Normal or stray current?

Pat310Pat310 Member Posts: 603 ✭✭✭
in General Boating Discussions
These were new in May. Does this seem like normal or am I dealing with stray current at the dock?  They seem to be working as the drives look fine on a quick look when it came out of water today
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  • YYZRCYYZRC Member Posts: 5,406 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Mine didn’t look nearly as bad. Same timeframe. 
    2006 390 EC
    2008 350 EC
    Georgian Bay
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  • Pat310Pat310 Member Posts: 603 ✭✭✭
    @YYZRC and @Liberty44140 if I’m not mistaken you guys are in fresh water. That might make a difference. Got a new dock neighbor half way through the season. An older sail boat 🤔 might be the problem. Will have marina check next spring
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  • Pat310Pat310 Member Posts: 603 ✭✭✭
    Any of you salt water guys have an opinion?
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  • Aqua_AuraAqua_Aura Member Posts: 2,702 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2020
    That doesn't seem normal for salt. Are you using zinc? I am not in saltwater. 
    1997 Bayliner 3988
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  • raybo3raybo3 Administrator Posts: 5,614 admin
    I am in salt water and I usually do a "mid-season" maint. I haul and pressure wash the bottom and rezinc where needed. If I left my boat in without the mid-season it would look like that. My guess here is that your not too far from a bridge and you have a strong water current or there is a boat near you with a problem. 
    2002 342 Fiesta Vee PC Point Of Pines YC Revere MA. popyc.org     raybo3@live.com
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  • YYZRCYYZRC Member Posts: 5,406 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yes I’m in fresh water. 
    2006 390 EC
    2008 350 EC
    Georgian Bay
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  • TonyG13TonyG13 Member Posts: 1,438 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2020
    I'm in fresh (Lake Michigan) and use magnesium anodes. I will get at least two full seasons (6 months per season) -- with a lot left over.

    That does not look normal.

    Sorry @Pat310 - Mixed up you and @YYZRC. Thought you were in fresh.
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  • TonyG13TonyG13 Member Posts: 1,438 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2020
    Either BoatUS or Boating magazine had an article about how to test for stray current in the water. If I can find it, I'll post the link.

    Found it: https://www.boatus.com/magazine/assets/pdf/putting-corrosion-to-the-test.pdf
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  • Cableguy GregCableguy Greg Member Posts: 5,077 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How does the rest of the drive look? I would take a anode dissolving over a season versus corrosion on the drive. 
    2008 280 Express Cruiser, 6.2MPI, B3, Pittsburgh, PA "Blue Ayes" (Sold)
    2022 Cherokee 294GEBG Black Label land yacht. 
    Go Steelers!!!
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  • Pat310Pat310 Member Posts: 603 ✭✭✭
    Drive looks fine. No pitting or heavy corrosion. I am using zinc. Thanks @TonyG13 I’ll read that this weekend. @raybo3 I never thought of mid season haul. Something to think about next year. Will talk to yard boss to see what he thinks about condition of zincs. 
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  • mattiemattie Member Posts: 1,322 ✭✭✭✭
    Pat, maybe someone installed magnesium anodes by mistake. They would be gone in a few months in salt water. I’d expect them to look like your pic if that was the case.


    246BR, 276BR, H310BR current
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  • Pat310Pat310 Member Posts: 603 ✭✭✭
    @mattie I bought them and installed them myself
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  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 8,060 mod
    Pat310 said:
    @YYZRC and @Liberty44140 if I’m not mistaken you guys are in fresh water. That might make a difference. Got a new dock neighbor half way through the season. An older sail boat 🤔 might be the problem. Will have marina check next spring
    If this is a sudden change after getting a new neighbor, and especially an older boat, I'd take a close look at that boat.  I had a major change when an older boat moved away from me ... suddenly my anodes started lasting two seasons.
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  • Liberty44140Liberty44140 Member Posts: 4,414 ✭✭✭✭✭
    True Pat, I am freshwater 
    07' Cruisers 390 (Previous Rinker's: 06' 342EC & 01' 310FV)

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  • IanIan Member Posts: 3,059 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2020
    Boatzincs.com suggest Aluminum for both, when I called to discuss this with them a few years ago the first change on my B3’s they said this was a Merc recommendation too now. So thats what I use and get 2 seasons.

    Regards,

    Ian

    The Third “B”

    Ravena Coeymans Yacht Club

    https://www.rcyachtclub.com/

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  • TonyG13TonyG13 Member Posts: 1,438 ✭✭✭✭
    I was always taught zinc for salt, aluminum for brackish, and magnesium for fresh.
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  • Aqua_AuraAqua_Aura Member Posts: 2,702 ✭✭✭✭✭
    TonyG13 said:
    I was always taught zinc for salt, aluminum for brackish, and magnesium for fresh.
    Yes that is correct. 
    1997 Bayliner 3988
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  • raybo3raybo3 Administrator Posts: 5,614 admin
    Lets make no mistake about it here. Zinc's are supposed to get "eaten". That's their job. I agree that those look pretty bad but they did do their job.
    2002 342 Fiesta Vee PC Point Of Pines YC Revere MA. popyc.org     raybo3@live.com
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  • Aqua_AuraAqua_Aura Member Posts: 2,702 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yes always better to have the sacrificial anode get corroded rather then have a sacrificial outdrive. 
    1997 Bayliner 3988
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  • Pat310Pat310 Member Posts: 603 ✭✭✭
    Thanks for all the input. Definitely have to do some more investigating. Happy thanksgivings 
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