if you hook a zink to your battery does this save your drive zinks?

T

temptress

New Member
Dec 8, 2009
151
League City
Boat Info
270 Sundancer wide beam
Engines
single 454 Merc w/ Bravo III
I was walking my pier and noticed about 50% of the boats on my pier have a zink the shape of a fish hanging off their battery. What gives? Does this zinc erode quicker than your drive zinks? does this really prolong the life of your other zinks? does more zink prevent erosion or would it promote it?:huh:

is this like hanging a cd from your rear view mirror?

Harbour myth or smart Idea?
 
What's a zink? It rhymes with sink. In a blink. I wore a mink.
 
Great info on the link on how to buy one of these contraptions. Does any one out there that has there boat in salt or brakash water use one of these rigs? I am interested in some first hand reviews before shelling out 50 bones for a metal fish!
 
If I had a bravo III out drive, and I was in a marina, I think the 50 beans would be well spent money... BTW I buy all my zincs from Boat Zincs, and I believe it is free ship for $50 or more...

temptress said:
Great info on the link on how to buy one of these contraptions. Does any one out there that has there boat in salt or brakash water use one of these rigs? I am interested in some first hand reviews before shelling out 50 bones for a metal fish!
Click to expand...
 
I use one at my marina. I am in brackish water. We have some suspicious power and I am moored next to an old wood Matthews and an old wood Chris (both '57s). Well worth the investment. Been thru 2 in the last 3 years. Hook it directly to your bonding block. Good cheap insurance........
 
I use one and I'm in salt water. I used to burn off zincs in less than one season, now using the zinc fish, I get a full season out of my outdrive zincs. The grouper has lasted about five seasons now and I'm thinking about replacing it. Doesn't look much like a fish anymore, more like a zinc block on a cord.
 
Yo Bro,
Old guy next to me swears by 'em. He has two on his boat. Let me know where you get yours and I'll do the same. I'll call 'em zinks too. Now they can talk about boat ov us.

See ya by the pool
 
temptress said:
I was walking my pier and noticed about 50% of the boats on my pier have a zink the shape of a fish hanging off their battery. What gives?
Click to expand...

You have a bunch of boaters there that know something you don't know. You have a stray current problem on your pier.
 
the first marina I was in, I was blowing through my zincs. bought one and it lasted about 3 years. $50 beats changing zincs mid year underwater.
 
How do you hook a zinc fish up without squashing the cable in the engine hatch? Is there a bonding system connection in the cockpit on a Sundancer?
 
JV II said:
How do you hook a zinc fish up without squashing the cable in the engine hatch? Is there a bonding system connection in the cockpit on a Sundancer?
Click to expand...

Make an extension from the bonding block to the transom. House the connector in a recessed compartment.
 
They do work. I have seen them around for over 30 years. HOWEVER, in this day and age with what is now known about marina electricity, if you have to use one you are masking a potentially fatal problem.
 
I usually use the zinc guppy when I'm at a large marina, where I normally keep my boat there aren't many boats hooked up to electric so I don't use the zinc guppy. What I had did was run a #12 wire from the negative on one of my batteries to my stern tow eye, I fasten part of the wire to a rear cleat and clip the wire to the grounded tow eye. I think the zinc guppy helps my other zincs, this is what a electrician told me.
 
Wow! Thanks for the comments. I will go ahead and get one. I am fairly new to the forum, so my apologies for using the word "zinks." this is the only thing I have heard them called! What is the proper term that I should use to avoid future redicule by my fellow CSR posters?!:smt021:grin:
 
"Zincs" has always worked for me but they are actually anodes, and can be made from zinc (for salt/brackish water), aluminum or magnesium, usually used in fresh water. A zinc "guppy" will work well to prolong the life of your other zincs attached to your outdrive/running gear. Just be sure to unhook the thing and stow it before departing or you run the risk of fouling your prop.
To the person who asked how I hook up in the cockpit, I just run the cable under the hatch in a corner, there is enough room for the cable to squeeze thru. On my last boat, I ran a wire into the cokpit and I think I will do this on this boat also so I don't have to pull the hatch to remove the cable prior to going out.
 
Does anyone know off hand if their water spigot in the transom is attached to the bonding system? If so, that would be a great place to attach the grouper anode.
 
I know that mine is not. It had a leaky connection I had to tighten last season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,184
Messages
1,428,132
Members
61,093
Latest member
Linword
Back
Top