On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 17:56:58 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

Sounds like stray current causing faster than normal sacrificing of the
anode. IMO, best solution is to raise your OB out of the water.

You should also report the problem to marina management and to adjacent boat
owners so they may take appropriate action.
Thanks Butch - looks like I'll be tilting the motor from now on. This
is at a private residence and not a marina. The nearest boat is
approx. 70 feet away and lives in a sling (only seen it in the water
once in the last 10 months) and next closest is at least 250 feet
away. Only time I have connected to shore power is when I plug in my
on-board charger when I run the aerator overnight or if I've used the
trolling motor extensively. Any ideas where the stray current could be
coming from?

Tom wrote:
On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 17:56:58 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

Sounds like stray current causing faster than normal sacrificing of the
anode. IMO, best solution is to raise your OB out of the water.

You should also report the problem to marina management and to adjacent boat
owners so they may take appropriate action.
Thanks Butch - looks like I'll be tilting the motor from now on. This
is at a private residence and not a marina. The nearest boat is
approx. 70 feet away and lives in a sling (only seen it in the water
once in the last 10 months) and next closest is at least 250 feet
away. Only time I have connected to shore power is when I plug in my
on-board charger when I run the aerator overnight or if I've used the
trolling motor extensively. Any ideas where the stray current could be
coming from?

It may not be a stray current problem at all. Your anode is "supposed"
to develop pock marks and become used up, and you would have much
greater cause to worry it were not.

All you need to create a current is two dissimilar types of metal
sharing a common, conductive medium. No shorepower or even on-board
battery power is required, and it may have nothing to do with a
miswired dock or miswired nearby boat. Conditions could be perfect, and
you would still develop pock marks in the anode. Some metal object that
is more "noble" than you anode is sucking the electrons out of it-
which is a good thing- because if the anode were not on duty those
electrons would be sucked out of something structural or functional
instead. People who are thrilled because they never have to replace
their anodes
are likely to have a rude and expensive awakening when they realize
that a faulty ground or bonding system on the boat was actually
sacrficing something else all along and instead.

If you suspect stray current, construct a half-cell and test for it.

wrote in message
ups.com...


Tom wrote:
On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 17:56:58 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

Sounds like stray current causing faster than normal sacrificing of the
anode. IMO, best solution is to raise your OB out of the water.

You should also report the problem to marina management and to adjacent
boat
owners so they may take appropriate action.
Thanks Butch - looks like I'll be tilting the motor from now on. This
is at a private residence and not a marina. The nearest boat is
approx. 70 feet away and lives in a sling (only seen it in the water
once in the last 10 months) and next closest is at least 250 feet
away. Only time I have connected to shore power is when I plug in my
on-board charger when I run the aerator overnight or if I've used the
trolling motor extensively. Any ideas where the stray current could be
coming from?

It may not be a stray current problem at all. Your anode is "supposed"
to develop pock marks and become used up, and you would have much
greater cause to worry it were not.

All you need to create a current is two dissimilar types of metal
sharing a common, conductive medium. No shorepower or even on-board
battery power is required, and it may have nothing to do with a
miswired dock or miswired nearby boat. Conditions could be perfect, and
you would still develop pock marks in the anode. Some metal object that
is more "noble" than you anode is sucking the electrons out of it-
which is a good thing- because if the anode were not on duty those
electrons would be sucked out of something structural or functional
instead. People who are thrilled because they never have to replace
their anodes
are likely to have a rude and expensive awakening when they realize
that a faulty ground or bonding system on the boat was actually
sacrficing something else all along and instead.

If you suspect stray current, construct a half-cell and test for it.



Tom, can you post a picture of the anode to show just how much it has
deteriorated since March?

Your definition of "deteriorating rapidly" may be what could be quite
normal, as Chuck pointed out.

I would definitely trim the unit out of the water when the boat is docked as
that would be the best solution. Raising it is a one minute project (not
labor intensive other than to your thumb) and it will keep you lower unit
from looking newer.

As others have said it is also a good practice to turn the battery switch to
"off".

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
ups.com...


Tom wrote:
On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 17:56:58 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

Sounds like stray current causing faster than normal sacrificing of the
anode. IMO, best solution is to raise your OB out of the water.

You should also report the problem to marina management and to adjacent
boat
owners so they may take appropriate action.
Thanks Butch - looks like I'll be tilting the motor from now on. This
is at a private residence and not a marina. The nearest boat is
approx. 70 feet away and lives in a sling (only seen it in the water
once in the last 10 months) and next closest is at least 250 feet
away. Only time I have connected to shore power is when I plug in my
on-board charger when I run the aerator overnight or if I've used the
trolling motor extensively. Any ideas where the stray current could be
coming from?

It may not be a stray current problem at all. Your anode is "supposed"
to develop pock marks and become used up, and you would have much
greater cause to worry it were not.

All you need to create a current is two dissimilar types of metal
sharing a common, conductive medium. No shorepower or even on-board
battery power is required, and it may have nothing to do with a
miswired dock or miswired nearby boat. Conditions could be perfect, and
you would still develop pock marks in the anode. Some metal object that
is more "noble" than you anode is sucking the electrons out of it-
which is a good thing- because if the anode were not on duty those
electrons would be sucked out of something structural or functional
instead. People who are thrilled because they never have to replace
their anodes
are likely to have a rude and expensive awakening when they realize
that a faulty ground or bonding system on the boat was actually
sacrficing something else all along and instead.

If you suspect stray current, construct a half-cell and test for it.



Tom, can you post a picture of the anode to show just how much it has
deteriorated since March?

Your definition of "deteriorating rapidly" may be what could be quite
normal, as Chuck pointed out.

I would definitely trim the unit out of the water when the boat is docked
as that would be the best solution. Raising it is a one minute project
(not labor intensive other than to your thumb) and it will keep your lower
unit looking newer.

As others have said it is also a good practice to turn the battery switch
to "off".


Edit. Not 'from looking newer' but 'looking newer'. Doh!

Tom, can you post a picture of the anode to show just how much it has
deteriorated since March?

Your definition of "deteriorating rapidly" may be what could be quite
normal, as Chuck pointed out.

The boat is in storage down at the bay but I'll try to remember to
take the camera next weekend. I was concerned and the dealer was
amazed at how fast it had eroded so I really think it's excessive
(although not excessive when you consider what it's protecting).

I would definitely trim the unit out of the water when the boat is docked as
that would be the best solution. Raising it is a one minute project (not
labor intensive other than to your thumb) and it will keep you lower unit
from looking newer.
Not a bad idea. Between the jack plate and tilt I can completely clear
the water.

As others have said it is also a good practice to turn the battery switch to
"off".
True but the dealer mounted the switch against the transom under a
hatch in the rear. When the bimini is down (which is most of the time)
I have to loosen the strap, move it forward, open the hatch and reach
down from a kneeling position to change the switch. A real pain but
worth it to save the boat I suppose.

It may not be a stray current problem at all. Your anode is "supposed"
to develop pock marks and become used up, and you would have much
greater cause to worry it were not.

I agree and if nothing else, it's either doing its job or indicating
that there is a problem. The dealer was amazed at the amount of
deterioration in such a short time so I feel it's excessive.