What Anodes are installed on boat manufactured for fresh H2O

[S. Todd]

When Fluid Motion manufactures a boat for a customer in the midwest that boats exclusively in Fresh water what type of anodes does the factory install? Zinc that are used for salt water, aluminum the preferred anode for freshwater, or magnesium? Does the Fluid Motion parts department stock anodes in the various materials or only zinc?

 

[gallatintug]

I can tell you my experience with Cutwater and assume it would be the same for Rangers. I took delivery of a 2021 C28 in September. I think they expect that the majority of boats are in the PNW and/or in saltwater and they equip them with zinc anodes. I had Bellingham Yachts replace my anodes with aluminum before I took delivery. It was not a problem.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

I can’t answer what the factory installs on new manufacture. My hunch would be zinc to keep assembly line stocked parts count down.

If you are going buy spares: For freshwater exclusively, use magnesium. Aluminum is for either salt or fresh. Zinc is for salt.

For the engine and generator, it may be that you will find zinc the only anodes available. For my Sidepower thrusters, only aluminum is available

My go-to for anodes is http://www.boatzincs.com 978-841-9978 They have a large bricks and mortar store in Massachusetts. Calls are taken by a knowledgeable person.

 

[Mr Ben]

This past spring I replaced the prop anode as well as both thruster anode which were gone. I ordered them from the factory. Having just purchased the boat the season before I was not aware of a difference. I ordered the anode from RT. They knew I was in Mi and do my boating in fresh water. There was no discussion of options. I've always called them "zincs" I am wondering now if I need to figure out what I have on there. The boat is in my barn so easy enough. How would I tell what I have?

 

[CaspersCruiser]

This past spring I replaced the prop anode as well as both thruster anode which were gone. I ordered them from the factory….I ordered the anode from RT. They knew I was in Mi and do my boating in fresh water. There was no discussion of options. I've always called them "zincs" I am wondering now if I need to figure out what I have on there. The boat is in my barn so easy enough. How would I tell what I have?

The spent thruster anodes were almost certainly aluminum. I’m not aware anodes for Sidepower thrusters are available in any other metal. If the prop anode was mostly intact, I’ll bet it was zinc. If it was magnesium or aluminum, it would be at least partially spent, especially if it was magnesium. Same goes for anodes on your swim platform supports and trim tabs, if your boat has them.

Here’s what I would do if you intend to boat in freshwater exclusively: If you can’t identify the metal of your current anodes, replace them with magnesium so you know what you have. Anodes are cheap. The items they protect are not. Engine and generator anodes are not available in any metal but zinc. The folks at boatzincs.com explained to me that, in the closed cooling of diesel boats, zinc does the job.

 

[BB marine]

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2245/ ... 1501871896

This chart can be found in the recommendations of the ABYC.

Aluminum anodes are the best for our environment. Protect as well as Zinc if not better in all waters that the average boater will be boating in. Zinc will not work in fresh water for long. When zinc is used in fresh water it forms a hard coating that reduces its protection to 0. When that zinc anode enters salt water it is not protecting the hardware unless the anode is scraped and cleaned and then launched in the water. If you have a aluminum lower unit ( Outboard) I would not recommend using a Zinc anode. You will actually do more harm to the lower unit using zinc. If you have a Yamaha outboard either use Yamaha's OEM anode or an aluminum anode. If you use an aftermarket Zinc anode on a Yamaha outboard you will could start to see corrosion. Most outboard Manufactures will void the corrosion warranty if a aftermarket zinc anode is used. Mercury Marine has done extensive research finding that zinc anodes mounted to their aluminum alloy lower units has caused damage. At this point any boat manufacture that builds boats with outboards should be using Aluminum anodes not zinc. Zinc anodes are old school ! My opinion!