I don’t know about you, but I’m just about out of my mind with anticipation! The last report from the ship was noon yesterday and Eris J was 409 miles from the Panama Canal. Okay, so we’re down to triple digits. I’m sure by now, the f…
Day 264…Dew Drops
Welcome to day 264 of 365 photos…the dew drops that formed on my knock out roses added a special look to the already pretty roses in my back yard. I love roses and these knock out roses grow with ease down here in the sunny south. Today, the dew drops made them even prettier.Camera: Nikon […]
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Layover at Fort Loudon Marina two days and Laundry day!
We arrived at Fort Loudon marina Wednesday afternoon, fueled up and decided to stay two nights and catchup on laundry, get provisions and GOOD showers. We rented a car for Thursday and drove up to Knoxville to visit one of our favorite places, COSTCO!!…
Knoxville…Pre Vol vs gator game:)
We made it to Knoxville and tied up to City dock to check out downtown and ate at Calhoun’s in Knoxville. We found out that the weekend coming up was the Tenn/Fla game and you could see by the houseboats already tying up to dock and rafting it was a BI…
Sept. 30 – Eau Gallie, FL
Eau Gallie Yacht Basin
“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love…” ―Marcus Aurelius
Today our travels took us through a rural area of the east coast of Florida, down the Indian River, across Mosquito Lagoon and the through the Haulover Canal. The theme today was wildlife. As soon as we left the marina we watched a school of Tarpon jumping and feeding on something. Within moments of watching the fish we spotted manatees and dolphins. The dolphins entertained us all day…in all our travels we’ve seen a lot dolphins but I think they were more abundant and active today then they have ever been.
Day 263…Back Yard
Welcome to day 263 of 365 photos…the back yard is where I spent the biggest part of the day today. Mr. B and a friend were working on the new pergola and I was hanging around to help them when they needed it. Guess you know where I took today’s photos. In the last few […]
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Checked Your Boat Zincs Lately? By Mike Dickens
For the first time, we present a guest blogger here at Trawler Beach House. Mike and Mary Dickens are our guest bloggers for today’s post. Mike and Mary are the owners of Paradise Yachts in Florida where they assist boaters in selling and buying of luxury trawlers, motor yachts and sailboats. They are also trawler owners and full-time liveaboards. You can visit their website at http://www.paradiseyachtsales.net
We all hear talk about the docks regarding boat zincs at haul out, but what do they really do?
Any time you have two different metals that are physically or electrically connected and immersed in seawater, they produce electrical current. Some current flows between the two metals and it can dissolve metals such as props, shafts, thru hulls and sea strainers in the engine room. The way we stop galvanic corrosion is to add a piece of metal called a sacrificial anode, and most often it is zinc. In fact, most of us refer to sacrificial anodes simply as boat zincs. On the Galvanic Scale, Zinc is number 4, 1 being the most sacrificial to seawater, Aluminum is 12, Steel is 30, Brass is 51, 316 Stainless is 76 and pure Gold is 91. This is why zinc is used, we want it to erode away and protect the other metal down there. Using zinc anodes on your boat is very important. When a zinc is gone, the metal component it was installed to protect begins to dissolve. Boat Zincs should be replaced when about half of the anode has been lost to corrosion. Ideally we want that to occur not more frequently than annually. I check these routinely and replace zincs that need it. At haul out, a full set is always installed. All zincs are not made the same. Insist on MIL spec zincs. Here is a supplier that I get mine from, BoatZincs.com. Good zincs, good price.
Boat Zincs – Props and Rudders
Propellers are normally protected by a zinc collar bolted together around the shaft. It is necessary to make sure the shaft is clean and polished before clamping the collar to it. Metal rudders and struts are protected with zinc disks bolted directly to the metal. Be sure bottom paint does not cover them. To provide good contact, the zinc should be tapped with a hammer all around and tightened several times during installation.
Boat Zincs – Hull Plates
Bonding is the connecting together of zinc plates bolted to the hull to other metals. All the underwater gear and the metal inside the engine room is connected to these plates. Be sure you check the bonding between thru-hulls and other metal gear by the use of a multi-meter set on the ohm settings.
Tip: If you spot “green” bronze fittings, the bonding has failed and corrosion is in progress. Check and restore the bonding.
Boat Zincs -Cooling Water
Heat exchangers and engine raw water systems are also at risk. Most heat exchangers are fitted with a zinc “pencil”. You will find it under a brass plug. The pencil is unscrewed from the plug for replacement. In addition, oil and transmission coolers will have zincs too. Check your manual for locations. Be aware that pieces of pencil zincs can clog coolant systems if not maintained.
Mike Dickens
Paradise Yachts
Broker of Record
1417 Sadler Road
Box 183
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
904/556-9431
Fax: 866/846-2389
9/23 – 30/2014 – New Orleans – Waiting for Weather Window
The weather was not cooperating with us to do the Mississippi Sound to Biloxi so we had to sit and wait! If the forecast for the MS Sound is calling for 3 to 5 foot seas and 15 to 20 knots of wind, we stay put!!!!! Ponchartrain Landing is pr…
Locking through Fort Loudon Dam and Lock
We cruised from Wolf Creek anchorage , locked through and anchored at Ish Creek for the night on the Tennessee River. Locking through was somewhat of a pain only because there was a barge locking through and seem to be having some trouble coming out of…
How much effort is involved
I often get asked how much effort is involved in building your own boat. My usual answer is ‘twice as much as you think’. In reality it’s likely even more. Doing it on your own requires a lot more pre-planning and I don’t find myself doing a lot of tha…
