Anodes For Steel Boats

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.

Anodes for steel boats.

Remember it this way. If your boat is bonded be extra vigilant about the anodes. Brackish water or for boats that migrate between fresh and salt water. A guide to anodes.

There are two types of corrosion. Aluminium anodes are used for boats in brackish water. Zinc anodes are used exclusively in salt water. First of all the anode material is important to ensure adequate protection and service life.

7 july 2015. A quick guide to boat anodes author. Boat accessories australia date posted. Zinc anodes are used exclusively in salt 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. Magnesium anodes are used for boats in fresh water. Aluminum alloy anodes only. Now most boaters refer to sacrificial anodes as zincs because zinc has been used for a long time.

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. It would be hard to overstate the importance of maintaining the anodes on your boat. Don t use antifouling paint that contains copper on an aluminum outboard or outdrive. Magnesium anodes are used for boats in fresh water.

Corrosion is an unfortunate part of boating and marine life. Zinc anodes also known as sacrificial anodes play a key role in the maintenance of your boat. Never use magnesium in salt or brackish water. Electrons will flow from the anode to the cathode resulting in a loss of anode material visible as corrosion on the aluminum components.

That s why sacrificial anodes are used where corrosion eats the anode instead of your sterndrive prop shaft or raw water through hull. Zinc or aluminum alloy anodes. The term zincs has become synonymous with sacrificial anodes being that zinc was the original material used for this purpose. However other metals such as aluminum and magnesium also work as sacrificial 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. 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.