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#1
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Electrolysis
Same boat, same marina for 5 years-slightly different slip this year.
Boat stays in water 8 months out of the year (Boston harbor). always have mechanic change zincs when winterizing (he says he did so this year). discovered the prop had been destroyed by electrolysis as well as damage to engine trims. never seen anything like this before pulled boat our and had mechanic put new zincs on. Cost for haul, wash, new zincs, labor and put back in water-$500 plus the cost of replacing the prop. mechanic and I decided not to wait on engine trims can anyone tell me more about what to do about the electrolysis? does anyone think that this is something that could be covered by insurance. have never made a claim on any of my boats over the year so have no clue thanks |
#2
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Electrolysis
Subject
You have found a "hot" slip, usually a neighboring boat has an electrical boat. Option 1: Move back if possible, if not some place else. Option 2: If you can't move, if you have shore power connected, disconnect it. IOW, do as much as possible to electrically isolate yourself from your environment as possible. Temporialy, you can add some zincs, but you need to address this issue with the marina, and quickly. You are dealing with ground currents and cathodic protection, a place where the faint of heart should not go. Trying to be a ground current sleuth is difficult at best. I would not waste my time, since it is only going to cost more money and may not be successful. Good luck. Lew |
#3
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Electrolysis
On Oct 11, 11:26 am, "Lew Hodgett" wrote:
Subject Trying to be a ground current sleuth is difficult at best. I would not waste my time, since it is only going to cost more money and may not be successful. Good lord.. It's easy. All you have to do is map the marina with a good volt meter. If you have a hot spot near you.. you know who's to blame. All you need is a meter and a long piece of wire. Put one lead into the ground terminal of the plug, and one in the water and read the meter. Set up a grid pattern and map the voltage in the area...simple. And it's very easy to find out who's causing problems. If this sounds complicted print this post.... bring it to a marine electriction ...and pay him a couple hundred bucks to do it for you, he will enjoy a nice day on the docks. I had a boat next to me once that had a DC short to ground and he had no clue. I showed him on the meter the voltage next to his boat and down the dock. We turned off his power and Wa-La the voltage disappeared. Not only did he waste his zinc's and part of mine, he sucked to many electrons from all his bronze hull fittings and and shaft tube that they turned that brittle shade of pink. He had a short where a screw holding down the stanchions pierced a wire, and a short to his running lights wiring on the lifelines contected to the stancions. Joe Good luck. Lew |
#4
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Electrolysis
"Joe" wrote: Good lord.. It's easy. All you have to do is map the marina with a good volt meter. Spoken by someone with the perspective of experience and prior knowledge. Different ball game. May response was aimed more at "the unwashed masses"G. Lew |
#5
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Electrolysis
On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 09:55:39 -0700, Joe
wrote: he sucked to many electrons from all his bronze hull fittings and and shaft tube that they turned that brittle shade of pink. That is sounds like the wholesale removing of the tin, zinc [in the case of brass] or whatever leaving spongy pure copper. Brittle, that wouldn't be, but it would be weakened. Casady |
#6
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Electrolysis
On Oct 11, 3:48 pm, (Richard Casady)
wrote: On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 09:55:39 -0700, Joe wrote: he sucked to many electrons from all his bronze hull fittings and and shaft tube that they turned that brittle shade of pink. That is sounds like the wholesale removing of the tin, zinc [in the case of brass] or whatever leaving spongy pure copper. Brittle, that wouldn't be, but it would be weakened. Casady It looks like it transformed the bronze to a substance like cool lava on a microscopic level, the bronze looses it shine and if you smack a wheel that's pink.. it will find a fault and snap..the bronze is indeed brittle almost chalkey . I'd have to look it up and see which is more noble in a bronze mix to guess which electron's took a hike. Electrolysis can do strange things. I've pulled 3" 25' SS shafts that had what looked like big scoops of metal taken out..just like a red hot ice cream scooper did it in butter..very clean, all purdy and shiney. I agree it's best to just isolate all wiring runs, use breakers, fuses, and gauges to know whats going on. Joe |
#7
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Electrolysis
Richard,
I have replied to other similar threads over the years and sometimes people listen and others do not, but I will repeat this advice again. Never connect anything electrical to your hull, including a ground connection. If your hull is not earth referenced, you will never suffer damage from a hot berth. The cure is simple. Additionally, if your service DC is 12 volts, install a red lamp in some location that is always visible and connect a 12 volt lamp between your ship's battery to the hull. If your hull ever becomes shorted to electrical earth, the lamp will be on indicating a short circuit signaling you to take immediate action to resolve the fault. The solution is simple on a boat you build, but isolating your hull when someone else built it, can be a nightmare. No matter how much effort this takes, the peace of mind this brings is worth it. Steve "richard" wrote in message ups.com... Same boat, same marina for 5 years-slightly different slip this year. Boat stays in water 8 months out of the year (Boston harbor). always have mechanic change zincs when winterizing (he says he did so this year). discovered the prop had been destroyed by electrolysis as well as damage to engine trims. never seen anything like this before pulled boat our and had mechanic put new zincs on. Cost for haul, wash, new zincs, labor and put back in water-$500 plus the cost of replacing the prop. mechanic and I decided not to wait on engine trims can anyone tell me more about what to do about the electrolysis? does anyone think that this is something that could be covered by insurance. have never made a claim on any of my boats over the year so have no clue thanks |
#8
posted to rec.boats.cruising
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Electrolysis
On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 01:15:37 -0700, richard
wrote: Same boat, same marina for 5 years-slightly different slip this year. Boat stays in water 8 months out of the year (Boston harbor). always have mechanic change zincs when winterizing (he says he did so this year). discovered the prop had been destroyed by electrolysis as well as damage to engine trims. never seen anything like this before pulled boat our and had mechanic put new zincs on. Cost for haul, wash, new zincs, labor and put back in water-$500 plus the cost of replacing the prop. mechanic and I decided not to wait on engine trims can anyone tell me more about what to do about the electrolysis? does anyone think that this is something that could be covered by insurance. have never made a claim on any of my boats over the year so have no clue thanks You could ask? Sounds like the new slip picked up some current going the wrong way. Too bad! It only takes a volt more negative than the prop in the surrounding water to eat your lunch. Your prop anyway. Brian Whatcott Altus OK |
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