Sacrificial grouper zinc

[kim&tim]

Our marina is notorious for dirty power. Even with the galvanic isolator we has installed on our boat, we ate thru zincs like a rat on a garlic coil ! We decided to try a sacrificial grouper zinc about 6 months ago. It is hung over the side of our boat with the clip end attached to a negative battery terminal post. We pulled the boat out of the water today for bottom painting and were delighted to discover all zincs showing almost no deterioration.
We thought this was worth sharing.....since no one likes buying and replacing zincs!

Tim and Kim
R29 Hermitage
Gibsons,B.C.

 

[Dog Islander]

Hi Tim and Kim,
Thanks for posting about this. I was just starting my search for a zinc to do the same thing. I just put my boat in the water a couple of weeks ago and don't know if I will have a problem or not, but I would prefer to avoid the wear on the boat zincs if possible. I am not currently tied into shore power and I hear that may make a difference. Just curious, are using shore power at your marina?

 

[Ken Boyd]

I cannot comment on how effective hanging anodes are but "BoatZincs.com" seems to have the best online deal for Zincs. I have ordered from them a couple of times, they ship very promply, the orders are correct, and they are very helpful over the telephone. Their shipping charges are a little high for a single zinc so order some spares while you are at it to round out the shipment. They quit carrying hanging grouper models but replaced them with a 6 pound hanging shaft model that they can sell for a little less. The following link should take you to the appropriate page on their website.

http://www.boatzincs.com/hanging_anode_zinc.html

Ken Boyd
2009 R25

 

[HRowland]

I also had a problem with zinc consumption last year. I went through two sets of trim tab zincs and the prop zinc was gone at haulout. Late last season I started using the hanging zinc from Boat Zincs that Ken mentioned. It does not look like a pretty grouper but it has a lot of zinc and is very well built.

I am also installing a galvanic isolator this month. I leave our boat connected to shore power at the marina, this is probably the big factor in last years zinc consumption.

Howard

 

[abcandjrc]

Our marina is notorious for dirty power. Even with the galvanic isolator we has installed on our boat, we ate thru zincs like a rat on a garlic coil ! We decided to try a sacrificial grouper zinc about 6 months ago. It is hung over the side of our boat with the clip end attached to a negative battery terminal post. We pulled the boat out of the water today for bottom painting and were delighted to discover all zincs showing almost no deterioration.

Was the grouper eaten up, though? You did not mention how it looked. Unless it was, indicating it took the punishment your installed zincs was taking, you may be attributing an effect to the wrong cause.

(Not to deny the effect of zinc groupers and such, I always used them, too. But just a caution from a guy who made his living appplying logic. For instance, you could see the same effect on your zincs if the marina made some changes, or the owners of the boats on one side or the other fixed a problem on their boats. In which case your zincs could look fine, but you might still be able to see the scales on the grouper, too.)

 

[kim&tim]

The answer to a few of the questions asked.....
"Yes", we are attached to shore power all of the time while at the marina.
Regarding the grouper zinc deterioration, it is half the size it was when it first went into the water.....as George on Seinfeld said....."Its' shrinkage " !

 

[abcandjrc]

The answer to a few of the questions asked.....
"Yes", we are attached to shore power all of the time while at the marina.
Regarding the grouper zinc deterioration, it is half the size it was when it first went into the water.....as George on Seinfeld said....."Its' shrinkage " !

Just thought I'd ask. That's good news and bad news,of course. The good news is that it is doing it's job protecting you. I'd order another. The bad news is that something is still wrong with either the marina or your neighbors.