Despite the act that over 87 million Americans participate in recreational boating, not everyone who enjoys sailing will understand the hazards of boat corrosion — or how to prevent it. In today’s post, we’ll discuss the basics of one common type of marine corrosion, as well as how isolation transformers can prevent major issues like these from occurring.
What Is Galvanic Corrosion?
Boats are prone to a few different types of corrosion, but galvanic corrosion is one of the most prevalent. This type of corrosion can occur when two different types of metals are exposed to a conductive solution. In the example of boating, the conductive solution is typically saltwater. When these differing metals are connected electrically and this exposure occurs, it can cause one metal to become corroded. In most cases, this happens to the hull of a marine vessel.
This is a problem for a few different reasons. Of course, any damage to your boat can impact its value and its performance. But galvanic corrosion can also be incredibly dangerous. Because the metals on the boat are connected through some kind of electronic means, the corrosion of one of those metals could actually cause an electrical current to run from the corroding hull to the shore itself. This means that anyone swimming in the water (which serves as the conductive solution in this equation) could potentially become electrocuted through no fault of their own.
As such, it’s imperative that boat owners take every possible step to prevent galvanic corrosion from occurring. In many instances, marine isolation transformers can provide the solution.
How Can Marine Isolation Transformers Prevent Galvanic Corrosion?
A marine isolation transformer can be used to maintain consistent power for boats. But this device can also be used to potentially prevent galvanic corrosion.
Marine isolation transformers do what their name suggests: they isolate power, which means they break any potential electrical current that might occur between the boat itself and the shore area. The transformer will connect the boat’s metal components to a neutral output. This not only will eliminate the risk of electrocution but will also prevent any physical corrosion to your boat that would otherwise be caused by galvanic current.
Whether you’re a casual enthusiast or you’ve devoted a huge part of your life to boating, it’s imperative that you equip your vessel with the right technological tools. By adding an isolation transformer to your boat, you can protect your investment, everyone on board, and the general public from the dangers of galvanic corrosion. To learn more, please contact us today.