Anne Marie did not have any anodes fitted so I have added a small one because her circumstances have changed.
Sea water acts as an electrolyte and causes electrolysis to occur between different types of metal and if you are not careful your expensive propellers and propeller shafts or skin fittings dissolve over a couple of years into nothing. An anode is made of a metal which is worn away in preference to expensive metals. This one is made of zinc.
From an electrolysis point of view Metals are listed in accordance with their Nobility. Zinc is a less noble metal than everything else we have on the boat underneath the water and therefore will erode quicker. It is sacrificed for the good of the more noble metals. – much like life really.
The anode has to be bonded using wires to the metals it is supposed to be protecting. So I have to wire it to the propeller shaft and rudder. Not sure how yet but I have time.
Although I will be painting everything that is metal under water Anne Marie will be moored alongside other yachts some of which will be connected to shore power (240volts).
The link to shore power means that there will be small electric currents flowing underwater which will create the electrolytic reaction.
In the past I suspect that Anne-Marie was moored away from other boats and therefore the likelihood of having regular or consistent electric currents generated was low. This will not be the case in the future.
So we are going to watch over the next year how this anode acts. Will it corrode quickly or will it not? We shall see.
Saving Anne Marie 