Electrolytic Corrosion of Legacy Steamship in Fresh Water...

[crshears]

Hello again all,

See thread238-361861 for background.

Do the mills ever gring slowly on this one...

Yesterday we held an Engineering Group meeting where the requirement for a galvanic isolator / isolating transformers was discussed; the retired electrical engineer mentioned in the above-noted thread was present, and advised that after seeing the information and recommendations provided in the thread referenced he remains totally unconvinced that there is any need whatever for the listed equipment, and persists in believing that solidly grounding the ship to the shore will eliminate all risk of galvanic corrosion between the ship and the shore.

Additionally, he does not seem greatly convinced that there is any cause for concern due to galvanic action regarding the use of more and less noble metals aboard the vessel herself, such as between her bronze propellor, brass stern tube, and steel hull, since she is floating in fresh water...

I am not keen on offending the gentleman, but if informed research indicates he is in the wrong, I feel I will have no option but to recommend proceeding against his sentiments.

Any further advice?

CR

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." [Proverbs 27:17, NIV]

 

[MikeHalloran]

Perhaps the gentleman has confused fresh water with Fluorinert(r).

By his argument, Great Lakes freighters should not need paint or zincs. History suggests otherwise.

Go ahead and offend him.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[ScottyUK]

He's wrong unfortunately, so you'll have to choose between hurting his feelings and protecting your old ship. If it were demin water then maybe his argument would hold water, but I doubt the ship is in a lake of demin.

 

[crshears]

Thanks, all. As a means of being more fully informed I have sent out e-mails to a number of museum ships as per Wikipedia's list of them and have already received some very helpful responses, so if we must dent the feelings of the gentleman in question, at least we will have some proof in hand. I'll give it some time for a few more answers to come back, but based on what I've been told so far it seems pretty conclusive that doing nothing is not an option.

Thanks again.

CR

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." [Proverbs 27:17, NIV]