Galvanic Isolator

[Tim Porter]

We purchased our used 2014 CW 30 last fall. On our closing punch list with dealer was installation of a galvanic isolator. During our recent spring orientation cruise, the dealer tech said there was no need for galvanic isolator given the design of the CW electrical system and an isolator was not installed. Question: do you need galvanic isolator or not? I am suspicious that dealer skipped it to save the money. Thoughts?

 

[Bruce Moore]

Bumping post delayed in moderation queue.

 

[BB marine]

Dealer forgot to install it, didn't have one in stock or didn't have time to install it. Ranger Tug and Cutwaters do not come stock with Galvanic isolators because it is a cost item. The thought is some boat owners will not plug into shore power so they will not need an isolator. Why install a 200.00 part on a boat when it is not a requirement? I personally would not have a boat that is kept in a marina plugged into shore power without the protection of a Galvanic isolator. The design of Cutwaters electrical system is a ABYC approved design. The ABYC does not require the isolator. Most dealers, boat owners, surveyors, will recommend the installation of an isolator. I question the integrity of the dealer tech! If you had the isolator on the sales punch list I would require the installation or get a refund of the cost of the isolator and the install labor!

 

[gsc3]

Based on my experience with our 2016 Cutwater 24, a galvanic isolator can be very important. See my post "Caution about dockside galvanic corrosion" by gsc3 on Wed Aug 30, 2017 1:02 pm in General Technical Discussion. Not having a galvanic isolator proved to be very expensive. After adding galvanic isolator the problems did not reoccur.

Slade Cargill, "Sojourner" - 2016 Cutwater 24, Longboat Key, FL

 

[Tim Porter]

Thanks for the response. Dealer blew it off as he did for several other listed items.
Tim

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

My 2021 R-23 came with a galvanic isolator stock from the factory.


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[Salish Seaker]

My 2021 R-23 came with a galvanic isolator stock from the factory.


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Wow, not stock on our 2018 R23. But it's a very easy install.

 

[Dcsqatar]

I have a related question. How important is it to test and confirm that a galvanic isolator is working? I installed mine and looked into how to test it. That was two years ago, and I recall that it was not a simple procedure so I have put off doing it.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

My 2021 R-23 came with a galvanic isolator stock from the factory.


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Wow, not stock on our 2018 R23. But it's a very easy install.

Carl was surprised too. He was going to show us where to install one and said “Wow. I guess they started installing them at the factory”.


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[Mike and Sarah]

Our 2020 R27 had a factory installed galvanic isolator. We got a year out of our zincs. We are in brackish water.
Our R31 that we will take delivery of in a few weeks does not have one installed but I will install one within the first week.

 

[ohioan55]

Our 2020 R27 had a factory installed galvanic isolator. We got a year out of our zincs. We are in brackish water.
Our R31 that we will take delivery of in a few weeks does not have one installed but I will install one within the first week.

What types of anodes do you have? Ones made from aluminum are best for brackish water. If they were magnesium, that could explain the short life. Testing stray current requires a test rig and needs to be connected correctly in order to correctly measure the current, measured in mills-amps.

 

[Mike and Sarah]

From everyone I have asked in our marina zinc is the standard. We have a river that runs by the marina so the water alternates from brackish to salty. Everyone’s results vary. But one thing I know is the ones that don’t have a galvanic isolator have much faster deterioration of the zincs.

 

[Submariner]

We're in Everett as well, in the the Snohmoish river, brackish water at low tide, sea water at high tide. I get about 6 months on my zincs. Our R27-OB came with a galvanic isolator installed from the factory and we are plugged into shore power as we moor and have no trailer.

 

[CaptT]

I have a related question. How important is it to test and confirm that a galvanic isolator is working? I installed mine and looked into how to test it. That was two years ago, and I recall that it was not a simple procedure so I have put off doing it.

I've attached a link, I've used in the past, which shows how to test a galvanic isolator using a simple multimeter.
I hope this helps.

https://www.boatingmag.com/testing-galvanic-isolator/

Terry

 

[S. Todd]

I installed a galvanic isolator on our 2015 R25SC and it was an easy install. The green ground wire from shore power gets connected to it, basically in and out.
For our new R29S I paid the dealer to install them (two of them because of the two 30 amp shore power cords) just so they would be done before delivery and I would not have to do them later (new boat is stored off site rather than in our garage because it does not fit there so it would be more difficult for me to work on) and the cost was reasonable.