www.iFourWinns.com

Would a 97 Vista 278 be equipped with a galvanic isolator from the factory?

Been getting bad outdrive corrosion. No stray current (no other boats nearby in the water in my canal). Trying to figure out if its because I leave it plugged into grounded shorepower.

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

You should have lights on the AC panel that are labeled as such. And/Or look behind the panel. Check you grounds to the drive, Mercs have a Mercathode you might want to check it. On Volvos, am not sure.

Well, I definitely have no lights on my AC panel indicating any galvanic isolator activity. I mean the panel does have a green light that lights when shorepower is hooked up and a red light labeled "reverse polarity". Thats it.

And I certainly dont have Volvos version of "mercathode".

Im taking this as Four Winns didnt install a galvanic isolator from the factory. Anybody ever install one?

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

Check this recent thread if you haven't already:
http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11151
It has some good links including one to some installation instructions. I've never done, it, but it looks to be pretty basic.
How are your "zincs"? Are you using the correct ones for the body of water you are boating in? (zinc/aluminum/magnesium)

Good luck!

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Thanks for the link.

My anodes are magnesium and get the crap chewed out of them. My outdrive has "pox" all over it, which it shouldnt; the boat was kept on a trailer most of its life.

I bought the boat early last spring from good friends. They only had it 1 season and kept it in their canal too. Very clean canal on the north east side of Lake St Clair. It had a lot of corrosion on the outdrives when I bought it. Last year, keeping it in my canal, it amplified in intensity.

Im going to check for a galvanic isolator this weekend. If it doesnt have one, Im going to install it.

I also though of hanging one of those "fish" anodes over the back of the boat and connecting the lead to the negative battery terminal, as they say to do. I dont know what to do, but I do NOT want to be replacing my outdrives because of a corrosion problem I ignored, thats for sure!!

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

Probably a good idea to start with fresh anodes also and make sure they are making good connections where mounted, in addition to the galvanic isolator and possibly the hanging fish anode.
The canal is presumably fresh water since you are using magnesium anodes - it's not brackish water? Sorry, I don't know the waterways in your neck of the woods

Basic suggestions, I know....

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Completely fresh water. The only salt in the canal water is from my sweat dripping overboard when Im cleaning the boat or stressing out over this corrosion situation, lol!!

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21