outdrive corrosion and repair - pittsburgh

hello,

well my first season, actually only about three months, of being a boat owner is over. i am still thinking about my boat even though it is neatly tucked up in brady's bend north of pittsburgh pa.

what concerns me is once i pulled my boat from being docked at branchport and cleaned it pretty thoroghly, i noticed that the outdrive that entered the water in just august was being eaten away at. now i am no expert, not even close actually, but i do know that the boats outdrive went into the water in immaculate condition (looking new) and came out less than three months later looking pretty chewed up. the anodes that seemed to be in great condition had all that white chalky stuff all over them as well as other parts. the fin above the prop was completely eaten away.

my questions are as follows

1. is this normal? it seems as though something surely went wrong. i've read you can get caught on the wrong side of electrical current or the marina can be improperly grounded, but jeez, it was less than 3 months in the water.

2. is anything like this covered under one's boat insurance?

3. i've read that now, at least, i need to sand the affected parts down, prime it and repaint with special paint. can anyone recommend a quality place or person in pittsburgh pa to do this properly at least for the first time?

4. also i've read to go to magnesium as opposed to zinc. any and all input on all of this is welcomed and appreciated.

i like the idea of keeping my boat in a marina so that even i short notice, i can get out for a few hours if the mood strikes me right. however, i have to say, after seeing what it did to my baby i'm not sure i can do that, at least not without setting up for a more successful stint. thanks.

steve

Re: outdrive corrosion and repair - pittsburgh

First, what outdrive are we talking about?

it can happen in three months, easy. If you don't have a working anti-corrosion system, and don't have magnesium anodes and you have a stainless steel prop (or worse, a Bravo 3), you're gonna have corrosion.

Almost certainly is EXCLUDED on your policy. Is rust covered on your auto policy? Nope. Well corrosion is excluded, even on a "yacht" policy.

No need for special paint. It won't stick like the factory paint, anyhow. Just sand prime and paint, every year, now. Other guys say take it to a pro, but I don't think it helps much.

Magnesium anodes are for freshwater only, and you should have installed them, BEFORE you put you boat in the Allegheny River this year. Live and learn.

Re: outdrive corrosion and repair - pittsburgh

Welcome to iboats.

Yes ..... depending on the type of water you are in the sacrificial anodes ate different materials.

A few questions

Is this a new boat?
Are you the first owner?
Do the anodes look as if they were effective at all?

There are a few possibilities it it was used. I have seen dealer's and owner's spray clear coat on outdrives which cover's the anode.

If you need to re-paint the outdrive......
Sand to bare fresh metal (where needed) and apply a misting of zinc chromate primer (In my opinion it is the only stuff that will last)....... now you can top coat the outdrive with a quality marine paint. Most manufacturer's sell the paint but not the key item which is the primer.

If you feel you need to change anodes ...... do so and lightly sand them with 100 grit sand paper before you install them.