up the creek sans paddle

[Gnarly]

Re: up the creek sans paddle

Huron the pics were taken on Cultus lake British Columbia, its usually a very busy spot in the summer but with the cold and rain we had it all to ourselves yesterday and really enjoyed wringing the boat out , here's a couple more from the same trip and no we didnt get to do any fishing, maybe next week.

 

[efgolden]

Re: up the creek sans paddle

Beautiful job Gnarly,looks great...my Islander looks as bad or worse had a crispy wire running from the fuel quantity sender to ground,like it should be ...don`t know what all happened yet ...still working on it. Again very professional looking repair.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: up the creek sans paddle

Gnarly looks like the repair turned out great and you are getting to enjoy her a little bit before the season is over thats great.


Rick

 

[Gnarly]

Re: up the creek sans paddle

Thanks guys, I am happy with the way it worked out as I was very stressed and dissapointed when I first got it home and the slime off it to find that level of corrosion, Its my first big boat (non cartopper)Ive actually kept. I learned something from the experience and as they say education is never free. Im just fortunate I had the experience , tooling and space/time to deal with it instead of having to take it to someone.
What blows me away is that the swim step was installed by a marina/dealer with supposedly competent people. I guess the old saying about if you want it done right..... certainly would have applied here.

 

[pmillar]

Re: up the creek sans paddle

Very nice job. I have a question though... what should have been done in mounting the ladder to prevent the corrosion? I am familiar with the chemistry that causes the problem but haven't owned a boat (currently shopping) in the past. At least it's less of an issue in fresh water where I will be splashing around.

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: up the creek sans paddle

Very nice job. I have a question though... what should have been done in mounting the ladder to prevent the corrosion? I am familiar with the chemistry that causes the problem but haven't owned a boat (currently shopping) in the past. At least it's less of an issue in fresh water where I will be splashing around.

Of course, if you can isolate the dissimilar metals from one another you can possibly avoid the galvanic reaction. If there is any current at all conducted through the aluminum hull, regardless if the boat is kept in the water or not, something will end up being sacrificed between the 2 contacting disimilar metals. These currents my never be noticed, but they are there. Electrical currents can run through the engine or outdrive also, the water can become the conductive path and the boat, the lower unit or outdrive will be sacrificed. The best thing one can do is to watch the condition of the anodes and replace them when necessary and to disconnect the battery especially if leaving the boat in the water.

Captain Chris
SternMate?

 

[efgolden]

Re: up the creek sans paddle

I talked to Starcraft today regarding the thickness of the metal in the transom. My Islander has problems similar to Gnarly`s .When I started talking about galvanic corrosion he stated that they`re of the opinion that it probably is related to the slip the boat is moored at and possibly from docks as much as 300' away due to shore power installations. Your boat doesn`t have to have shore power to be affected and simple installations of only a light on the dock can produce this situation. Mine was docked in a slip on lake Erie and I believe Gnarly had a similar situation.

 

[Gnarly]

Re: up the creek sans paddle

you are correct Ed , It was kept in a slip on the columbia in Portland Oregon, however having the swim step and the aluminum hull immersed for long periods of time with no isolation between the metals and zinc anode's in fresh water was certainly an issue with it as well as you can see the metal in close proximity to the stainless swim step struts has been sacrificed to the point where there were holes in the hull once I started digging the corrosion out of it and the anodes are like new. I agree with the stray current theory but this certainly added to the damage done.
We use a dissimilar metal isolation tape, the sealant I used on the repair and some other techniques such as sacrificial washers in aviation to alleviate this but even floats on float planes if left in long enough will exibit the same types of damage. ;'

 

[efgolden]

Re: up the creek sans paddle

Mine also has the swim ladder on the right side along with steel trim tabs.I will post pictures sometime ....a lot of this project will probably have to wait till spring at the rate this weather is going .Delivered the aluminum the other day now looking for cherry rivets. Bought a radio for it the other day on ebay for 25.00 Polyplanar model 60 looked it up on google retails for up to 450.00.....can`t believe it....it`s the only good deal in this mess.

 

[Kainon]

Re: up the creek sans paddle

The corrsion damage to my boat was from PO and was in the areas of the transom, the bolt holes for the outdrive attaching bolts, the 2 cheapo swim ladder 90 degree footings (left one had a lot more damage then right?), some damage at the d-rings where water had contacted the inner side of the transom between the wood and aluminum which helped the wood to rot, it was dripping down the aft rub rail joints. I have no PI (previous info) about how the boat was used, trailered or moored. it's not that bad I hope what i've done to it will prevent further worsening of those areas, I can tell you that I don't see them leaking anytime soon I 4200 & 5200'd the heck out of it (and ZC'd).

 

[efgolden]

Re: up the creek sans paddle

The only good part of my transom mess is ;no water ran out of the screw holes when I removed trim tabs etc. Seen it happen a lot with waterlogged transom glass boats.