I recently bought a 1977 Marinette 32, and perhaps I am paranoid about the aluminum hull after reading then forums, but I'd appreciate a little advice if anyone can give some.

My Capac meter currently reads about .87

At night (for example if I wake up to use the head), the reading is well into the .9 range, but in the daytime, it tends to drop down to around .8.

Any ideas? I was thinking water/hull temp might have something to do with it, or perhaps the electricity use by other boats in the Marina goes down at night when they go to bed, thereby influencing the reading?

Backgroud: bought the boat in Annapolis and drove it to Quantico, VA...now at the EZ Cruz marina in Woodbridge. Could the zincs on the hull be set up for brackish water, and now that I'm on the Potomac I should switch them?

What voltage range is dangerous? Is .85 not good, but sustainable, or is it that if you're not in the .9 to 1.05 range your boat is toast in a week?

Also, if anyone here is Marinette-salty, lives in the national capital region, and wouldn't mind coming down and taking a look at my new baby, I'd appreciate it. Can pay in beer or otherwise. Kind of losing some sleep over this...maybe I've read too many horror stories about galvanically eaten hulls.

The hull wont vaporize overnight. It takes time to cause problems and in most cases years of severe electrical issues to corrode through the hull. Your good with those readings as far as not toasting the hull. You do want to pull the readings in a little.

If the anodes are in question I'd replace all of them. Best thing is to contact John Althouse at www.marinette.com. Tell him the type of water the boat is in etc and he can provide the proper anodes. There are other sources for anodes too. I'm sure others will chime in.

Also make sure NOTHING is grounded to the hull except right where the negative wires from the batteries are grounded to the hull in the engine room. All ground wires should go back to very specific spots or to bus bars that go back to the aforementioned specific points.

Be sure your shore power cord plugs are clean/corrosion free.
Also check your dock neighbors plugs (a few boats on either side). You may find a bad/melted plug that is putting voltage on the dock ground.

You can also calibrate your CAPAC meter with a digital meter. You should notice a tiny slot screw at the base of the needle. That allows you to adjust the needle. Just parallel a digital meter in DC voltage mode with the CAPAC leads and adjust for the difference.

The change in readings may be a function of utility use. During the day there may be more air conditioners etc running. This may impact the ground on the dock if there is a voltage leak somewhere. Someone has been shore cord or they have something wired in reverse.

Try the search function at the top of the forum. Lots of info.



-Karl

Gordo, Welcome aboard mate. Don't worry just enjoy your . All those stories come from those guys who have fiberglass boats that look like tennis shoes. I think the biggest threat comes from run down marinas that have old wiring and old boats with automive battery charges putting current into the water. Enjoy your . Life is too short not to enjoy the sunsets over the water. Wayne

gordo,
my boat was at ez cruz where i bought it 3 years ago.there was a 32 sadan there then ,and a 28 or smaller express on the hard.the sedan was clean for hand painted.
good luck.

tim

yea i know what your talking about.mine was prob one of them. lol

tim

The going rate for a good survey around here is @ $23.00 a foot, plus or minus a buck or two..... Since everything in the D.C. area is considerably heavier on the Cha-Ching!, I'd say you are bound to pay at least that much. Not that it won't be worth it, but expect it ... On the subject of aluminum boat myths, I have read and heard people say, " Don't drop any bolts or anything metal that you can't pick up or find, it'll corrode a hole in your hull!" Baloney.
Sean

Doug,

I figured U as a connoisseur an / or supporter of one of the Oldest Brewski’s makers on the east coast
R U sure the 16 yr old doesn't need to assist U

Norm,

Big s Live On

welcom Gordo do you know why usmc always has such good looking kids?.... the uscg hahaaa I pd 10k for my 73 I would be hard pressed to take 30for her youve got a great boat there