Hi,

I am restoring an old 44ft houseboat, it has a steel _frame_ and steel pontoons. The pontoons are scrap _meta_l now so I want to replace them with aluminum pontoons but I need to consider electrolysis. I will be fitting a new 50HP EFI bigfoot. I am redoing all the wiring. Fresh water lake (high mineral content). The boat will be 12 volt only (no gen) and the marina does not have shore power so my questions are:

Do I mount the pontoons insulated from the steel _frame_?

Do I use the steel _frame_ of the houseboat as a common earth or run earth wires to all the appliances & lights etc.

I want to do this right the first time so any input would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance. Aldo

I had significant galvonic corrosion on my pontoons until i started using Zinc. I had a large zinc attached to the motor mount by a long wire. Once I used the zinc I stopped the corrosion completely.

Interesting post. My boat has aluminum 'toons and a steel _frame_. I'm plugged into shorepower year round unless I'm off the dock and use my 750 watt inverter (no AC). The only annode I have on my boat is on the OB motor. Should I put a larger zinc on my transom?

Hi waverider, nice boat.

The restoration is 75% complete now, toons are on. I used magnesium anodes on the toons and motor. For whatever reason, the lake I am in is very high in mineral content and zinc just don't do the job. I mounted the toons insulated (nylon bushing and spacers) but I also bonded the _frame_ to the toons with copper straps. Sounds counterproductive but insulating them prevents galvanic corrosion and bonding them (along with the anodes) prevent electroyisis - still need to run earth wires to every appliance, don't use the _frame_ of the boat as an earth even though everything is electrically bonded.

Merry Christmas!

Aldo

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Copper and aluminum are a no no. Use aluminum braid or straps.

Sorry, I should have updated this thread long ago.

I finished the restoration nearly 8 months ago. I had aluminum pontoons custom built and mounted large magnesium anodes on them. The toons are insulated from the houseboat _frame_ with nylon blocks. I did use copper bonding straps. I go for a swim weekly and inspect the toons, so far, absolutely no sign of corrosion/pitting etc.

I am very happy with the final outcome.

I'm trying to post a pic of the toons but it's not working.

Aldo