! I wasn't able to hear how much it cost them but I could see by the look on her face that selling to me for $10 wasn't going to break the bank. It's the same look I always see on these cashier girls faces when I do a Defender price match. Some of WM prices are more than double what Defender sells for. The girls actually look embarrassed sometimes. I checked out that Boatzincs.com website, looks good! I use 2 zincs on my C30 every year. I'm going to place a $100 order, get the free shipping and not have to worry about price gouging for a couple of years. I predict you will see a lot more of these .com marine supply companys. West Marine and the likes is going to provide a huge market for them because I for one am sick of having someone elses hand in my pocket grabbing for my wallet.
 
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Chuck R

There is a new WM it's on-line and it is not West Marine

Wholesale Marine http://boating.wholesalemarine.com/marine/Anodes The last time I went to West Marine was to buy Sikens Cetol for teak.. When I saw their price of $36.95 a quart I walked out. By going on line, I found this place and purchased the same for $24.10 on sale with FREE SHIPPING (UPS ground). When I left West marine I went to Wally World and found it there for $28.88 as this WW store is just down the road from West M and has a small Marine section to compete. These on-line stores are really low rent, low overhead warehouse type places. I have been having pretty good luck buying like this so far,,,,,,,,,,. Found a $100.00 off Raymarine coupon from the Raymarine web site for the ST 1000 tiller pilot that I wanted last year. List price was around $540.00 and West M had for around $498.00. Called an on line store using their 800 ph # to order, when I got to the address the gal said,, " why don't you buy from my friend out in Oklahoma Dave ---- and save the Ohio sales tax? I'll call him, tell him you are calling, he will sell at the same price as me ( $388.00 ).. Here is his 800 # ". So I did and using the Raymarine coupon I paid $288.00 and I think it was $14.00 UPS. Here I am in Ohio, Ordered in Oklahoma. and item was shipped from New Hampshire.. Go Figure.. Now days you need to figure your costs in car expenses just to get to the store to pay the higher prices.. I don't think the retail merchants have figured the new way to shop out yet. No I don't work for Wholesale marine either, But plug into your search engine ( Star Marine ) they do a pretty good job too.
 

Timo42

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Mar 26, 2007
1,042
Venture 22 Marina del Rey
Read the MSDS

Zinc dust is an irritant, and zinc fumes are deadly, I do a little blacksmithing, one thing you never do is put galvanized metal in the forge, Google Paw Paw Wilson for a tragic safety lesson. Grinding produces a lot of dust, and if you get real enthusiastic, you can get it hot enough to fume. Heavy metal poisoning is cumulative. Tim
 
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Chuck R

Are you hearing it too???

Axel You will appriciate this one..... On the way to my friends boat I stopped to get breakfast at the xxx cafe,.. Two eggs toast three strips of bacon and coffee, had to ask for a glass of water. Price was $9.57. Decided to complain and got what is / going to be the classic answer,,,,,,"Well you know the cost of gas has gone up now so-------" Kripe! I'm sick of it are you? These retailers are pricing them selves out of the market. Stop it Charlie before you say sump'n you shoun't.
 
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
What is wrong with Chinese Zincs?

I bought zincs from the West Marine in Deltaville and I don't think that I paid $19. I think it was more like $9. The thing that concerns me is the statement that was said about Chinese Zincs. I have been having issues with my zincs (they don't last as long as I thought that they should). I wonder if it is the Chinese zincs. Could someone explain what is wrong with the Chinese Zincs? btw, I think that I perfer Defender anymore to West, defender has better prices and they are good to deal with.
 
Sep 25, 2008
7,351
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
sounds like intuitive science

Bad O It sounds like this is a combination of WM bashing by the same folks layered with a perception that all foreign products are somehow inferior to U.S. or in this case, Canadian products. I earlier asked the same q regarding quality differences and got nothing responsive which leads me to blieve no one really knows if there is a difference. Certainly there are different thicknesses of zinc and no one can make any legitimate price comparisons based on shaft size which is pretty vague at best. For example, WM sells two different thickness of 1 and 1/4 in diameter shaft size zincs, the thicker obviously being more expensive. By the way, both are Canada metals with the copper knobs inside and the smaller sells for $9. You didn't say precisely how long your zinc(s) last, if you are on shore power or if you have a galvanic isolator but it is relatively easy to find out how much galvanic voltage is present. Doing so will give you a better idea what is actually happening to your anode. I too am not a fan of WM but it might be more productive if folks stopped complaining and shopped elsewhere.
 

AXEL

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Mar 12, 2008
359
Catalina C30 MKIII WEST ISLIP, NY
WM Bashing?

Don, when I did the price match at WM with the Defender catalog, the zincs were exactly the same skew numbers. Why is it that Defender can sell the same product for $9.99 and still make a profit and WM needs to sell it for $18.99? If this is WM bashing then what do you call what WM is doing to my wallet? Last year I had to buy a plastic Bow light which was $45. When I raised an eye brow the salesmen told me WM had to pay a petrolieum tax. Do you think they might just be taking a little advantage of the situation????? And yes, next year I will start my spring outfitting early and will be looking for the deals "on line".
 
Jun 13, 2005
559
Irwin Barefoot 37 CC Sloop Port Orchard WA
Fisheries Supply in Seattle has 1" Streamlined Shaft Zincs and

lists the suggested retail price and the wholesale price for 3 different companies. Electro-Guard $11.17 - $6,75 Martyr Anodes $11,17 - $6.70 Sea Shield $12.51 - $7.16 And they have the limited clearance Zinc Electro- Guard $12.49 - $7.43 This is an on line price but they are primarily wholesale and my account is wholesale. No Axe to grind Joe S
 
Jul 1, 1998
3,062
Hunter Legend 35 Poulsbo/Semiahmoo WA
re Diver Ward

Fred - re Ward the diver, if I remember correctly, I *think* he said he'd leave the boat down there in Pago Pago (or somewhere there) and then fly back, soooo.... you may be correct about him returning shortly. Speaking of limited-clearance zincs that Joe posted, couldn't you use one of those instead of cutting a zinc? To answer Bad Obsessions post - re the Chinese zincs might be watered down? Like, maybe they get the zinc metal out of one of their rivers? By the way, be careful with those Camero pictures - that's off-topic! Your post could be hijacked and moved to the Sails Call Lounge!!! *yks Need to keep some law-and-order around this here place. ;)
 

CalebD

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Jun 27, 2006
1,479
Tartan 27' 1967 Nyack, NY
Thanks for your reply FredF - hack saw

The reason I asked what tool you used to trim your zinc (whether it was to get it snug up on the propeller or just sheer masochism) is that I have been grinding 1" wide shaft collar zincs down to less than 5/8" to get ours to fit my 1" shaft (did I just say that?). You said you use a hack saw to cut the zinc? I assume it is not a square section collar zinc as the collar zinc measures about 1" x 1" by 3" with a 1" hole in the center. It takes me a long time with power tools to create enough zinc dust and make the damn thing fit. I too thought that zinc was one of the recommended dietary allowance minerals for people but I guess too much of anything is just that. Too much internet is ... sitting on your ass too much. Someone suggested finding a metal shop to put the damn thing on a lathe which I am ready to try. Thanks for keeping up with your thread (now ours).
 
Jun 9, 2004
963
Hunter 40.5 Bayfield, WI
I don't want to get flamed for this

and I'm not shilling for WM but I am quite happy with my local store here in Bloomington Minnesota. I stopped in yesterday looking for something and I had some questions. A guy came right over to help me and spent about 10 minutes with me and answering my questions. This is not the first time this happened. They are really good about returns and price matching. Are they my source for everything? No. On the other hand, I always like to give them a chance at my business.
 
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