Will Trade Fishing Time for Marine Electrical

[TenMile]

Hey all,

Wanted to thank all of the posters for the great suggestions. One of the forum members is going to give me a hand next weekend sorting out the issue and I will post back if we resolve things.

Charlie/Wolf/Tailspin -- excellent idea. I visited Trotac yesterday and got myself a large round zinc, some #12 wire and alligator clips and will rig up a quick release and hang it off my slip. I have the tendency of being a little groggy early in the morning and KNOW that if I hang a zinc fish off the back of my boat that it will eventually find it's way into my prop. Hanging it off the slip with a quick release alligator clip was the PERFECT suggestion for a near-idiot like myself.

At the marina right now there is a boat up at the service ramp with the same Bravo III outdrive as mine. Mechanic told me he left the boat in the water for 3 years without changing the zincs. The drive looks like a coral reef and is going to cost him $14,500 for a complete replacement!!! Don't forget to check your zincs dudes!!!

 

[scott craven]

Hey Terry,
saw this ad in used Victoria if by chance you don't figure it out...

http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/7767764

 

[TenMile]

So brief update on this thread. One of the forum members stopped by on the weekend and he showed me a number of things to look at (thanks Dan). Found that the bonding connections on most of my thru-hull fittings were corroded and likely not making good contact. Also found that the raw water pickup fitting was not bonded at all. Found that there had been some arcing at the shore side and the boat side of my shore-power connection (so coated it with a water dispersant). And finally, I also found a defective water-pump for the house water system (looks like the motor has failed).

In any event, there was no single smoking-gun, but a number of little things that all seem to have added up. Once the cold weather passes, going to redo the boats bonding system and make sure all the thru-hulls and components that come into contact with the water are redone.

Also floated a zinc fish from my slip and rigged it up with an alligator clip to the battery negative side and hopefully that will protect the boat until I can re-terminate everything. That was a great suggestion so thanks again.