Metals have different electrochemical potentials that initiate corrosion when they come in contact with one another. Any vessel that is operating in
fresh, brackish or salt water is at risk for corrosion. That's why
anodes are a crucial device aboard any boat - they attract the corrosion while
saving the metals on the boat.
Many of you are familiar with the use of zinc anodes, and perhaps even magnesium anodes, but in recent years aluminum anodes have also become available. Zinc are usually the cheapest options, and magnesium and aluminum anodes are usually much lighter. How do you know which type of anodes to use in which applications?
Traditionally, zinc anodes are used in saltwater. However, it has been shown that aluminum anodes are as effective or more effective in salt and brackish waters than any ther anode. In freshwater, magnesium is the superior anode for corrosion protection. So here is your super-short, handy guide:
Salt water: zinc or aluminum anodes
Brackish water: aluminum anodes
Fresh water: magnesium anodes
Stick with these rules, and you'll maximize the life of your vessel. And if you move a vessel from one type of environment to the next, make sure you change out the
anodes to avoid corrosion.
Keywords: Tecnoseal marine anodes, Zinc anodes, Aluminum anodes, Magnesium anodes, anodes, zincs, sacrificial metals, sacrificial zincs, Tecnoseal zincs, Tecnoseal aluminum anodes, Tecnoseal magnesium anodes
