Shaft anode- Plastimo or M G Duff?

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Gin

Gin

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I normally get through two M G Duff, 1" zinc shaft anodes per season( 6 months) at a cost of about £20-21 each.

I notice that a mail order chandler is selling similar shape anodes by Plastimo at £8.99 each so I'm tempted.

Common sense tells me that probably the cheaper one is half the weight and durability as the Duff items but has anyone used both of these manufacturer's products and if so comments please
 
My M G Duff looked a little worn last year so I added a Plastimo alongside. At the end of the season lift out the M G Duff was still attached but the Plastimo was gone. Presumably it had rotted around the bolts and dropped off.
 
Zincsmart look good !

I switched to Plastimo a few years ago - miles cheaper than Duff !

Find that any shaft anode ( collar type or screw on thread ) last only about 3 months. I know when there going. You here them spinning when you stop the engine. Then it's the end.

Will try zincsmart though.
 
anodes being worn away ready for replacement after 6 months is a little quick. May be a good idea if the boat has a reasonable value to get an expert to check the anode placement and size etc. An experts cost will not be justified at teh replacement cost of £20 for 6 months, but may save more serious problems now or in he near future like sacrificing the prop etc.
 
Mg Duff supply a slipper ring shaft protection system, which is what I will have to use on mine as there is no space for other annode types and I am renewing my prop.
Or if you are quite handy you could make it yourself from a copper strip fitted very neatly to your shaft, and a set of brushes from an old Haverhill welder/generater, which is what I will be doing. The brushes will be bonded to the annode bolts inside the hull and hey presto
 
Valid point- I should have said that I routinely replace the anodes when scrubbing off mid-season but at that stage there is still about 40-50% left so I am wasting some material but would rather do that than get to the point where at the end of the season I am left wondering when the anode remains actually fell of.

Actually I shall scrub off every two months from now on as I am in a high fouling area and thus I shall be able to guage the need for replacement anodes more accurately, and waste less
 
Thanks very much folks, for your input, the Plastimo item has failed for Miker but not for others and Zincsmart looks as though it is worth a try.

It may be a good idea to weigh or read the packaging weight details(if any) for the Duff and Plastimo products to compare with the Zincsmart published weights to make a comparison

Anyway since I am now resolved to scrub off bi-monthly I shall try both of the alternatives in succession as they are both very much cheaper than the Duff anodes

Thanks again
 
If your anodes are spinning on the shaft before being eaten away it may well be that you are not fitting them properly. Offer the two halves up to the shaft, then hit them smartly together with a large hammer in each hand. Tighten up the bolts and repeat until you cannot tighten any more. Your anodes will never spin if you attach them this way.
 
I took my boat out this week after it had been in the water constantly since mid March. When I put it in the water I added a new anode to the half used one from last year. When I took the boat out the new anode apart from fouling was as though it was untouched and the old one was still half used. The answer while I covered over 4500 nm this year I did not once go into a marina. I buy the cheapest 1" shaft anodes I can find in the chandler's. Last year about £5 something and it was only a 25mm so it left a slight gap on my 1" shaft.
 
That's interesting- maybe instead of discarding a 60% used anode I might do as you do and add another to see if I get the same response

Thanks
 
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