Cutwater 28 Zincs

[jkhiser]

We just bought a used 2013 C28. By the prior owner records, zincs were last changed in July 2017. The zinc on the propellor is totally gone. The thruster zincs fell into dust when I tried to remove them. It appears the boat is under protected. There is a pile of 3.75" button zincs onboard and listed on the spares listing, but no obvious installation location. Is there a preferred location for the trim tab zincs, or just close to trailing edge? Is there a reason to not put a zinc on the rudder? For the new boats, where does the stern zinc bond internally? What size do you use?

J.K. & M.Q. Hiser
2013 C-28 WENNIWAY

 

[Red Raven]

I added additional zinc to our boat in order to get them to last a full season so I could change them myself when I pull the boat each fall. The prop zinc is problematic because as it corrodes it can get loose and fall off. If you do a search on prop zincs on this site you will find many suggestions to help with that issue.

You can put the trim tab zincs anywhere there is no obstruction, just make sure the area is free of paint. Note that the trim tabs are not bonded (they don’t bolt through the hulls) so adding zincs to the tabs will protect only the tabs themselves and not the rest of the boat.

I added a transom zinc (mini divers dream) and bonded it inside to the rudder mount. An easier solution that doesn’t involve the scary thought of drilling holes in the boat is to add shaft zincs to the lower end of the swim step struts. I believe the struts are already bonded but you should check that.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

I have a large divers dream on my boat but even so the trim and prop zincs go first due to the non bonded nature that Red talks about.

my solution is to get a diver to replace them without hauling the boat. Its not too expensive.. replacing zincs is way cheaper than replacing a prop...

 

[jkhiser]

Since writing my first question, I found my rudder is not connected to the bonding system. This makes me question lack of rudder zinc even more. Seems this big hunk of metal should have some galvanic protection.

J.K. & M.Q Hiser
2013 C-28 WENNIWAY

 

[Red Raven]

Since writing my first question, I found my rudder is not connected to the bonding system.

I’d be surprised if that were the case. There should be a large braided strap connected to the rudder shaft, like this:



Do you not have this?

 

[jkhiser]

Thank you for the picture. This is very different from my boat.

On your install, you can see all eight of the rudder support bolts, with three connected to the bonding system, and a flexible connection to the rudder shaft. This is what I expected from reading Nigel Calder, but nice to have confirmed.

On my boat, the bonding wire connects the four stainless steel swim platform supports to the bonding system, but bypasses the rudder. The wood platform at the bottom is mounted higher, obscuring the lower two bolts. But there is no bonding wire running under the platform.

Suspect I will need to do a complete audit of the bonding system.

Looks like my spring worklist just got even longer.

 

[Red Raven]

Wow. Fortunately it should be pretty easy to add a bonding strap to the rudder shaft. If the mounting bolts are accessible that should be pretty easy as well.

Sorry about the rest of your shipping troubles! 🙁

Curt

 

[jkhiser]

Bonding system mystery solved.

Working through the electrical system, I found the factory swim platform and rudder bonding wires. They had been looped back to the bonding system junction strip. Nicely labeled, as all the factory wiring is. The first clue was the different style, sloppy zip tie installation, that usually indicates post-factory work.

So now they are reconnected factory style.

 

[Red Raven]

Glad to hear it’s all getting ship shape!