Zinc or Aluminum?

[navychief]

Almost all of my boating will be in brackish and salt waters. I'm not sure what type of sacrificial metals (alum or zinc) came on my merc stern drive when I purchased the boat. Regardless, should they be aluminum?

Thanks

 

[Stray Cat]

Are you going to trailer your boat after each use? The boat likely came with zinc annodes. Since aluminum is more active than zinc, I might opt to use aluminum and change them more frequent. Here is a good resource...http://www.boatzincs.com/index.html

 

[navychief]

Are you going to trailer your boat after each use? The boat likely came with zinc annodes. Since aluminum is more active than zinc, I might opt to use aluminum and change them more frequent. Here is a good resource...http://www.boatzincs.com/index.html

Yep. I will be trailering. Thanks for the link!

 

[At Ease]

Boatzincs has a chart that will assist in selecting the right anode for your boat and the type of water. It is also based on whether you are using AC shore power and whether or not your boat has galvanic isolation. I am switching to aluminum. The boat came with zinc and now my slip is in brackish water on the CT river. I ended up with some minor corrosion last year near the props. Hopefully this will reduce this seasons corrosion. I ordered the kit from BoatZincs and had the product in about 3 days.

 

[MAKC]

If you are in brackish/salt water, use aluminum anodes on your B3.