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No Zinc wear, good or bad?

Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 4:49 pm
by Ereiss
After my boat was hauled yesterday I noted that the prop zinc as well as the shaft zincs looked brand new. In prior years I would go through almost two a summer. What's different this year?

1. Installed two new house batteries (pair of six volt Rolls), could have screwed something up or perhaps fixed a prior problem.
2. Installed a BlueSea battery link between the house and starter battery
3. Installed a Balmar SmartGauge

When the boat is on the mooring I do drop a large sacrificial zinc off the side and connect it to the pushpit railing. Everything has appeared to be normal during the summer.

Should I be worried by the end of zinc loss? What should I check?

Thanks

Ed

Re: No Zinc wear, good or bad?

Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 9:34 am
by wcwcwc
Did the over the side zinc show signs of deterioration?

Re: No Zinc wear, good or bad?

Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 9:46 am
by Ereiss
Yes it did, Bill. But it did so last year to when I went through zincs like crazy. Is there a bonding strap to the engine that should be checked? I may have overstated the condition of the shaft zincs, they show slight wear only.

Hope you are well.

Re: No Zinc wear, good or bad?

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 10:38 am
by wcwcwc
I'm assuming that there was no pitting on the prop, shaft or other under water metals so little zinc wear is a good thing. I'd run my hand over those parts to be sure.

A change in mooring location can bring a change in zinc consumption due to underwater metals in shallow water. I'm assuming you are still on mooring.

I'm doing well thanks. Sad to see the season end. You still hauling at Bayline? Did you ever get your floorboards done?

Re: No Zinc wear, good or bad?

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 11:12 am
by Ereiss
yes, just got hauled on Monday. Wind was tooting but Bob is a wizard with the trailer. Did get floorboards redone last winter by a guy in Fairhaven, did a wonderful job.

No change in mooring position, only change was installing the devices I noted and new batteries. Could be by doing so I eliminated whatever was causing the higher zinc consumption that I experienced in prior years. At least that's the optimistic view I'm going with.

ed

Re: No Zinc wear, good or bad?

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:21 pm
by rafontaine1
Ed
Did you inadvertently use a different anode material from last time. They come in zinc, aluminum and magnesium and all have different rates of wear.