Sea Frost engine drive - condensor zinc

[ErBrown]

Howdy Folks,

I was working to replacing the zinc for our condensing tower on our Sea Frost engine drive system. We've had the boat a little over a year and this is our first time to replace it.

To make a long story short I removed the brass plug and can see that the finger zinc broke off inside the column. We've been able to see/feel the piece of zinc in there a few times while trying to get it our but not had any luck with removing it. We've tried using water pressure to push it out by opening the seacock, but no luck. It appears there is a lip just inside the hole where the zinc threads in place that is preventing it.

Anyone have any magic suggestions for how to get a piece of zinc out of a small hole in a plastic tube? We're currently working with a piece of coat hanger, trying to carefully work it out but not making much progress.

I must say this seems like a horrible design, but we're stuck with it. The good is that water enters the bottom of the column and exists the top, so I guess in theory it's possible the piece could stay at the bottom in there and not cause major problems. That being said, for obvious reasons, we want it out.

[ErBrown]

Haha....success!!! 15 minute zinc replacement only took about 5 hours so far. Now it's on to Home Depot for a blow torch to melt the last of the zinc that broke off in the bronze plug...





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[Lepke]

Chewing gum on the end of a pencil can work.

[mike d.]

The zinc would stay at the bottom, and eventually dissolve. If you need new zincs you can call SeaFrost, up in New Hampshire, or e-mail. They are great people to deal with!!!!!!!

[ErBrown]

I was tempted to leave it in there, but was afraid what might happen as it broke up into smaller pieces. So we FINALLY got it out, painful freaking process but glad we did it.

Now if I can get in touch with them for a new plug for the zinc, I'll be ready if this happens again and I don't have a freaking blowtorch handy