We have owned our 35 ft
sloop for nearly 30 years. We haul every year. It is expensive but we like to keep her in as tip top shape as possible.
Three years ago we moved to a new marina. I didn't equate the problems at first but my
water pump">raw
water pump basically disintegrated. I bought another one as it is the only problem we have had since changing in 2010 to a D130
volvo. It has been a excellent
engine and I thought
raw water pump maybe a weak link??
However a year later the new pump was leaking out the cover plate and finally I realized what was going on.
Electrolysis.
I put a new
shore power protector on, even though I didn't think it needed it, but by the 2nd year
haul out, zincs were 70% gone and some erosion on the
keel was evident.I replaced
hull zincs and
saildrive zinc.
But then after labor day trip I was checking my
engine room and sure enough the
raw water pump cover is starting to leak.
I talked to the port manager about the water and he tested it noting my
electrical was good but it showed I didn't have zinc protection. He noted there was a problem
boat that said he had fixed
electrical problems but hadn't and there were 3 other boats in my same condition because of it.
I put on
scuba gear and sure enough they are almost gone. So after a little
history this is my issue.
I am rewiring the entire boats ground system. copper
screen throughout the bow and stern, wired both aft to buss bar,
mast ,chainplates, etc etc.
We have a
saildrive and since the beginning we turn off a ground break switch to kill power to the engine and it has always worked but now I am in a conundrum. If I wire it all to the engine ground it effectively takes that ground break out. If I don't wire it that way how do I have a bonded system? At some point there has to be a wire to the water doesn't there? If I have explained this well enough then how do I accomplish both isolating the engine and having a full time ground??
Hopefully someone out there has had similar problem (s)
Thankyou
Randy
__________________