zinc "fish"

H

hotrodderjim

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Jul 21, 2013
43
Oday 25' tall rig warwick, RI
I have my boat in the water for the winter & I want to put a zinc on it(clip on fish). The batteries are disconnected so were should I attach the wire to on the boat?
HRJ
PS I was told that the other boats around someones boat using electricity is what attacks the metals on other boats & it seems like everyone around my boat has there shore power cable in the water!
 
fstbttms

fstbttms

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Feb 26, 2011
1,428
Achilles SD-130 Alameda, CA
Your "fish" anode needs to be in direct electrical contact with whatever it is intended to protect. Typically, this means attaching it to your prop shaft.
 
H

hotrodderjim

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Jul 21, 2013
43
Oday 25' tall rig warwick, RI
I have a sail drive so can I put it to a bolt on the inside of the boat attached to the drive?
 
fstbttms

fstbttms

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Feb 26, 2011
1,428
Achilles SD-130 Alameda, CA
Sure, why not?

BTW- while it is true that your neighbor's electrical problems could affect your underwater metals, it is not a given, or even particularly common. Rapid anode depletion is usually caused by an issue aboard your own boat.
 
njlarry

njlarry

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Sep 23, 2009
1,475
O'Day 34-At Last Rock Hall, Md
I don't believe that odays came with galvanic isolators. Adding one would be a good investment.
 
Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

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Jan 4, 2006
6,491
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
A number of years back, I was in a dump of a marina and was devouring a set of three shaft zincs per season. I hadn't seen any damage yet but figured if I ever lost all three, I would be open to corrosion.

Like you, I added an overboard zinc plate for safety. After checking the electrical resistance between the engine block and the prop shaft, I was lucky enough to find 0.00 ohms. I figured that meant I could connect a heavy aligator clip from the the block to the wire leading to the fish and get the protection I needed. No need for a direct physical connection to the shaft.

This method relies on ensuring you always have good electrical continuity from the zinc, through the block and finally to the shaft. I have always cleaned the shaft couplings and sprayed with anti-corrosion after each alignment check, so my luck continued.

The set of three shaft zincs fared much better each year (with the zinc plate) until I was able to move to a better marina.
 
H

hotrodderjim

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Jul 21, 2013
43
Oday 25' tall rig warwick, RI
I went down to my marina last week when it was 2o out & they had de-icers running in the water. Is that a problem? I can check the zincs very easily should I do that weekly?
hanks
 
njlarry

njlarry

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Sep 23, 2009
1,475
O'Day 34-At Last Rock Hall, Md
Only a problem if there is a short to ground in the units. Yes check the zincs weekly or read Don Caseys book on electrical work and do the tests with a volt meter to see if you have a ground issue with shorepower.
 
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