Deleting Engine Zincs?

[Tree]

Has anyone with the Yanmar 6LP ever taken the step of not fitting zincs to the engine but used the brass plugs as an earth point and wired direct to the hull anodes?


Reason I ask is when the coolers were removed during our engine major service and tidy up, I found quite a few broken off zincs in the coolers and almost certainly they contributed to the build up of scale in the coolers.

I'm considering tapping a blind hole or even make up new bungs for where the zincs are currently with earth straps from them direct to the anode busbar.

As usual, all input appreciated.

[amber jj]

Tree if your solution would work it would save a unknown situation like this 2 seasons ago.This winter I went to change the lower zincs in the aftercoolers on both the port and starboard engines and found they are both broke off.This pict was on the top of the starboard cooler.The port side had a floating zinc but did not permantly lodge into the holes like the starboard.

[jleonard]

Every enigne I have had has this potential. The solution is to change the zinc before it breaks off.
That said, I still have them break off. However I tear down my coolers every 2 or 3 seasons so they don't get clogged up enough to hurt anything.

[Tree]

I just really think that the way everything is protected could be a whole lot better - seeing that zinc blocking the port on the cooler does lead to concern as we are often a long way out in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

[RobS]

I do mine twice a season, (pre-launch & mid season) whether needed or not, once it's in my hand it does not go back in, even when better than 50% still remains. Haven't had one break off yet (6 seasons). Through boatzincs were talking under $15 for the full set. And it's only a 2-beer, 4or5-song, pit stop. I have an extra set of the brass plugs so I assemble the anodes in the plugs and add a light smear of grease to the threads before I goto the boat. Then it's just a matter of out with the old, in with the new.

[Pitou]

I'm with Rob and check them mid season which equates to about 3 months. 50% or less and they're gone. Recycle your brass plugs and the anodes are cheap. I usually find that the lower anodes deteriorate more rapidly than those at the top which may not sit in a constant bath of sea water.

At decommissioning in the the fall I remove the anodes from the plugs before winterizing as the poly propelyne seeems to degrade the anodes making it so small pieces chip off over the winter and an occassional anode could just drop.

[Tree]

One thing to factor in here is we don't really have a season - we are out all year except for the three weeks ashore to refit.

The cost of zinc anodes here is pretty high due to laws made up by the clever people in the european union so what would potentially be 4 changes in a year could mount up to almost £200. OK in the main, the cost isn't the issue as we all know boats are money pits.

This is the first boat i have owned that requires zincs in the engine and in the past I have never had an issue with parts failing due to galvanic corrosion so this is all new territory you see.

I should never have become an engineer really, you spend 99% of your life looking for better solutions!

[amber jj]

Thanks Kevin for the tip.Being up here in a fresh water lake, deterioration I hope, will not be as bad as being in salt water.But a least it is not to hard to check things out periodically.Hopefully just replacement during spring commissioning.

[RobS]

Tree, all good points you raise, ALL of them, I am an M.E., I feel your pain oh too often.

[Pitou]

Ah, now I get it. My dad was an electrical engineer who majored in physics. Very painful for a kid who just wanted to get things done! For an engineer there's always a better way and more to analyze.

Here's a tip from a sales guy .. put some zincs in her and go fishing!

[Tree]

Ah, now I get it. My dad was an electrical engineer who majored in physics. Very painful for a kid who just wanted to get things done! For an engineer there's always a better way and more to analyze.

Here's a tip from a sales guy .. put some zincs in her and go fishing!

Since you've put it so effectively, I'll take tomorrow afternoon off and go then

[mike66]

Just to get to you engineers.....are Yanmars heavy on aluminum? If so, than it would make sense to use aluminum anodes instead of zinc. They are probably better in general unless it's a freshtwater boat. It's all a part of maintenance anyway, so change 'em and pull your exchanger covers and clean on a regular basis. Tying into the boat bonding system in addition is not a bad idea.....but those connections can fail due to corrosion. I wouldn't rely on it alone.

[Pitou]

Ah, now I get it. My dad was an electrical engineer who majored in physics. Very painful for a kid who just wanted to get things done! For an engineer there's always a better way and more to analyze.

Here's a tip from a sales guy .. put some zincs in her and go fishing!

Since you've put it so effectively, I'll take tomorrow afternoon off and go then

I knew you could take it!

I will say that I was a lucky guy to have my dad to turn to when a mechanical or electrical issue came up, on or off the boat. Heck, though many of us curse engineers with "what were they thinking", we can't live without them!

Glad you're going boating!