Anode circuit - coonect to rudder post?

[Ursula123]

Apologies if this has been covered many times already, but I am struggling to find definitive answers.
Sailing yacht with steering wheel (drag link) What do I connect the hull mounted anode to, just got the boat and the existing wire is snapped off and I can't see where it went..
Connect to the engine? If so where?
Propshaft and propeller is protected by shaft anode, is that all is required?
What about rudder stock/steering system?
Stainless steel keel bolts?
Many thanks in anticipation of your usual invaluable input.

 

[VicS]

Very probably the anode was connected to the engine ( or gearbox if the engine and gearbox are electrically isolated from each other) in order to provide protection for the prop. That would of course also require any flexible coupling to be bridged to complete the electrical path from anode to prop. Connection can be made at any convenient point . The same point as the main battery negative connection perhaps if appropriate to connect to the engine.

The shaft anode should provide adequate protection, maybe even better protection, but its lifespan may not be great. A hull anode would continue to provide protection if the shaft anode becomes depleted, or falls off, at a time when replacement is inconvenient.

 

[Tranona]

Definitely not the keel bolts. Unlikely the rudder or steering requires connecting to an anode as generally such systems do not have mixed metals together in seawater, which is normally what causes galvanic action. Same reason for keel bolts - normally they are dry and water in the bilges will not do anything to stainless, although it will probably rust mild steel.

As VicS says the hull anode is normally bonded to the shaft via the gearbox to protect the prop.

 

[neil1967]

The rudder post on my Oyster 406 is connected to the hull anode, as is the engine (and then the propshaft via a bridged coupling), so it is possible that your anode could/should be connected to your rudder post, although if there's only one wire, my bet would be the engine/propshaft.