Rust / orange powder at rear of ips pod ?

[hullabaloo]

I have an orange powder at the rear of my IPS pod, it looks like rust, but it's not rough or gritty, it's very powdery, any ideas please?
Also, I'm about to peller clean these pods. Do we use peller clean or antifoul in the rear here?

 

[rafiki_]

Surely the casing is aluminium? Theis doesn’t rust, but when aluminium corrodes it produces a white powder due to oxidation.

 

[Boat2016]

I have an orange powder at the rear of my IPS pod, it looks like rust, but it's not rough or gritty, it's very powdery, any ideas please?
Also, I'm about to peller clean these pods. Do we use peller clean or antifoul in the rear here?

View attachment 207331

It’ll be the anode, they’re made of iron and will rust.

 

[Momac]

It’ll be the anode, they’re made of iron and will rust.

Would never have guessed that but sure enough the anode is iron

 

[hullabaloo]

It’ll be the anode, they’re made of iron and will rust.

Thank you, that makes sense,

 

[Bouba]

Would never have guessed that but sure enough the anode is iron
View attachment 207352

£100 for one .....on drives that are at a minimum of two on a boat....that’s an expensive anode. But solving the mystery of rust stains is this forum at its best ...well done Boat2016

 

[Momac]

I guess on IPS the iron anode is there to protect the propellers .