westerly pageant keel anodes

[markpageant]

About 18 months ago I bought a pagenat which had doughnut anodes on the keels as well as a pear anode on the hull. The pear is clearly connected to the engine and the keels don't have any clear connection to the engine or electrics.
The keel anodes waste in about 6 months, the pear anode is decaying much more slowly. Three anodes are starting to be expensive - any advice would be welcome ?

 

[VicS]

The anodes on the keels are to protect the keels. To be effective you must have one on each side of each keel. BUT I am surprised you have them at all. The Berwick I have sailed for many years does not. I am not surprised though that they waste away quickly. If the sides of the keels that do not have anodes are not corroding at an obviously higher rate than the sides that do have them it pretty much shows that they are not really necessary.


I would guess the hull anode is to protect the stern gear. To be effective it must be close to the stern gear and there must be a good electrical circuit between it and the stern gear. That means any flexible coupling must be bridged. The aforementioned Berwick has no hull anode either and no signs after 30 years that one is necessary.

There is no need for the keels to be connected to the hull anode.

 

[Searush]

Chuck 'em away & see what happens. Check carefully & regularly just in case! My Pentland has had no keel anodes for the last 20 years - and, AFAIK for the first 15 years of its life as well!

 

[VicS]

Although not specific to Westerlies you could post your question on the Westerly Owners Association Web forum.

http://www.westerly-owners.co.uk/woaforum/