Zinc preservation

[Jim Walsh]

The attached photos provide graphic evidence of the value of a dab of nail polish. I apply a stripe of nail polish (dries fast, comes with an applicator, and was provided free by my daughter......doesn't get better than that ) where the machine screws bolt the two halves of a streamlined shaft zinc together. This is a simple and effective means to halt the erosion process and keeps the zinc in place through several months (this zinc was in place for seven full months) of use. Since I started doing this a few years ago I have never lost a shaft zinc.
I hope this tip may come in handy and keep your zinc in place next season.

[Sea Hunt Video]

Jim:

If possible, can you post a photo of a new zinc with the polish applied My vision is admittedly not what it used to be but I am not sure I see the polish in your photos. Is it the "bluish" color

Thanks.

[Jim Walsh]

In the attached photo the area in red would be given a couple coats of paint to keep the zinc from eroding where the machine screws are located Don't forget to do both sides

[Jim_B]

What a great tip. I've noticed my zinc 'weak spot' is the connecting bolt area. I'll try this with the next replacement. Thanks

[jen1722terry]

We use a bullet zinc on the end of the prop shaft. We're now wondering if a 1/4-inch or so of nail polish on the short end of the zinc as well as in the little well that houses the attachment bolt would keep this zinc in place longer (we lost one two years ago, even after using blue Loctite on the bolt treads).

Anyhow, great idea, Jim. But does the polish have to match my wife's toes?

Cheers to all of you, and do have a great weekend and short work week.

Jenn and Terry

[Jim Walsh]

We use a bullet zinc on the end of the prop shaft. We're now wondering if a 1/4-inch or so of nail polish on the short end of the zinc as well as in the little well that houses the attachment bolt would keep this zinc in place longer (we lost one two years ago, even after using blue Loctite on the bolt treads).

It never occurred to me to try the nail polish trick on the prop nut anode. It's a good idea and I'll do that this spring. Here's how my prop nut anode fared this year.

[jen1722terry]

Our prop nut fared a bit better this year, though we put the boat in late (June 20) and only spent a few days in a marina.

We're launching early next spring (maybe May 10 or so - very early for Nova Scotia) and we may be in until early November, with the long cruise we've planned. So we think we'll carry and extra prop nut as well as mount one of those cut-down streamlined shaft zincs you use for extra insurance.

Great looking winter cover, BTW. Wish we could go that route (we tried to make our own two years ago and gave up - too difficult).
Also, we both have some heath issues that make it less than wise to work on frame-building and cover-mounting with a ten-foot drop to the hard, so we use the shrink wrap. The yard said they could erect a frame and install a custom cover for us each year, but the labor approaches the cost of shrink wrap (at least it does up here) so we continue to be part of the Great White Plastic Fleet! Also, the plastic does a great job of shedding heavy snow, which we had over 7 feet of last winter.

Cheers

Jenn and Terry