Update, Saildrive Anode

Blue5

Blue5

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Just to update a thread last year about our disappearing sail drive anode.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=286677&highlight=saildrive+anode

Went to MG Duff who suggested a hanging anode wired back to the sail drive, this was done.

Lifted the boat today after 12 months, sail drive anodes that had previously only lasted 6 - 8 months were no more than 20% eroded so I think that is a positive result, the other large sail drive anode similarly intact.

We have been cruising and using marinas but when we are not aboard shore power is disconnected.

The other plus point was the Jotun SeaForce anti foul that has survived remarkably well, no growth at all, will only need a light abrasion and roll on another coat before relaunch, very impressed.
 
Surprised it has made that much difference,

Even more surprised it has made any difference to the fouling
 
do not use copper based antifoul on your saildrive!!:eek: Annode life vastly extended by usinf non-copper antifoul on saildrive:)
 
Could you please give a bit more info regarding what you did?

What wire did you use. How did you attach it to the boat? Where? How did you attach the wire to the anode? Did you just then hang it over the side? How deep?

Any other tips?

Many thanks.
 
My hanging Anode is a Plastimo version from Mailspeed, about half the price per kg. of zinc compared to M.G. Duff. It resides in one of the aft cockpit lockers. I had some heavy insulated copper wire running from a lug under a bolt near the top of the leg to a fixed bolt in the locker where it is clamped to the lug on the stainless wire of the anode. To deploy it is removed from the locker and dropped over the side as far forward as practical (as close to the leg as possible) the wire has a loop clamped into it to locate on the toerail at a point to suit for depth and distance, so it can be in or out in thirty seconds. The wire emerges from the locker at the depression in the moulding for lifting the lid. The anodes on the leg last about 5 to 6 years (still on my first pair) which is good because they are the 60 quid ones you have to use if you have a ropecutter fitted.
 
Quandary said:
My hanging Anode is a Plastimo version from Mailspeed, about half the price per kg. of zinc compared to M.G. Duff. It resides in one of the aft cockpit lockers. I had some heavy insulated copper wire running from a lug under a bolt near the top of the leg to a fixed bolt in the locker where it is clamped to the lug on the stainless wire of the anode. To deploy it is removed from the locker and dropped over the side as far forward as practical (as close to the leg as possible) the wire has a loop clamped into it to locate on the toerail at a point to suit for depth and distance, so it can be in or out in thirty seconds. The wire emerges from the locker at the depression in the moulding for lifting the lid. The anodes on the leg last about 5 to 6 years (still on my first pair) which is good because they are the 60 quid ones you have to use if you have a ropecutter fitted.
Click to expand...

Honestly, is it worth the hassle ?

It may sound absurd but I don't mind my anode eroding - that way I can be assured it is doing it's job.

If my saildrive anode was eroding ridiculously quickly, I would prioritise sorting out my isolation/earthing/short issue,which I would assume was to blame.

Running a cable through the boat and then having to throw a weight overboard on occasion would be seriously detrimental to my attempts to find boating nirvana. Every now and again I do find it though........weather permitting :rolleyes:
 
I never get the name I wa said:
Could you please give a bit more info regarding what you did?

What wire did you use. How did you attach it to the boat? Where? How did you attach the wire to the anode? Did you just then hang it over the side? How deep?

Any other tips?

Many thanks.
Click to expand...

Not claiming any technical brilliance here, went to Duffs with the problem and information and they supplied the anode, I think it is a standard hanging anode. Wired to a lug on the sail drive, it is hung over the side as close to the drive as possible both horizontally and vertically.

It is not really much trouble to deploy.
 
Why Not ..

:cool:
Quandary said:
My hanging Anode is a Plastimo version from Mailspeed, about half the price per kg. of zinc compared to M.G. Duff. It resides in one of the aft cockpit lockers. I had some heavy insulated copper wire running from a lug under a bolt near the top of the leg to a fixed bolt in the locker where it is clamped to the lug on the stainless wire of the anode. To deploy it is removed from the locker and dropped over the side as far forward as practical (as close to the leg as possible) the wire has a loop clamped into it to locate on the toerail at a point to suit for depth and distance, so it can be in or out in thirty seconds. The wire emerges from the locker at the depression in the moulding for lifting the lid. The anodes on the leg last about 5 to 6 years (still on my first pair) which is good because they are the 60 quid ones you have to use if you have a ropecutter fitted.
Click to expand...

Why not move just one tiny step further and fit a teardrop anode under waterline near the leg and bond it to the same bolt on the gearbox ? biggish teardrop anodes are only about thirty quid and would probably last about three years on a normal sized boat ( my mate has one on his First 31.7) It has been there since his first mid season scrub down and the tearful parting with loads of money !!!!!:)
 
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