Anodes and bonding

[Havelock]

There is so much out there about what a good idea bonding is. If your boat is wood or glass or grp please don't do it.
Go to Waitemata woodys site and click on electrolysis, their most hit link. Basically the physics is sound, the chemistry isn't. The tricle return current through wet timber or other substrate does this in salt water; it gives off oxygen gas,chlorine gas and leaves sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) which is what they put pine trees in to make toilet paper!!! It appears on the inside of a boat looking like candy floss/cotton candy, it has a ph 11, is highly corrosive and destroys wooden boats.
Found out in time to save
Our wooden boat, built 1960, repowered and bonded 2016, but significant damage done in 6 years.
Go to Waitemata woodys, then rip that bonding out.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Havelock

Go to Waitemata woodys site and click on electrolysis, their most hit link. Basically the physics is sound, the chemistry isn't.

The terminology isn't even correct.

[Bowdrie]

Just taking a guess, but I think the percentage of wooden boat owners on this forum is pretty small.
And about bonding them?
There were articles in WoodenBoat magazine alerting of the dangers of bonding back in the "70s/'80s.
I've seen the results of what happens, it isn't pretty.
Unfortunately, many owners of wooden boats never got the memo, or they were swayed by yard personnel who believed that all could be cured by just adding more zinc anodes.
Sorry ABYC, you have been way behind the curve on this issue for decades.
PS, welcome to the forum.

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

The terminology isn't even correct.

He wasn't talking about metal, but about wood.
Have you not seen what happens to the wood that is wet with water.
What takes place is not "corrosion".
It is when the electrons flow thru wet wood.
Perhaps a better term might be "Hydrolyzation"?
Anyway, it destroys the wood.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Havelock

There is so much out there about what a good idea bonding is. If your boat is wood or glass or grp please don't do it.
Go to Waitemata woodys site and click on electrolysis..

Too bad Woody doesn't know that its impossible for "electrolysis" to occur on a boat whether wood or glass or metal.

Be wary of corrosion or electrical advice from anyone using the word "electrolysis" on boats.

Electrolysis is an induced process found in industry and laboratories in which the anode is positive and the cathode is negative whereas on your boat it’s the exact opposite … Electrolysis simply cannot occur on a boat unless you have some pretty sophisticated equipment and are doing it on purpose.

PS. What is the difference between "glass or grp" ?

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Bowdrie

He wasn't talking about metal, but about wood.

He is talking about wooden boats with underwater metal fittings

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Too bad Woody doesn't know that its impossible for "electrolysis" to occur on a boat whether wood or glass or metal.
Be wary of corrosion or electrical advice from anyone using the word "electrolysis" on boats.

Your right, and there are a few of us "old timers" that know that.
On a related note, I've about given up trying to tell people that on a cutter rig with 2 headsails that the staysail doesn't set on an "Inner forestay", it's just a "Forestay".
An "Inner forestay" presupposes that there are 2 staysails, an outer and an inner., (like belly buttons? ).
Likewise, the wire that goes from the "mast-Head" to the "stem-Head" is not a "forestay", it's a "Head-stay", if it goes from the masthead to the end of a bowsprit, it's a "Jibstay".
When accuracy is allowed to devolve colloquialism prevails.
Some convolutions exist, but they're outliers.
The term "electrolysis" is similar, no amount of preaching/teaching will change many boat owners' way of thinking.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Bowdrie

Your right, and there are a few of us "old timers" that know that.

Who ya callin' ol' man