Al. Hull pitting prevention-Mercathode?

[Luna Sea]

I had a slight problem with some pitting on my Lund last year, when I left it in for a couple of days at a time (salt water). I did cover up the battery, put new zincs on the outboard, and put a couple of studs in the hull for a big zinc. I'm planning on keeping it in the water this year and am quite worried about this aluminum pitting problem. Someone was telling me about a "Negative Discharge Coupler" last week. Anyone ever hear of these things? There's a couple of aluminum boats around town here that were trashed last season, and I don't want mine to be next! Also, if you can't ground to the hull..... isn't the engine itself part of the hull? Therefore a ground?? Any good info out there on this topic would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Al. Hull pitting prevention-Mercathode?

The Absolute Best Thing to Stop the Pitting is,<br />Paint......<br />If it's Painted, It's OK.... Scratch it,+ it'll disappear......

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Al. Hull pitting prevention-Mercathode?

Paint? Egads, how would I paint my trailer boat? I know, "Search" trailer section for "removing boat from trailer". Actually, the bottom paint is what set off some reactions to a couple of al. boats in my area, think it had copper in it. I'm looking at a product from "Electro-Guard" called a "Automatic Impressed Current Control and Monitoring System". You put an anode in the hull, and something on the other side, and there's a control panel. Looks like good protection but costs $350. Downside is the .9 amp draw, figure that would kill a deep cycle in 4-5 days. Then again, I'll be living on the houseboat so will be keeping batts charged....<br />For anyone that's curious, heres the link<br /> http://www.electro-guard.com/electro-guard/620Acatalog.htm

 

[Bondo]

Re: Al. Hull pitting prevention-Mercathode?

I painted mine with good ole' Rustolium.... <br />Painted it on the trailer, let it dry, slid the boat back a foot, then painted where the rollers had been..... 3 coats with a roller..<br />Paint is Cheap, when scratched, just dab a little more on the worn spots.... <br />If the aluminum is "sealed" with paint it Won't corrode... Plain,+ Simple.....<br />I can buy a whole Bunch of paint @ $15.a gal...For the $350. the Ele.System your looking at....<br />Copper Based paint sure wouldn't be My choice...<br />Egads,I'm just telling you what has WORKED for me... i had pitting in the old original paint/aluminum... painted it 3 years ago... touch it up once a year...... NO Problems to date....<br />Total investment, 2 gallons of Rustolium....

 

[DJ]

Re: Al. Hull pitting prevention-Mercathode?

Luna Sea,<br /><br />You have got to keep any copper based paint away from that boat.<br /><br />I'm not sure where you keep it, but it sounds to me like the water surrounding it is pretty "hot". I mean electrically charged. Is your houseboat leaking current into the water?<br /><br />Also, make sure that nothing electrical in the boat is grounded to the hull. Most boat makers do not do this by design, but something could be shorted to the hull.<br /><br />Also, you may want to invest in battery disconnect switches. That will insure no voltage is leaking to the hull.<br /><br />Keep your zincs clean and replace when they are about one half eaten away.

 

[93evinrude]

Re: Al. Hull pitting prevention-Mercathode?

Here is a link to an article with good info on the subject.you will have to scroll down a little to get to it.<br /><br /> http://www.kastenmarine.com/aluminum.htm

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Al. Hull pitting prevention-Mercathode?

Well, the good news is the houseboat isn't "hot" (leaking current into the water) anymore. The bad news is, well, let's just say it's been a long winter up here........<br /><br />

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Al. Hull pitting prevention-Mercathode?

try again....<br /> <br /><br />

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Al. Hull pitting prevention-Mercathode?

<br /><br />Can ya see me now???

 

[PurpleDragon]

Re: Al. Hull pitting prevention-Mercathode?

Oh NO!!!!!!<br /><br />What Happened??!!!<br /><br />Rex S.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Al. Hull pitting prevention-Mercathode?

Dead batteries. Iced up boat ramps. Brought new batt. out 2 weeks ago but couldn't hook it up cause bilge was frozen. Went down the boatramp Sunday, 1 inch of snow and they put a 6 ft snowbank in front of the ramp!!!