Barnacles and Electricity Question

[LetsRock]

This might be a reach but I am frustrated as all H...E...double hockey sticks.

My boat has been in the water for 2 months and I already have a large amount of growth on my outdrive and trim tabs pistons (non on the hull).

For the past 3 years I have had this problom to the point I have to pull the boat a couple times a year and clean the intake beacause I would over heat.

I even switched marinas this year to see if it would help since the water moves a lot more here than where I was.

My drive and tabs pistons have all been treated in the spring with heavy duty anti-fouling paint.

I look around the marina and notice no other boats have the same amount of growth than I do.

Here is where I might be reaching, I do not have shore power but I keep a battery tender plugged into the boat when I am not using it to keep the batteries charged. Is it possible for the electricity from this to cause barnacle growth faster than if I did not have it plugged in? I know electricty has certain effects (hence the need for zincs) but was wondering if I am on to something.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[dwna1a]

Have you asked around the marina to see what the other boaters are using on the bottoms?

 

[Bob & Sue]

I'm in no way an expert on this you say your plugged into something to power your trickle charger this could cause a problem if your not going through a system with a Galvanic Isolator. Can you hook up to shore power to run the charger? Check your boat to see if it has a Galvanic Isolator if it doesn't you may need to install one and use a shore power cord. This will give protection from stray power in the water be sure and check your mercathode to see if it is working properly.

 

[bahamabreisus]

Actually, the faster the water moves in the marina, the faster stuff grows. Something to do with more oxygen going by, feeding the growth.

 

[LetsRock]

I'm in no way an expert on this you say your plugged into something to power your trickle charger this could cause a problem if your not going through a system with a Galvanic Isolator. Can you hook up to shore power to run the charger? Check your boat to see if it has a Galvanic Isolator if it doesn't you may need to install one and use a shore power cord. This will give protection from stray power in the water be sure and check your mercathode to see if it is working properly.

Thanks for the feedback. I am plugged into a regular 110 line. Do you think this would have anything to do with the excessive barnacles?

The intake on the Alpha 1 is so narrow it really doesnt take much to clog it up.

 

[LetsRock]

Actually, the faster the water moves in the marina, the faster stuff grows. Something to do with more oxygen going by, feeding the growth.

I did not know that. I would have though the opposite since the water doesnt more it gives them a better change to cling on.

 

[LetsRock]

Have you asked around the marina to see what the other boaters are using on the bottoms?

The growth is all on the tab pistons and drive...no growth on the hull or trim tabs that I painted with bottom paint.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Im having the same problem its covering my tabs and pistons, i moved slips this year and the spot im in is an outside bend and the water moves quicker than the other slip. As a matter of fact all the garbage collects there too so im wondering if thats why its happening to me?



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[saopm]

I had to pull mine out for a cleaning this time last year. I pretty much had a sponge growing off my outdrives. This year not so bad yet. Bottom feels a bit slimy but not to may barnacles.

 

[Dsybok]

None of you guys have a monthly diver?

 

[TARANTULA]

I have a diver clean my bottom every two weeks during the summer and once a month during winter. Its a must here in FL

 

[JVM225]

Where on LI/ North or south shore? I'm not sure about on the north shore, but my boat is here on the south shore and I don't have the problem with the growth on my drives. Is anyone else around you having the same problem?
Did you paint your drive and transom assembly with the proper anti fowling paint for aluminim before you put the boat in the water?
Lose the Battery Tender ASAP! They are a great product. I own two myself that I use on the specialty cars in my garage, but they don't belong on a boat.
You run the risk of causing electrolysis problems for your boat and the boats around you. I'm sure your dock neighbors or the marina owner wouldn't be too happy to hear that you were running one in the boat.
Get yourself a real onboard charger and run it through an onboard electrical system.

 

[dicor]

Here is how I tackled some of the issues and there is more I plan to do next season.
- My out-drive would look like pancake batter if not used every week I took the OD home last winter sanded it down with 2000 paper, put on 2 coats of Interlux PrimCo, then 2 coats of Interlux Pacifica Plus. This stuff is expensive and goes on lumpy, looks ugly but it works great. Where I moor is about 3 feet and clear enough for me to inspect the OD and it's perfectly clean I would not have believed it unless I saw it myself.
- Because Pacifica Plus goes on lumpy I did not paint the prop for fear of loosing performance and effecting the balance. If I know that I will not be using the boat for more than 1 week I will put a cinch tie heavy duty plastic garbage bag over the props and cinch it tight. The bag is full of water but as the previous post mentioned it form a barrier between the free flowing oxygen and food. They find a new home.
- Next year I am buying a product called Prop Speed (Google it) from what I read if you apply it to the prop properly and nothing will stick to it. I'll let you know this time next year.
- Your Mercathode will not work if it is covered with growth, mine is covered with growth. You cannot paint it or cover it. I noticed however that boats with the old style Mercathode (the pucks not the assembly bolted to the bottom of the transom assembly) do not seem to be cover with growth. I will be installing on of these in addition to my barnacle cover one at the end of this season.
- I agree with the post that said loose the charger and get the correct unit your boat and your dock neighbors will appreciate it.

 

[LetsRock]

Where on LI/ North or south shore? I'm not sure about on the north shore, but my boat is here on the south shore and I don't have the problem with the growth on my drives. Is anyone else around you having the same problem?
Did you paint your drive and transom assembly with the proper anti fowling paint for aluminim before you put the boat in the water?
Lose the Battery Tender ASAP! They are a great product. I own two myself that I use on the specialty cars in my garage, but they don't belong on a boat.
You run the risk of causing electrolysis problems for your boat and the boats around you. I'm sure your dock neighbors or the marina owner wouldn't be too happy to hear that you were running one in the boat.
Get yourself a real onboard charger and run it through an onboard electrical system.

South shore (West Sayville) for me. I have already disconnected the charger.

I pulled the boat yesterday and barnacles were crusted all in the intake. I am so desperate that I might reach down and attach the ear muffs when I am not using the boat in order to slow down the growth.

 

[JVM225]

As long as the boat is out of the water, maybe you can try a fresh heavy coat of anti-fouling bottom paint for the outdrive and transom assembly.
I like the brush on stuff much better than the spray cans and you seem to get a lot more for your money out of the cans too.

 

[rpasquarello]

Ronnie,

I have the same issue every season. Welcome to my world. Keep a plastic scraper and snorkel on the boat and anchor in the river by me once in a while and scrape gently every 2 weeks.

Also, we will be off the river tonight to see the fireworks rafted up with my fried from Bayport (Center console).


Rocco