prop damage

[Gus]

Bit surprised to find the prop in this condition, its 2 years old. I don't remember seeing all those little holes last year when we took it out. Anyone any experience with that? Is this normal?

 

 

 

[PatM]

What's in your water?

[oldjeep]

Do you moor that boat in the water? Looks like the damage you get from stray current (electrolysis) when you have no anodes.

[Gus]

It has been out of the water for four months, for the winter break. In some of the holes, more caverns, there was some very clear lightgreen copper rust.

[oldjeep]

Sure, but are you sure those holes were not there when you put it away? The hull clearly didn't get cleaned

[RichardDoane]

From the condition of the bottom, I'd guess your boat spends a lot of time in the water where electrolysis has taken a toll. I'd bolt a couple of zincs to the shaft support strut or swimstep brackets to help protect your next prop. Dis-similar metals in solution are the culprit.

[bko]

Have you used a power-tool like a disc-grinder or similar close to the boat and the sparks have hit the prop?

[oldjeep]

One more bit of good news. Zoom in, your strut bushing has melted. Did someone run it in gear dry right before it was pit away?

[liquid d]

With holes in your prop like that does it make the turbulence behind the boat better? You might have something there!

[Gus]

So something like this needed..

 

I always thought ski nautiques in sweet water didn't require any anodes.

[Orlando76]

It does look like it could be electrolysis but not quite like I'm used to seeing. Yes a zinc anode like pictured above will help. My main question is what's causing the electrolysis? Could be exposed electric in the boat or in this case more likely at the dock.

[Gus]

I have a sun powered ventilator, installed in the cover - very effective against mould and always a fresh smell in the boat. Its plastic, and could produce quite some static on sunny days. But I'd expect that to dissipate when it hits the water surface..

[riplash]

Hey Gus, You should make sure that the negative terminal of the sun powered ventilator power source and/or battery is grounded to the negative terminal or engine block of the boat. That should help reduce that static, and that static is probably adding to the electrolysis problem.

 

-Rip