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Old 30-12-2011, 12:30   #1
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Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

I am new in a slip at a marina where my neighbor in the next slip next to me, may possible be responsible for why my zincs seem to evaporate, dissolve rapidly!

My other new neighbors close by (next slip away) also report accelerated zinc decay, more than they deem usual!

I confronted the marina owner about this and his response was that I was, my boat was, responsible, that I was inflicting my own problem and recommended that I keep fresh new zincs installed!

I connected my volts/ohms meter (AC-VOLTS) between my neighbors main mast shroud and the water and got a digital reading of .235 I then tested 8 other sailboats on the dock, including my own, and with the meter set exactly the same, none showed above .004.

While is was testing the boat next to me, the one I suspect for the reason my zincs disappear so fast, while I had my meter connected between the water and his main shroud that was reading .235 we turned off his power momentarily at the dock post breaker and the .235 reading fell to zero.

I informed the neighbor that he may be dumping raw AC. He told me that he doubted that he was but that he would look into such a possibility.

A month later and no word from him. The marina owner in my opinion doesn't want to get involved and I have to add new zincs, now the second time 6 weeks!

I'm worried now that my through-hulls will begin to leak, and I will need to have an emergency haul preventing sinkage.

Who will be responsible, and how to prove such a case in court?

Has anyone here had to deal with this sort of thing???
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Old 30-12-2011, 12:35   #2
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

Its likely the court will say since you knew about it- it was your responsibility to move your boat away to stop the damages-
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Old 30-12-2011, 12:36   #3
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

best bet is to change your berth prolly cheaper than a lawyer or new anodes every 6 weeks lol...........
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Old 30-12-2011, 12:43   #4
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

Change your berth or better yet go to another marina.
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Old 30-12-2011, 12:59   #5
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

I fully agree with the prior two posters. But, it's not that easy, or I would have knowing what I now realize!

I am winterized, in a slip in the North East, Rhode Island...I have already paid my winter storage, and I, nor anyone else should have to tolerate a situation similar.

I cannot afford to move my boat at this time, nor should I have to!

Had I known beforehand, I would have gone elsewhere.

Others here, (a large winter liveaboard community for the area) certainly not the size of Boston's Constitution Wharf, but finding another winter dock at this time is difficult and costly when after I, nor anyone should have to tolerate such.

Correcting the problem...

If my neighbor is creating my death-nell, it shouldn't be hard for him to correct.

Again.....my question is, has anyone been in this, or a similar, situation? What did you do other than what the posters suggest (run) it's just not possible for me to just leave now before possible damage is done....I'm needing to understand accountability, responsibility and from posters here that may have knowledge about such, and a maritime lawyer they may recommend.
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Old 30-12-2011, 13:00   #6
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

Install a galvanic isolator on your AC ground wire inside your boat. These block low voltages from faulty dock wiring or neighboring boats and cost about $100.

FWIW the problem is probably DC current leakage through the ground wire, not AC. Here is a good article on electrolysis troubleshooting- Electrolysis
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Old 30-12-2011, 13:05   #7
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

unplug the neighbor? does your reading change.
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Old 30-12-2011, 13:06   #8
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

hang anodes over the side,connected to the boat ground,common practise on alloy yachts
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Old 30-12-2011, 13:08   #9
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by djmarchand View Post
Install a galvanic isolator on your AC ground wire inside your boat. These block low voltages from faulty dock wiring or neighboring boats and cost about $100.

FWIW the problem is probably DC current leakage through the ground wire, not AC. Here is a good article on electrolysis troubleshooting- Electrolysis

Yes.

We installed one years ago and our zincs last for for months! Electrolysis at a dock is quite common.
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Old 30-12-2011, 13:13   #10
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

Umm, AC power will not dissolve zincs. AC doesn't cause electrolytic corrosion because the anodes and cathodes swap places 50 times a second (or 60 times in the U.S.).
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Old 30-12-2011, 13:18   #11
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I had a similar problem a few years back. An underfunded sea scout sailboat across the fairway from me replaced its dead charger with a cheap automotive charger. Suddenly, everybody within 20 meters of that boat was losing zincs. A Bayliner in the next slip over from him even lost its trim tabs due to electrolysis. (Owner wasn't aware how to prevent electrolysis in trim tabs.)

When the scoutmaster refused to take responsibility for the damage that was being done to neighboring yachts, the neighborhood committee began unplugging his boat every night.

Every night.

Problem solved.
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Old 30-12-2011, 13:20   #12
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

can you use a larger zinc for the winter?
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Old 30-12-2011, 13:22   #13
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DeepFrz View Post
Change your berth or better yet go to another marina.
I wanted to change slips, but the marina owner hasn't any other slips to offer. Mind you, this owner fills all of his 75+ slips...he is at full capacity in the winter here in North Kingstown, RI.

AGAIN: Accountability and responsibility needed here!

Boat owner offending basically says F--- Y--- and die!

Marina owner takes the Sgt. Schultz approach, I hear nothiinngg.....
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Old 30-12-2011, 13:25   #14
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

What DC Voltage do you get? What hull materials? That level of material loss seems high for AC leakage. Bonding may be your problem. Check DC across any damping on your prop shaft if installed.

Regards Bill
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Old 30-12-2011, 13:26   #15
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Re: Neighbor dumping raw AC into water?...what to do?

Its same way in Florida, had the guy next to me running 3 ac units and tripping the breaker causing all the slips to lose power, marina owner didn't really care..asked the guy nice and didn't do much. Finally the main breaker panel burnt up and the marina owner had it replaced. but that was already end of summer. Just like most boat things go, have to look out for yourself..
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