This month, we’re taking a second look at our post and Poinsett Pilot article (August 2020) on the Recreational Boating Statistics 2019, the 61st annual safety report published in June by the Coast Guard. Where the primary cause of fatalities was known, alcohol use was listed as the leading factor in 23% of deaths. BoatU.S.…
Accident And Injury Rate Up Slightly In June, the Coast Guard published Recreational Boating Statistics 2019, the 61st annual report, with statistics on recreational boating accidents and state vessel registration. This publication is a result of the coordinated effort of the Coast Guard and those states and territories that have Federally-approved boat numbering and casualty…
With a multimeter and a reference electrode, you can measure the potential difference between the boat’s underwater conductive surfaces and the boat’s ground (negative battery terminals). You can check the conductivity of every branch circuit and also the effectiveness of your bonding system. Conduct these tests after the boat has been in its slip for…
Getting ready to disconnect the ground wire from the house battery to test for stray current on board overall, in the branch circuits and in the bilge pump system using a multimeter. Previously, we looked at the two principal forms of destructive corrosion aboard boats: galvanic corrosion and stray current corrosion. With this background, you…
Stray current corrosion is similar to galvanic corrosion, except that a current source is added to the circuit. Source: USPS. Electrolytic or stray current corrosion is related to galvanic corrosion, discussed last month. It functions similarly, but with the addition of an external electrical source to the corrosion equation, which significantly accelerates the reaction. It…