Aluminum alloy anodes only.
Anodes for steel boats.
It would be hard to overstate the importance of maintaining the anodes on your boat.
However other metals such as aluminum and magnesium also work as sacrificial anodes.
On a boat without any corrosion protection aluminum being the most active metal will become the anode and the stainless steel a less active metal will be the cathode.
The term zincs has become synonymous with sacrificial anodes being that zinc was the original material used for this purpose.
A bonded boat has all of its thru hull fittings electrically connected to the underwater machinery and anode failure can cause galvanic corrosion to your boat s thru hulls.
Zinc or aluminum alloy anodes.
By definition an anode is an ingot of sacrificial metal attached to the underwater hull of a narrowboat or canal boat which corrodes due to electrolysis more readily than the hull and propeller.
That s why sacrificial anodes are used where corrosion eats the anode instead of your sterndrive prop shaft or raw water through hull.
Brackish water or for boats that migrate between fresh and salt water.
Never use magnesium in salt or brackish water.
The most common casualty of galvanic corrosion is a bronze or aluminum propeller on a stainless steel shaft but metal struts rudders rudder fittings outboards and stern drives are also at risk.
Zinc anodes also known as sacrificial anodes play a key role in the maintenance of your boat.
Zinc anodes are used exclusively in salt water.
Magnesium anodes are used for boats in fresh water.
Electrons will flow from the anode to the cathode resulting in a loss of anode material visible as corrosion on the aluminum components.
Now most boaters refer to sacrificial anodes as zincs because zinc has been used for a long time.
A guide to anodes.
Don t use antifouling paint that contains copper on an aluminum outboard or outdrive.
When an anode is missing or largely wasted away the metal.
If your boat is bonded be extra vigilant about the anodes.
Aluminium anodes are used for boats in brackish water.
Aluminium anodes are used for boats in brackish water.
Zinc anodes are used exclusively in salt water.
Magnesium anodes are used for boats in fresh water.
First of all the anode material is important to ensure adequate protection and service life.
Corrosion is an unfortunate part of boating and marine life.
Know that with each electron consumed a minute bit of the anode s metal is consumed instead of a bit of your boat or drive s metal hence the sacrificial moniker.
A quick guide to boat anodes author.
Remember it this way.
7 july 2015.
