Are these aluminum anodes still good?

[mrsrobinson]

The boat was pulled this week for bottom painting and compounding and detailing the hull. Service shop informed me my zincs we're no longer good and needed to be replaced. I had purchased new ones and was planning to do it myself. I asked them for a price since it's a pain in the butt for me to travel to the boat, $300. Seemed too high for me so I drove up there this morning to replace them.

My first thought after looking at them was they're fine, they're the exact same thickness and size as the new ones. I replaced them July of last year. Service guy said no, when they're in this condition they're no longer working. I was planning to replace them regardless with the boat out, since it's only $100 for the parts, my question is when they look like this have they stopped working?

 

[Golfman25]

I had ones in similar shape. Sand blasted them clean and reinstalled to get another season. I’m in fresh water and come out every October for winter. If I was n all year I’d probably replace.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I had ones in similar shape. Sand blasted them clean and reinstalled to get another season. I’m in fresh water and come out every October for winter. If I was n all year I’d probably replace.

Right, but he specifically said "they have stopped working", which felt odd to me. I never knew anodes stopped working. And, If they do, had I not pulled the boat for bottom painting and detaining, I would have waited another 18 months to check them since everyone in this area says they are good for 2 years.

 

[my3sons]

They work until they are gone or loose electrical contact.
I run aluminum in fresh water and do as Goldman, those I would clean up and reinstall. But your there and you have new ones so put them on.

 

[mrsrobinson]

Yeah, I replaced them while I was there. I was annoyed with the service shop trying to convince me "they will no longer work in that condition" and I fell for it not knowing any better.

 

[JHornsby3]

I have been told that a "good rule of thumb" is to replace at 1/4 to 1/2 of original size. And like said before, they never stop working unless there is no longer a good grounding. So, with that, I'd have left them on and waited until next year pull. Keep them old ones and clean them up. Throw them in the spares box and have them "just in case".

 

[Angus]

The boat was pulled this week for bottom painting and compounding and detailing the hull. Service shop informed me my zincs we're no longer good and needed to be replaced. I had purchased new ones and was planning to do it myself. I asked them for a price since it's a pain in the butt for me to travel to the boat, $300. Seemed too high for me so I drove up there this morning to replace them.

My first thought after looking at them was they're fine, they're the exact same thickness and size as the new ones. I replaced them July of last year. Service guy said no, when they're in this condition they're no longer working. I was planning to replace them regardless with the boat out, since it's only $100 for the parts, my question is when they look like this have they stopped working?



View attachment 145449

I replace ours as there was good 3/4 of an inch missing as opposed to the new ones. 2 kits for our Bravos was 150 bucks I think, easy to put on.

 

[Pirate Lady]

i replace mine every winter no matter how they look, and in the event I have to short haul in summer. I replace. Not nickel and dime on an expensive outdrive. Cut back on McDonalds cheeseburgers and fries, if you need to.

 

[mrsrobinson]

Should the transom mounted one touch the hull? It's mounted on two bolts, there's about an inch between the back of the anode and the hull. There was a bunch of crud behind it that I cleaned out.

 

[Hoplite808]

Anodes are cheap, just change them.

 

[Skybolt]

Should the transom mounted one touch the hull? It's mounted on two bolts, there's about an inch between the back of the anode and the hull. There was a bunch of crud behind it that I cleaned out.

They don't need to touch the hull to work, they need to be in contact with bonding system (green wires). The bolts the"diver" plate attach too should have a green bonding wire attached to one or both of the bolts. But with that much erosion happening to them, they are working. But when they are out of the water and the white crusty dries out then that needs to be removed. By the time you clean them off there probably wouldn't be enough left to last another year.

 

[mrsrobinson]

Yeah, as a reminder, I replaced them and always had planned to while she was out. Cheap insurance in my opinion.

 

[Golfman25]

Should the transom mounted one touch the hull? It's mounted on two bolts, there's about an inch between the back of the anode and the hull. There was a bunch of crud behind it that I cleaned out.

Mine has a spacer. Sits 1/2-3/4 inch off hull