I recently had an interesting experience with my prop shaft mounted zinc. It
had been on the shaft for 22 months and had replaced an earlier zinc that had
been on for only 4 months. The zinc that the present zinc replaced had been
badly corroded, nearly half eaten away. During the 22 months that the present
zinc was on the shaft, I had a diver check it periodically and he consistently
told me that it was in fine shape. Finally, after 22 months I decided that I
would have him replace it with a new one. When he gave me the old one, I could
hardly believe it, it was almost in brand new condition, even sporting the
original price tag! It was a bit spongy in a couple of places where I could
dig out some of the material with a fingernail. It had obviously been making
good electrical contact with the shaft. It was the same brand as the one it
replaced 22 months earlier. Why such a long life? Admittedly, I am rarely
hooked up to shore power for more
than a week or so at a time--maybe a total of one month over the past 22
months. The boat has, however spent most of the past 18 months in a marina.
The only thing that is different about the two zincs is that I installed a
galvanic isolator shortly before installing the one that lasted for so long.
Since the boat spends so little time hooked up to shore power, I wouldn't think
that this would have a great impact. Is it normal for zincs to last so long?
Most people in my marina say theirs last from as little as 2 months to as much
as 6 months.
Peter
s/v Now or Never!
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