Is this some type of galvanic corosion on water heater?

[carboncow]

1989 340SD

Winterizing the boat this weekend and got a good look of this power coming from under the hotwater tank on the port floor. Nothing is wet and the hot water tank is full of water...so don't think it's a build up from a slow leak. Is this some type of parasitic corrosion?

Fresh water boating and never seen this in 20 years on the Lake Erie on my 5 boats!

Water tanks are cheap so half tempted to pull it this winter and just put a new one in and clean up the mating surface.

https://db.tt/E2L3xk4B

https://db.tt/b7jhsFwL

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

Photo please.

 

[carboncow]

Photo please.

OK, I put links in the original post. Said I exceeded size and the function that allows you imbed URLs is not working. You'll have to see them on my dropbox account.

 

[northern]

Looks a lot better than mine. The tank can be made of various materials. I was going to replace mine as a leak would put us out of operation for some time. It looks easy to replace. Ours is at the same elevation as the bottom of the engines so assume lots of anti freeze will spill.

 

[NorCal Boater]

Looks to me like corrosion from the tank. It doesn't mean the tank is leaking, it just means there has heen water there at some time. Probably need to pull it out and inspect. Good winter project.

Shawn

 

[Lazy Daze]

To me, it looks like a mineral build-up from a very slow leak. I've seen the same thing on household water heaters and sometimes hot water fittings. Do you know how old the heater is? Is it possible that's an old leak from an older hot water heater that was then replaced with this one? Can you remove any panels to look at some fittings underneath the outer case?