boat zincs

[CIVANO]

This is a good place to get zincs. I am not affiliated with them but have ordered twice. They have a flat rate to Canada

http://www.boatzincs.com/index.html

 

[bigdogeh]

I've used them in the past also. everything went smooth. great selection of reasonably priced anodes...

 

[Sir Reel]

Anybody know which one is best to get?
I normally use Zincs but there is a choice of Zinc, Aluminum and Magnesium. Is there and advantage to either?

 

[CIVANO]

http://www.defender.com/html/zincs_info.html

I have always used zinc in salt water but here is some cut and paste info

 

[CIVANO]

hope this goes through

 

[Sir Reel]

Thanks Civano. looks like Zinc is fine but Aluminum is better.

Found this on the www.boatzincs.com site

Zinc anodes are suitable for Volvo Penta outdrives that operate in salt or
brackish water, replacing deteriorated original zinc anodes

Aluminum anodes are more active than zinc anodes and suitable for Volvo Penta
outdrives that operate in salt, brackish or fresh water.

The following Mil-Spec magnesium anodes are designed to provide superior
corrosion protection for Volvo Penta outdrives that operate in fresh water only.
They are the strongest anodes available and should not be used in salt or
brackish water.

 

[Sir Reel]

Found this on the www.boatzincs.com site as well. Did not know this about Mercruiser.

Zinc anodes are suitable for pre-2001 Mercruiser outdrives that operate in salt
water, replacing deteriorated original zinc anodes.

Aluminum anodes are more active than zinc anodes and suitable for Mercruiser
outdrives that operate in salt, brackish or fresh water. Since 2001, all
Mercruiser outdrives with stainless steel propellers were delivered with
aluminum anodes.

 

[Sir Reel]

This explains in more detail.

http://www.performancemetals.com/anodes/AnodeFAQs.shtml

Specifically this:

Sterndrives and Outboard Motors require a little more care. The sacrificial anodes have a difficult task, since they have to protect what is already a very active aluminum assembly. Initially the anodes for these units were made of zinc, but in response to corrosion problems, Mercury and Johnson/Evinrude/OMC started selling the aluminum anodes in the early 1990’s. Other manufacturers are switching to aluminum too. The small increase in protective voltage helps ensure that the sterndrive is protected. If you use zinc anodes you may even invalidate your warranty! Again, be careful using magnesium anodes since you can overprotect your sterndrive or outboard

 

[Peahead]

Anybody know which one is best to get?
I normally use Zincs but there is a choice of Zinc, Aluminum and Magnesium. Is there and advantage to either?

http://www.sportfishingbc.com/forum...Anode-Zinc-vs-Aluminum/page3&highlight=Anodes

Above is a link to a SFBC thread I started in 2013 because I had the same questions as you. My post #26 was posted once I had kind of come to a conclusion after a bunch of reading and discussion on the topic. Some of my reading was from a website also mentioned in that post - a company called Performance Metals ( credit to 'Foxsea' for providing that link) Here it is once again below:

http://www.performancemetals.com/anodes/AnodeFAQs.shtml

I learned alot throughout the duration of that thread, reading the Performance Metals and my other readings and now use exclusively aluminum anodes in saltwater. Aluminum anodes in almost all cases are the best IMO for saltwater - even using aluminum anodes to protect aluminum equipment such as aluminum outboard legs (This is because the aluminum anode has other metal components so that it can act as a efficient and safe sacraficial anode for aluminum equipment)

** WARNING --Apparently motor warranties can even be voided if not using aluminum anodes ( Outboards such as my Yami now use aluminum anodes as OEM)

"Initially the anodes for these units [outboards and sterndrives] were made of zinc, but in response to corrosion problems, Mercury and Johnson/Evinrude/OMC started selling the aluminum anodes in the early 1990’s. Other manufacturers are switching to aluminum too. The small increase in protective voltage helps ensure that the sterndrive is protected. If you use zinc anodes you may even invalidate your warranty! Again, be careful using magnesium anodes since you can overprotect your sterndrive or outboard "

 

[bigdogeh]

I have an aluminum boat, aluminum mercruiser bravo outdrives. I've always used aluminum zincs for my anodes. haven't found any significant corrosion issues yet, but I also don't leave my boat moored in salt water for much more than a week at a time.... and then only three or 4 times a year on average.