Hanging Anodes - Anything special required wiring wise?

[wakeup]

Hi , I have just had my leg serviced and anodes changed and is well except for a tiny bit of pinking on the props.

I was going to hang an anode off the back of the swim ladder by a lead and run the lead to the engine bay and clip the end of the lead onto the engine lifting point with a crocodile clip. Is this a wise thing to do ? It strikes me as easy and cheap to do and I have seen other boats do this but wondered if there is more to it than meets the eye?

Do I need to connect the engine to the leg with additional leads and will this help reduce galvanic corrosion and direct more of it to my hanging anode.?

Anode novice, thanks?

 

[rafiki_]

What are you planning to achieve with this interesting but Heath Robinson proposal?

 

[hlb]

Yep, I'd connect it to the leg, to be sure.

Stainless steel is best, but suppose anything will do.

 

[Firefly625]

Good idea, what you achieve is your expensive anodes attached to your boat wearing less. The trick is of course to collect old anodes that are kicking around all boat yards and use these, for godsake don't buy one, then you may as well just let your anodes fitted to the boat take the pain. I have a collection of 3, all large MG Duff and probably 40% worn picked up at Hamble Point in 5 minutes..... oh dear, how sad that sounds.. My old man does exactly the same with his boat and only changes his main anodes every other year.

However do remember to take the thing off before moving! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Mymobo]

Do you have any anodes fitted to the tabs? I have got some big suckers and that helps.

 

[wakeup]

I've got the QL trim tabs, all plastic and they retract, Thanks anyway.

 

[Bilgediver]

If connecting the hanging anode to the engine I would suggest a simple continuity check beteen the engine and the bits you think you are protecting. A flexible shaft connection can stop all your aspirations dead!

 

[wakeup]

Excellent point thanks, I'll get my meter out..

 

[VicS]

But dont connect the leg to the engine if it is at present insulated from it.

(Sail drive legs are oten/usually isolated from the engine but AFAIK outdrive/sterndrive legs are not)

If it is the leg you are fitting the hanging anode to protect then connect it directly to the leg if possible even if the engine is not isolated.

FWIW The MGDuff hanging anodes are on stainless steel wire.

 

[jparham]

Unfortunately the props on VP KAD outdrives have big rubber 'shock absorbers' between them and the shaft, so the blades are not connected to the drive earth......
But
Hanging anodes over each drive, positioned carefully so that when you forget to take them in, they don't hit the props (!!!) helps keep the paint on them longer. Won't cure it though......have never found a cure in 8 years of trying....