Stray Electric Eating boat away!

[BULLWARKS]

I dock my boat (Crestliner 1850SF - Aluminuum hull) at a marina in a lake that has lots of weeds and algae blooms. The boat is plugged into a msrine shoreline receptical and there is an extension that goes to the boat to the Trolling Motor and Main Motor battery chargers.

All electric cords are in good shape but the one that comes from the source dips into the water some times.

Zincs on the motors are in goos shape and last year I bought a zink fish and connected it to the negative terminal.

When I took the boat out this year all zinks were untouched but the hull paint had bubbled and chipped all over the hull. At this rate I figure I would have about 5 years before the boat is trash.

Appreciate any help.

 

[wire2]

Re: Stray Electric Eating boat away!

Is the metal case of the charger bolted to your boat in a way that will ground it? If so, your hull may be the anode for the other boats.

 

[Adjuster]

Re: Stray Electric Eating boat away!

I would hook your fish zinc directly to the hull, not the battery ground.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Stray Electric Eating boat away!

Yea, clipping the fish zinc to the battery ground isn't a good idea. It should be to the hull. And the hull & battery ground should be isolated from each other.your set up isn't protecting the hull at all. If your corrosion is that bad, it could be an indicator of a wiring problem with the marina, of another boat nearby causing stray current corrosion (but I would expect the zincs to be in bad shape from that)

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Stray Electric Eating boat away!

Don't leave your boat plugged in except when you really need to charge the trolling battery, and when it's charged, disconnect. Or take it out and take it home. Your boat battery should not need charging.
Add a battery switch so that all power remains isolated at the battery, except for the bilge pump switch.
Small boats don't need power, especially not aluminum.
Of course, there could be a leak in the water unrelated to your own power source, but why put the boat at uneccessary risk?

 

[cobalt1999]

Re: Stray Electric Eating boat away!

Since you are moored in fresh water, I think you may be using the wrong anode besides the fact where it is supposed to be correctly connected. The zinc anode are for salt water.
You may need to use magnesium anodes.

Just a thought.

 

[BULLWARKS]

Re: Stray Electric Eating boat away!

WOW - at work past few days THANKS for all the posts

Wire2 - yes there is a Dual Pro charger in the bow compartment bolted to the boat. There is another trickle charger attached to the Motor battery via the two battery terminals.

Adjuster, Ned L - will try in spring thank you

Home Cookin - I can only boat on weekends and after fishing all day 6 - 8hrs (MOSTLY) trolling the batts are run down so I need to charge the troll batteries. Problem is I'm not there till the next Sat to disconnect. I put the charger on the motor bat because when it rains for several days in a row the bat is dead from running the bilge pump.

Cobalt1999 - will check with Marina - Thanks

Also Marina owner tells me the aluminum boat docked next to mine has no problem.

THANKS TO ALL