Aluminum anodes

[pugtug613]

Boatzincs. com has Side Power thrusters and the right model number listed. It is an Aluminum Anode. The website says that's what it is supposed to be. I thought Aluminum does not work in salt water? Has anyone got hold of zinc anodes for their side power thrusters?

 

[baz]

I'm using Alu anodes for my bow/stern thruster on my MY2010 R25 Classic. Have been for last 3 years. I used to use zinc and the Alu ones last longer; not a lot longer, but longer none the less. I have a diver service which checks my underwater anodes every 3 to 4 months. My boat is in salt water all year round in a covered marina.

 

[GA-Midnight Cruise]

Aluminum will oxidize in saltwater relative to other metals. If you are sitting in saltwater, recommend you transition back to zinc. I'm constantly trailering between fresh, brackish and salt. I'm aluminum in my application, never sitting wet more than a week and jumping around. Zinc.com anodes are reasonable, stay on top of them. I keep extras and brighten the anodes up with a stainless steel toothbrush every time I pull her in the driveway. Part of the routine. Instruct your diver to brighten up the anodes as well.

 

[Zundels]

We used zinc on our thrusters in salt water, worked fine (2009 R25)

Don

 

[walldog]

I just replaced all the "zincs" on Willie's Tug. The only ones available for the thrusters were aluminum. From the boatzincs.com web site:

Starting June 2010, Imtra is fitting Side-Power thrusters with Mil-Spec Aluminum anodes to provide improved corrosion protection. Compared to zinc anodes, aluminum anodes provide superior protection in brackish and freshwater, while still providing excellent protection in salt water. For more information on Imtra’s conversion to aluminum anodes, go to http://www.boatzincs.com/imtra.pdf.

Q: I was under the impression that one was not to mix aluminum and zinc anodes on a boat. If aluminum is only available for my Imtra thruster should I switch the others to aluminum?

A: Imtra Side-Power thrusters are engineered to have their underwater metals electrically isolated from the rest of the boat. This means that there is no electrical path available for the thruster (or its anodes) to interact with any other underwater metals (or anodes) either on or adjacent to your boat. You can, and should, continue to use zinc anodes elsewhere on your boat while upgrading your Imtra Side-Power thruster to these new, technically superior aluminum anodes.