S/Y EFAKI is a Mirage 28 built in 1977 by Thames Marine (UK) 

S/Y EFAKI is a member of the SNAPDRAGON & MIRAGE ASSOCIATION

S/Y EFAKI is a member of the Piraeus Sailing Club (I.O.P.)

When I bought EFAKI in 1996 I was little aware of galvanic corrosion that occurs in boats. So in the initial commissioning that followed the purchase of the boat I didn't do anything relevant.

The signs of electrolysis in various spots of the boat I thought that they were just only signs of age. In the following years I did learn about electrolysis and I added a zinc to the propeller shaft as the engine had her own (the only on the boat). What I didn't do was to connect every metallic part of the boat to a zinc. Well this is what I did in the 2002 yearly maintenance hauling out. 

I spread a heavy grounding wire from the bow of EFAKI to her stern connecting every metallic part on the way like anchor windlass, mast, stanchions, etc. This wire was connected to a heavy zinc that was placed in the "deeper" place of the hull to ensure that it will always be underwater.

You can see the wire (yellow - green) in the above pictures. 

What has to be done now is to connect also the through hull fittings to the grounding wire (with hose clamps) and observe if electrolysis on my boat has been stopped. I'm thinking also of drilling the keel and placing a stand alone zinc there too, since the keel is not connected to anything.

This page was last updated on October 29th 2002.