[Public-List] prop zincs

[Randy Katz]

Greetings,
    No, I never have my boat plugged in at the dock-- no chargers. I
understand that others around me may have set ups that contribute to my
corroding zinc.

    I've thought of the electric shock possibility a couple of times. I've
changed my zincs in the water many times over the years, but yes, your
comment makes me give that a second thought....

    I'll check with the marina and see what they say.

     I've thought of using the whatdoyoucallit-- where you tie up in the
right place, wait for the tide to recede while the boat settles onto beams
on the bottom, thus exposing the bottom of the boat for between-tides
repairs.  But that's a huge time committment!

    I gather that most must be changing their zincs about once/year in salt
water.  Weird, I wonder what's going on.
    Many thanks for your comments---
Randy Katz
#249 Bellingham/Seattle, WA.



Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:36:31 -0800
From: Randy Katz <randy.katz50 at gmail.com>
To: public-list at lists.alberg30.org
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Prop zincs?
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       <85ff14e21002231636w93dec71v2765adb52a388836 at mail.gmail.com>
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Greetings,

   It's the B size that is the zinc fitting on the end of the drive shaft
on most/all our boats. Gooping up the screw with some marine caulking may
help the screw to stay tight for longer. Clunking the zinc with a hammer
after you put it on helps to seat it; the screw must then be retightened.

  There are different qualities of zincs, not surprisingly. Some are more
"pure" and last longer, others are less expensive and last a shorter time.
This place in Seattle is the way to go for prop zincs and for the pencil
zincs that go into most engines:
http://www.harboranodes.com/propeller_nut_caps.html
   I bought a dozen of each for a reasonable price.

QUESTION:  I'm finding that I need to replace my prop zinc 2x/year in
Squalicum Marina in Bellingham, WA. Does this sound about right to the rest
of you?  I change my own zincs at the dock, but I hate the cold water. (A
used wet suit from Pacific Marine,  Bellingham-- $35-- helps a ton, but
still, that water's friggin' cold!)

  Anyone have thoughts about how to reduce this frequency to 1x/year?  I've
been hanging a large guage wire from the shaft over the side into the water
with old zincs securely attached, hoping to have them help slow down the
corrosion.  Maybe helps a bit.

  Other view points would be appreciated!


------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:45:48 -0500
From: "John Birch" <Sunstone at cogeco.ca>
To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all"
       <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Prop zincs?
Message-ID: <6DEF3AF3CA094C2B8916BC02B1A15189 at JohnPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
       reply-type=original

Randy, either you or your neighbour or the marina itself seems to have a
stray current issue.

Do you plug in all the time in your marina ?

If so, start with your boat - I'm no expert on this stuff, but x2 seems
awfully zinc hungry.  What kind of charger are you using ? Please don't tell
me it's a crappy hookup automotive one - they should never be used anywhere
near water, they can charge the water surrounding a boat with a more than
lethal charge.

And no, the fuses won't stop it. Not necessarily .... That's also why we do
not allow diving or swimming in our marina.

If a diver is employed, they are commercial and we lockout the entire marina
electrical system - and our's is properly done electrics too - water,
electricity .... ugh, bad trade.

Best

John