paint & zinc

Habibi got hauled out. And to be honest, we feared that moment! It could be revealed everything and nothing: while cruising the ICW we ran aground several times! Don't worry, we managed always to free ourselves without having to call Tow-Boat US (they come and "tow" you out of your predicament) BUT we really didn't know if there was any kind of damage. Most people we talked to assured us the ground was mostly sand and mud hence there shouldn't be too much harm. Phew, and they we're right! Only the antifouling paint below the keel was gone, literally "sanded" away!
Same with some of the zinc anodes but that wasn't because of the sand. This is pure galvanic corrosion as you maybe remember from your chemistry classes: when two different metalls have physical or electrical contact with each other and are immersed in an electrolyte, the more active metal (the anode) corrodes at an accelerated rate and the more noble metal (the cathode) corrodes at a retarted rate. In our example the electrolyte is the saltwater Habibi floats in and the zinc anodes have the only purpose to corrode before our propeller or other metall parts do.
We were all relieved, got the keel repainted, the anodes changed and back into water she went! Now we're anxiously waiting for a good time (means weather) to get out of this marina, down to Key Biscane and from there to the Bahamas!

Love
Rahel