anodes last a lifetime?

[Freebee]

Had my boat lifted for a move from Cobbs Quay. She was last lifted 3 years ago and last moved in the water quite some time ago - at least 1 year. After all that time I expected the underwater parts to be a right off!


Not having seen the props, anodes or drives in all that time I was amazed no gobsmaked to find when the underwater forest was removed, the anodes were 50% eaten away at worst and no corrosion worth mentioning on props and drives-result!!!!

Perhaps theres something to be said for not using the boat!!

 

[Wiggo]

It depends on where you are, how good your earth bonding is and possibly more importantly, how good your neighbours' is. We changed anodes in April this year and that was the first time since Trafalgar Day.

 

[gjgm]

mine have vanished in 5 months...

 

[Pendana]

I find the ring anodes on the sterndrives will be 60% to 70% wasted in 12 months and the bar anode on the transom shield about 25% wasted. Replace them all every year.

Eddie

 

[fisherman]

In Newlyn it is thought that welding activity on the steel boats, without earthing the boat to the quay, is responsible for quicker anode loss (for everyone else) than usual.

I sold a boat for someone who had fitted a starter motor from a lorry (neg is the engine block) to the engine on which everything else had an insulated return. Effectively the battery neg was connected to the engine, drive train and the sea. I put three new anodes on, advised the new owner to get the starter sorted as soon as, and the boat went from Newlyn to the IOM. On arrival there were no anodes left whatsoever.

Chap with a wooden boat was very lax with maintenance and left loose wires swilling about the bilge. He ended up with a lot of trouble with roves on the copper rivets letting go.

Funny stuff, electricicity.